Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 31/10/2012 The real steal, however, is the 2010 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet red (an identical blend), which has really put on some weight and intensity since I tasted it last year. The wine displays oodles of licorice, black currant and black cherry liqueur with hints of damp forest floor and truffle. Sweet tannin, decent acidity and nice, attractive density make for an outstanding Cotes du Rhone to drink over the next 7-8 years. As I said last year, the Perrin family is a large one indeed, with brothers Jean-Pierre and Francois sitting at the top of the hierarchy and their four sons, Mathieu, Pierre, Thomas and Marc increasingly taking charge of their negociant business and their extensive estates throughout Southern Rhone. Now controlling over 1200 acres, as well as having a network of contracts, this operation is the equivalent of a major Southern Rhone train operating at high speed. Moreover, they are doing some incredible work in all price ranges. Other 2011s that the Perrin boys have produced include the following wines, which were very good across the board, especially for 2011s. In particular, readers need to take a hard look at their estate in Vinsobres, which is making the finest wines of that appellation, and more recently, what they are doing in Gigondas with the estate they purchased there, Clos des Tourelles. These are special wines. There are now three cuvees of Gigondas from the Perrins - the Gigondas La Gille, the Gigondas Vieilles Vignes and the Gigondas Clos des Tourelles. All three merit serious attention. Tasting the 2010s, which were all set to go into bottle right after my visit, certainly shows that this vintage is impressive, although I''m not sure that Marc and Pierre Perrin haven''t done as good a job with their selections in 2011. Three cuvees of Gigondas look to all have outstanding potential and will probably be in bottle by the time this report is published. As usual, the 2010 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet red is a blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre and the rest Syrah, Counoise and other permitted varietals. It possesses crisp, tart acids, a fresh, lively, Burgundian-like personality, and plenty of red and black currants intermixed with sweet and sour cherries, earth, smoke, garrigue and unsmoked tobacco. The red is capable of lasting 20 years.
-Wine Advocate #197 Oct 2011 (88-90)

Very deep crimson still – even at 11 years old! Right out to the rim. Rich and sweet on the nose. High toned and dense. Liquorice. Lots of sweet fruit but structure too. Juicy and not too alcoholic. Very slightly hot on the end but SO superior to the average Côtes du Rhone! What’s not to like?! Great to be reminded of how good Coudoulet is. (JR)