Community Tasting Note

• sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: 92 points

  January 10, 2020 - First of 6 from a recently purchased auction lot (just under $40@). I've had the VVs before, and liked them, but this was my first Chaupin. 1 oz taste, followed by 90 minute decant. On opening, medium to powerful notes on the nose of black raspberry and black cherry and a not atypical (but for me at least, unloved) CdP note of liquer-cough syrup. On the palate, consistent notes with lesser notes of blackberry, violets, earthy minerality, leather, garrigue and blood. There was a definite sense of heat, which worked itself out (along with the liquer-cough syrup notes) after 90 minutes. Very present tannins and acidity which blended in gradually but not completely until night 2. Almost opaque, full-bodied, thick legs. Very powerful persistence. By night 2, the wine tasted like sublime raspberry jam, which isn't quite to say it was jammy. Mostly consumed either as a standalone or with pork tenderloin cooked in a tomato and red wine reduction. There was enough acidity to work well with the latter, but Paul's point below is well-taken that this requires careful pairing, like most relatively high alcohol, voluptuous fruit, low to moderate acidity wines such as amarones, zins and cult cabs. 2011 vintage notwithstanding, this wine is drinking like it's at the beginning of its drinking window, with many years, and perhaps some improvement to come. At what I paid, winning qpr.

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3 Comments

• Paul852 commented:

  1/11/20, 3:46 AM - Thanks for your comment on my TN. I don't have more of these to sort out the pairing, and they are well over US$50 here. I did manage to pick up 6 2012 VVs for under $50 though, so I'll see what I can work out to drink those with.

• michigan dogs commented:

  1/13/20, 1:49 PM - nice find for $40, you do seem to have an eye for values

• sfwinelover1 commented:

  1/13/20, 1:52 PM - Thanks, MD. It helps that 1) there are a lot of different things I like, and 2) I probably bid and lose on 15-20 auction lots for each one I win. Since I try over the course of a year to keep my average price to about $40/btl before tax and I like good wine, I have to be creative!

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