2013 Vignobles Levet Côte-Rôtie La Chavaroche
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Tasting notes
Brilliant violet. An explosively perfumed bouquet displays intense black and blue fruit liqueur, incense, olive and floral pastille scents underscored by a smoky mineral quality. Broad, weighty and surprisingly lithe on the palate; sweet, palate-coating blueberry, cherry cola and candied violet flavors show superb concentration and energy thanks to a spine of juicy acidity and repeating minerality. Strikingly vibrant, seamless and persistent on the finish, where the mineral and floral notes emphatically repeat.
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Josh Raynolds
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
Inky ruby. Potent aromas of black and blue fruit preserves, olive paste, violet and cracked pepper, with a hint of smoky bacon in the background. Juicy, focused and energetic, offering vibrant blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that gain sweetness and depth with air. The smoky note comes back strong on the finish, which is framed by chewy, youthfully gripping tannins. This bottling is labeled "La Péroline" outside the United States market, by the way.
While no 2012 was presented, I was blown away by Levet’s 2013 Côte Rôtie La Chavarouche Cuvee Speciale (released as La Peroline in France). Gorgeous on all accounts, with a deep, mineral-laced slant to its black raspberry fruit, cracked pepper, and violet/floral nuances, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, bright acidity and impressive density. It shows more and more tannin with time in the glass, so short-term cellaring is advised here. It should have 15+ years of overall longevity.