In the comments section of my previous Rhone write-up, a reader recommended the Perrin Reserve Cotes du Rhone red, and as luck may have it, I was able to scoop it up for $8 at the K&L Wine Merchants near my office.
The color is a rich ruby red, brilliant and clear. Surprisingly even from end to end, as well.
On the nose are some very rich ripe red cherry notes. Not the sour cherry I’ve noticed lately in some of the Spanish wines I’ve had, but very ripe. Sharp notes of granny smith apples and a softness of grass are also there. All in all, extremely inviting, and without the sharp alcohol scent of the Coste Chaude.
The wine is dry, with a fairly light body but a long finish that lingers (very much a good thing). Notes of red fruit, plums, and pomegranate abound and dance around. There is a clean fruit-forwardness to the wine that is in no way like the big, bold, over-the-top California wines. Much more refined, tighter, but still with plenty of fruit for people who love that in their wine.
Totally into it. This makes the second solid Rhone Valley wine for me (from two different appellations: Cotes du Rhone and Cotes du Rhone Villages)… next on my list, I think, has to be a Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Stay tuned!
Verdict: 91/100