Clos la Coutale
Clos la Coutale
Vintage: 2006
Region: Cahors, France
Varietal:80% Malbec , 20% Merlot
Alcohol: 13.1%
Price: $19.89
Back to France this week, where I selected a wine from Cahors, France. Cahors is known for the production of malbec based wines and is considered by some as the birthplace of the varietal. Since new world malbec are all the rage for their ripe, bold fruit forwardness, I thought it would be interesting to observe the differences between style and presentation from old world to new world. Before the cork was popped, the labeling on this wine is decidedly old world with a yellow label and ancient looking brown and red font colors. This wine wants to appear old, which is typically different than a new world malbec labels from for example Argentina.
In the glass, the wine presents in a light ruby form trailing pink to its edges. The wine is see through which would never be seen in a new world example where the wines are so dark and thick that light barely gets through. On the nose, this wine has some great nuttiness and spice that took me back to youth, when my mom would make butterscotch Jello pudding. This wine smells a lot like that did, with caramel and oak being central with the fruit being less obvious and apparent. Most new world examples are drenched with dark, juicy fruit and rich new oak. In the mouth, this wine is medium bodied with a great freshness and soft feel in the mouth with light fruit upfront trailing to a light finish. That spice and nuttiness that was noted on the nose presents again on the palate and that Jello pudding memory is re triggered. As far as faults go, this wine is a little green and would certainly do well by a few more years aged in the bottle. If you are keen to serve it, I would also recommend decanting with service temperature around 19 degrees Celsius.
The verdict: If you are looking to understand something, you have to know where it came from. The Clos la Coutale gives wine drinkers a chance to glimpse into the past with their presentation of traditionally styled malbec blend. It’s worth seeking out and giving a try for yourself if you have the patience and means to hold onto it for a while.
83 Points
- Clos la Coutale
- by Adrian Bryksa
- Published on May 6th, 2009
- Photos:
- Cahors, France
- Rating:
- 83 Points
More from Adrian Bryksa:
-
Stark – Condé Syrah
For the most part, I typically stay away from South African wines, for no good reason other than I haven’t had one that has really excited me or blown me away. Maybe this Syrah will change that.
-
Vinya l’Hereu Petit Grealo
Every time I think that I have seen all this wonderful city of Calgary has to offer in terms of wines and spirits, I encounter something more amazing and more jaw dropping than I could possibly imagine.
-
Summer Party Naval Styles at Seven RestoLounge
Oysters, like wine are affected by terroir and these Miyagi’s flavor profiles ranged with one showing a cleaner, almost tropical profile and the other being more salty, marine driven. As I was devouring the seemingly endless plates put in front of us, I sipped on a glass of fine sauvignon blanc.
-
Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz
Jim Barry is one of Australia’s finest producers and has some of the most collectible and desirable bottlings year after year.
-
Wyndham Estates Show Reserve Cabernet Merlot
Do rewards come to those that wait? I have had this wine in my cellar for a few years and Sunday was going to be its day of reckoning.
-
Willow Bridge Estate Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
It has been a while since I have covered a white wine; I suppose the changing of the season has had me thinking more red than white. However, that’s not to say that a vino blanco can’t be enjoyable as fall sets in.
Other recent features:
-
Sónar 2010 – Barcelona, Spain
The festival attracts a lot of outsiders, but the Mediterranean, Spanish and more specifically Catalan nature of the people makes the festival what it is. Catalan people are passionate and this passion is infectious. The atmosphere is electric in Barcelona as a city and heightened by music and intoxicants at Sónar.
-
Summer Party Naval Styles at Seven RestoLounge
Oysters, like wine are affected by terroir and these Miyagi’s flavor profiles ranged with one showing a cleaner, almost tropical profile and the other being more salty, marine driven. As I was devouring the seemingly endless plates put in front of us, I sipped on a glass of fine sauvignon blanc.
-
R4NT Radio March 2010
R4NT Radio March 2010 um wow it’s been far too long since the last edition edition, featuring: Hector Hernandez, The Infesticons, Blockhead, Gramatik, Emika, Thunderheist, Parov Stelar, Eddy Meets Yannah, Anti-Pop Consortium, The Slew, Lighterthief, Andreya Triana, Parasyte Woman, Mathon, Venetian Snares, and Funki Porcini.
-
O Restaurant & Lounge revisited
Calgary has a diverse set of urban communities, most of which have the ubiquitous strip mall watering hole. In the South West community of Marda Loop, a reinvention of this paradigm has been established.
-
Predictions 2010.. and beyond!
So 2010 eh? Almost but not quite (no year zero they say) another decade? It seems like just yesterday that the world was waiting for Y2K. R4NT started publishing in March 2001, so we’re not quite 10 years old yet, but in internet years we are already a senior citizen.
-
Invictus
No matter what, the reality of Nelson Mandela is something that deserves screen time. Should this film even remotely intrigue the masses to take interest in this figure, the world would likely benefit greatly from it.
