My local retailer suggested this and its big brother CdP, explaining that it is a close neighbor of Beaucastel, which has been trying unsucceessfully to buy the property for years. The price of the CdR was average ($12.99) and the price of the CdP was great ($27.99). I'll try the CdP this weekend, but for now, my impressions of the CdR I consumed last night.
Fabulous.
A little bigger on fruit than I expect or ask for in a CdR, dusty but sweet red and black fruit, nicely spiced, with good structure from ample acidity and very appropriate tannins. A big CdR. Very long lip smacking finish. A lot of wine.
I saw no notes on this, but while drinking it, I popped up Beth's home computer and Google pointed me to some wonderful notes on the vineyard and its proprietors posted by GeoT on his GangofPour site. His notes were on the wines of the 04 vintage, and there were some interesting notes from the proprietors regarding the picking of the '06 vintage, and their hopes it would be as good as the '05. It's a great read.
So here's the question. This sample of 05 CdR, and a couple more I've tried (la Garrigue & Perrin Reserve) suggest this may be a good year to stock up - I skipped 02 & 03 after trying a couple, and missed most of the 04s for no good reason) so I am low on good CdR. Any other suggestions for the '05 for one who likes them mostly traditional?