CWD: 2006 Dard et Ribo Crozes-Hermitage

L

lars makie

lars makie
I think I'm in love. I didn't know what to expect really. I half expected to pour a glass and have it turn to shit in five minutes. But no! I pour a glass and take in the smell: fresh and clean. A sip: a bit of spritz, but otherwise beautiful. Wait five minutes... still dark raspberry red. No brown. No more spritz... It's been almost an hour now and the thing that blows me away the most is how fresh it tastes. As I drink more of it, it gets a bit more sappy and some spiciness starts to intermingle with the stones and the red fruit I got from the start. I know the Dard et Ribo wines have been polarizing to some; maybe I got lucky and got a great bottle. Yay me! Truth be told, if someone were to serve this to me blind, I don't think I would come up with Syrah from the Northern Rhone. Is this bad thing? I served a bunch of people the 2008 Dashe l'Enfant Terrible blind and no one thought it was Zinfandel. But everyone loved it. I loved it. I love this. It's fucking great.
 
I liked this wine too, but look for the Les Rouges des Baties bottling - big upgrade over the regular Crozes and not far off from the Hermitage.
 
originally posted by Thor:
blind, I don't think I would come up with Syrah from the Northern Rhone. Is this bad thing?
Click to expand...
Yes. And no. It depends on whether you're drinking with Alice or Nathan.
Click to expand...
Well, sitting here by myself, when it tastes this good, it's fine by me (I actually want to wake my wife up and make her have some, but I think it's best not to). I should really add, that at nearly the two hour mark, the wine is really starting to put on some weight and show a sense of place.
 
originally posted by Keith Levenberg:
I liked this wine too, but look for the Les Rouges des Baties bottling - big upgrade over the regular Crozes and not far off from the Hermitage.
Click to expand...
That Hermitage was beautiful. I see the St-Joseph 07 is around. Have you had it?
 
I actually want to wake my wife up and make her have some, but I think it's best not to
Click to expand...
No, no, that's a terrific idea. Wake her up. Give her wine. Tell her it was Claude's idea.
 
o_image_147_Hands_raised_to_Jesus_by_Steven_Bridge.jpg
 
I've had plenty, as well as the Des Baties bottling, and the elusive Pe de Loup. The '07s are the better wine in almost every sense.

Note: We served a somm from the French Laundry the St. Jo and he picked up St. Jo. right off.
 
I don't prefer the Rouge des Bties to the regular Crozes. And I like Crozes in 07 better than St-Joe, but they're both great drinks. Or all three. Mix 'n' match.

Note: Cory, hide the label.
 
We did hide the label. Knocked it out right away. We all had a laugh at VLM's expense and continued with the night.

Note: This is the '07, mind you. The '06s tend to be more...extreme.
 
Figured I should write about the next day for the sake of posterity. The first day, as written above, was majestic; had me swooning. But, I was alone and by the last quarter of the bottle it was time for bed, so off to fridge the rest went. By the next evening when I poured a glass it had turned from a butterfly into a soy bean. Or more specifically a block of tempeh. Smelled and tasted like a block of fermented soy beans. Lesson learned: finish the bottle off on the first night.
 
I'm sure it's different, but "inarticulate with joy" reminds me just a little bit of the great wine critic, Sadat X. Bless him.
 
originally posted by Cory Cartwright:
Never, ever, ever leave D&R out. Finish the bottle or never enjoy it again.

Also, Lars, have you tried the '07s?
Click to expand...
Amen to that...

Just before Christmas, I went to a store that was having a small tasting and were pouring the '07 Crozes. I took a little taste (mainly to see if had been stored well) and then bought the last two bottles. So, I haven't had anything more than a couple sips of the '07, but those sips were good... Didn't seem as light or bright, red-fruited as the '06, but I'm not going to stand by that based on a dixie cup-sized taste. What's been your impression?
 
The '07s are definitely more syrah forward (more game, tapenade, less fruit) and a little leaner overall. I tend to like them a lot more than the '06s. they also tend to show a lot less bottle variation. there are also a few from '07 that could take some age.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top