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:
-
Cooper Mountain Vineyards Cooper Hill Pinot Noir
I have been inspired to revisit Pinot Noir as when it is done right, can be heaven in a glass and when done incorrectly, can be a pure disaster. To me it is the thrill of the hunt for that special pinot that is so alluring.
-
Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz
It isn’t every day that a new child comes into the world so to celebrate his birth, I decided to dust off a bottle from the cellar of one of my favorite wines.
-
Torres Gran Coronas Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva
Lately, I have found several very good wines from Spain at value prices and lately it seems like the number of offerings is expanding due to their high quality and affordable prices. Perhaps I can add this offering to the list?
-
Value Wine Experiment – 3 Reds under $15.00
He pulled me over to an Australian blend which seemed interesting as a 2005 at 11 dollars, so I made it my choice. Ian grabbed a 2007 Chilean Cabernet and David jumped on an 2006 Argentine Malbec
-
2007 Calgary Tattoo and Arts Festival
They can tell the world that you are an outlaw, or let people know that you were young and dumb once and have some souvenirs to show for it. These days, they can be a lifestyle indicator or be can added as a one of a kind piece of art.
-
Adamas Pinot Noir
Burgundy: there are few words in the world of wine that can mean so much. Often setting an oenophilles heart aflutter, its wines are esoteric, complicated and more often than not, misunderstood.
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.
