One of my favorite wineries in the Rhone has become Domaine Charvin, who produces just a single cuvee of Chateauneuf du Pape every year as well as a fantastic Cotes du Rhone. The 2005 Cotes du Rhone Le Poutet is another gem. I don't know the blend, but like the Chateauneuf it seems to be dominated by Grenache, exhibiting a lot of the cherry flavors typical in the Grenaches of the region. However, the fruit is not overwhelming as the wine is also a bit more elegant in style, almost Burgundian.
Overall, this is one of my favorite Cotes du Rhones in most vintages, and the 2005 is no exception. Pricewise it does creep toward the higher end of the Cotes du Rhone range, but at around $16-$18 it is still a fine bargain for a wine of this quality.
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