Bernard Levet, Côte-Rôtie, La Chavaroche
The 2007 Bernard Levet Côte-Rôtie Chavaroche is in wonderful place right now – it is so delicious, so perfectly mature, and represents everything I love about northern Rhone Syrah. The wine has a dark, near-opaque garnet center which is beginning to transition to a brick color on the rim. On the nose, it offers a whirlwind of lavender, roasted meat, black olives, and wild herbs. The palate is medium to full bodied with obvious concentration – but the take home message remains its impossibly perfect balance and a mouthwatering texture. This is a wine for drinking right now. Ideally decant it for 30 minutes before opening and drink at about 60 degrees out of a large bordeaux stem.