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Subject: 2003 B. Levet Cote Rotie La Chavaroche

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whiner

Second star to the right, and straight on till morning

Wine Thief
Posts:2875

04/16/2007 9:37 PM
The 1998 of this is what got me into Cote Rotie. Levet is a very traditional producer who really lets the terroir shine through and has resited the more modern style that much of the Northern Rhone has adopted. I call his wines "rustic." 2003 is just a super-extracted modern vintage. What happens when the two are mated? Decanted for 3+ hours... The nose is rediculous. 96 points, easy. It would be a 97 point nose if it were just a little less reticent -- the best smelling wine I've had this year. Purple fruits with tons of violets, crushed rose petals, pine oil, bacon fat and just a hint of anise, brown olives, scorched earth, and pot. It smells better than the descriptors I'm using, trust me. BUT... there is a 5+ point drop to the palate. This thing is YOUNG. The 91/91.5 point palate comes across as monolithic compared to the nose -- just really the purple fruits. And the finish is only about 30 seconds. The 1998, 2000, and 2001 were all ready to drink young but this requires time. I'd cellar for at least 5 years, but then -- watch out! This is going to be a giant killer. It will be a 96 point wine, maybe more. Despite the palate's shortcomings, for having a nose better than the wine that I would have pegged as DRC: 94+ and WOTN.

I can't listen to that much Wagner. I start getting the urge to conquer Poland. -- Woody Allen

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