Chapoutier Les Grands Merisiers 2012 Wine Review

Chapoutier Les Grands Merisiers 2012

Chateaueuf-Du-Pape A.O.C., France

Community Score:90/100

Community Reviews: 26

Add My Review

Price: $34.95

Drink: 2014-2018

Bottle size: 750 ml

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine

Winery: Chapoutier

Agent: Philippe Dandurand Wines Ltd.

Natalie's Score: 93/100

Dark fruit and smoke on the nose and palate of this full-bodied, smooth French red wine. Racy acidity for tangy dishes, meat and tomato sauces. Select appellations are chosen by M. Chapoutier that blend several terroirs to create this wine that is itself a blend of different red wine grapes including Syrah, Mouvedre and Grenache, among others.

Best Beef Wine

This Chapoutier Les Grands Merisiers 2012 was reviewed on August 4, 2016 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2014

Add New Vintage

Pricing & Stock Information

LCBO
421073
$34.95
Check Stock

BCLDB
429324
$32.59
Check Stock

Reviews and Ratings

Jane Staples - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 94/100 with the following review:

Clear garnet red with ripe cassis, blackberry and fennel fragrances. Delicious palate shows dark berries, fennel, garrique, mint and subtle earthy flavours. Harmonious, velvety mouthfeel, soft tannins and long elegant finish. Would be heavenly with rack of lamb.

Terry Jeans - Certified S rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

Light ruby colour with amazing aromas of intense ripe blackberries, dark cherry and anise. You would not think that would have such a round mouth feel because of the light colour, but with the lush fruit and the nice dose acidity it is approaching full-bodied. Very sophisticated and approachable, that could be match well with most red meats.

Courtney Flood rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

Surprisingly light in the glass, aromas of fig, black currant, cracked black pepper, and tons of baking spice - cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. Very pretty, light for a chateauneuf de pape, but all the beautiful complexity.

Trevor Sabourin - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

Raspberry jam, dark cherry, violet, sage, anise, vanilla, coffee, and forest floor aromas. Beautifully fragrant and lifted. The aromas come through just as nicely on the rich, full palate. Fantastic balance and integration. Gorgeous.

Heather Wall - CS; WSET Advanced rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Medium ruby colour with a herbal and meaty nose. Medium-bodied and liquid velvet in the mouth. Juicy red and black fruit, violets, herbs de provence, mint and pepper. A beautiful mouth experience. Excellent value for Chateauneuf-du-Pape at $35. Enjoy on it's own or braised lamb or game meats.
Tasted: October 2015

Colin McKone - Sommelier rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Medium ruby in colour with aromas of plum, raspberry, strawberry, vanilla, black pepper and leather. The red fruit and pepper flavours follow through nicely on the palate. The wine is medium bodied with well integrated acid and tannins which makes it easy drinking. A bargain price for such a great Cheateau-neuf-du-pape.

Jacky Blisson rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Pale garnet in colour. Elegant nose featuring fresh dark fruits, prunes, tobacco, smoke and soft cedar notes. Lovely and smooth on the palate, with moderate fruit concentration, fresh acidity and nicely, rounded tannins. Lacks the power and opulence of top Châteauneuf, but at half their price, offers truly exceptional value.

Bill Wright Sommelier rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Dark fruit and smoke on the nose and palate of this full-bodied, smooth long spicy finish.
Reviewed Nov 29, 2015

Monique Sosa - Accredited Sommelier rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

An impressive Southern Rhone GSM from the Châteauneuf AOC at a steal of a price! Aroma intensity is moderate but includes: ripe red and black berry fruit, leather, smoke, baking slices (clove), and a touch of earthiness. On the palate, this wine is velvety smooth. Tannins are polished, acidity is balanced and lucious with a long minty/eucalyptus finish. Pair the medium-full bodies wine with braised beef brisket.

Matt Steeves - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

A super value priced Chateauneuf-du-Pape from the world-renowned Michel Chapoutier. Smoky dark berries, baking spice, herbs, and pepper on the nose. Medium-full bodied, the palate is rich and refined, with refreshing acidity. Ideal with hearty stews, grilled sausage, charcuterie, and tomato based dishes, you'll be hard pressed finding better value out of Cahteauneuf-du-Pape. Enjoy 2015-2025. 91 points. Matt Steeves - www.quercusvino.ca

November 2015 - showcased on CTV: http://quercusvino.ca/2015/11/25/give-the-gift-of-wine-for-the-holidays-as-seen-on-ctv-november-25-2015/

Jon Steeves - Sommelier rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

The 2012 vintage of this Chateauneuf-du Pape by M Chapoutier is a medium intensity garnet and 14% ABV. This wine showcases it's terrroir with medium fruit concentration, medium tannins, medium acidity. Full-bodied, and voluptuous, this wine features dense aromatics of leather, pomegranate, cranberry, cherry and a hint of basil, fresh lavender and minerality. This is an upscale wine delivering great value for money. Recommend pairing with braised rack of lamb. Enjoy 2015-2025.

Cherie Cole rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

A classic Chateauneuf-Du-Pape showing aromas of ripe plum, raspberry, earth and leather. Medium body with crisp acidity and medium tannins, this wine is made to be shared over a dinner of lamb stew or braised meats. Tasted November 29, 2015.

Wineboy rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Wonderfully complex on the nose as good CDP should be. Young though it is, it shows floral, fruit, and garrigue beyond it's years. Medium power with a heavy mouthfeel (14%) with oak being discovered late in the palate. Give this one some time in the cellar if you want more complexity on the palate, or drink now if it calls your name.

Valérie Dufour - Accredited Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Nose is very much a cloud of dark fruit (a nice cloud mind you...) with a touch of red liquorice. You get black pepper in the retro. This is like drinking sunshine. A very well made and pleasant wine from Southern Rhône. Solid value and you can drink it now. Pair it with cassoulet or canard confit.

Douglas McMillan rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Bright medium ruby in colour with aromas of cherry, violets, leather, and vanilla. The taste repeats the aromas. This is an elegant wine with a light, silky mouth-feel, extremely fine tannins and bright acidity. I could see pairing this with roast turkey.

David Skinner rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Medium light ruby with a pink rim. Smoky black cherry, raspberry, vanilla and pepper on the nose. Medium-full bodied, with a spice and cherry palate and plenty of toasty oak mid-palate. Good acid and firm tannin. Ideal with lamb sausages and fennel.

Sylvain Segard rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

A hearth warming red. Medium light ruby color with watery rim. Smoky red fruit aroma with vanilla and a hit of spices and eucalyptus. Soft mouthfeel and balanced tannins with crisp acidity. A well-made wine to enjoy fireside on a cool evening or with ragout or roasted lamb.

Lynn van der Linde - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

A luscious Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Blackberry and cassis aromas carry through with velvety mouth feel, round tannins and balanced acidity. Wonderful with lamb dishes or barbecued burgers.

Craig Kuziemsky rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Black fruit, smoke, dill and pepper on the nose. The palate offers the same with some cinnamon and vanilla notes.

Sean O'Regan - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Medium ruby, berry, spice and floral notes/machine oil on the nose. On the palate, the flavours repeat the nose along with hints of vanilla. Full body, silky, well balanced with a medium-long finish. Herb crusted lamb shanks will work.
Tasted Oct 2015.

Carola Price rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Bright and a deep red core. On the nose some fig and plum with earthy and meaty components. In the mouth it is smokey and meaty with some tobacco and plum. Medium bodied with a long well balanced finish. Tannin is there and the value is outstanding. Pair with a big steak, braised lamb shanks or a very garlicky roasted chicken with mashed potatoes.
Drink now to 6 years.

Gwen Barton rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Lots of complexity in aromas and flavours. Nose of licorice, cooked dark fruit (blackberry, black cherry), leather with notes of cedar and forest floor. Warm, spicy finish with noticeable tannins- although well balanced with the acidity present. Don't wait for the weekend- Serve with a traditional stew on a weeknight.

Nick Onischuk - Accredited Sommelier rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

The Chapoutier Les Grands Merisiers 2012 this wine features red berry fruit, blackberry and plum. This medium bodied wine has a nice long finish of cherry and spice. Tasted on November 29, 2015 (89/100)

Emilie Ryan rated this wine as 86/100 with the following review:

An interesting terroir-based wine that should shine over time...

Appearance: surprisingly light ruby red, thin on the edges
Nose: smoke, leather, raspberries.
Taste: cherries, plums, flowers, leather, earth.
Finish: leather, with a touch of something sweet in the back, long finish.
Overall impression: An enjoyable wine now. It will probably develop if cellared a little longer. It would definitely pair well with a variety of cheeses, cured meats, and grilled meats and vegetables.

Value: 3 out of 5

Shelley Harris rated this wine as 86/100 with the following review:

Aromas of blackberries and vanilla and tastes of cherries and black pepper. This red wine would pair well with a hearty meal of roast prime rib and oven roasted potatoes.

If you liked the Chapoutier Les Grands Merisiers 2012, you might also like these wines:

Top Rated Red Wines

Add bottle and/or label shots for this wine
Wineries and agents: Add notes for this wine
Find this wine in other stores

Recipes for Chapoutier Les Grands Merisiers 2012

Click here for recipes

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

SAVE MY SEAT!

Wine of the Week

As featured on

Benjamin Bridge Other Wines/Drinks
Piquette Zero,
Gaspereau Valley, Nova Scotia ...

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 327,259 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

Best Books of the Year

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

Best Books of the Year

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources. learn more

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 327,259 strong:

Chapoutier Les Grands Merisiers 2012 Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 93/100

Pricing & Stock Information