WTN: Chapoutier Chante-Alouette Hermitage Blanc 2003

100 per cent Marsanne.

Surprisingly light yellow in the glass.

Nutty, floral, peach and lightly smoky on the nose.

Floral, marzipan, nutty, thick and oily, peach, mango, good acidity, a slight bitter edge, showing some caramel and vanilla but not overpowering, very fresh.

A long finish.

Unlike anything else I have ever tasted. My first Hermitage Blanc.

Matched very well with a supper of BBQ-ed mango chicken.

Purchased on sale at $60 (Canadian), marked down from $74.

[David M. Bueker]

Gosh I miss the days of getting this wine for $35.

Funny enough, it goes really well with fondue!

Gosh I miss the days of getting this wine for $35.

Funny enough, it goes really well with fondue!

From what I could see from my pre-purchase research, this wine sells for around $70-$75 in the US, so I figured $60 Canadian was pretty good. I bought two and, based on comments on this board, I think I will ignore the second bottle for a while and let it rest.

First time I ever tasted the Chante Alouette was some years back at one of the Wine spectator tastings in NYC..
Wd have to agree, it was my first Hermitage blanc and it was like nothing I had ever tasted before, a lovely wine with or without food

I hadn't planned on tasting it but the beautiful lady pouring at the Chapoutier table persuaded me that I just had to try it...and I am glad she did..All these years later,I still remember the marzipan and peach flavors..very different from anything I had ever tasted

Unlike anything else I have ever tasted. My first Hermitage Blanc.

I fully in agreement with you - I remember tasting a few of the Hermitage Blanc's during my visit to the Rhone Valley, Chapoutier and Chave, and they are really unique.

Now, if you did like it, I suggest you will try also one of the better Blanc CdP's, like Chateau du Beaucastel, Pegau (and there are quite a lot, actually) - similar to the Hermitage Blanc but with a certain level up in the body and texture, IMHO.

Ehud