Chatus is an ancient red grape that was originally found in the Piedmont region of northwestern Italy but also used to be the most widely planted grape in southern France to the Alps. Unfortunately, Chatus is susceptible to phylloxera. Following the phylloxera outbreak across Europe, the Chatus vines were not replanted and the grape was abandoned. It is being rediscovered and is one of the varieties featured in the Anciens Cépages series from Yves Cuilleron. This grape features characteristics such as high acidity and tannins with deep purple color. It can also withstand being aged on oak barrels to increase texture and complexity. An interesting aspect of trying this series is seeing how some grapes can hold up to being made into varietal wines and how some can not. Chatus is a great grape on its own but is also used in blends with varieties such as Syrah or Barbera.
The wine I drank this week is a 2021 Yves Cuilleron Chatus. This wine is a beautiful pale ruby with magenta highlights. It displays notable aromas of red and black cherries, sour pie cherries, cranberry, red current, white pepper and bramble. The tannins in this dry wine are lighter than I anticipated but they are ripe and smooth. It has a moderate level of acidity and alcohol that combine with the tannins to provide a lighter bodied wine. The acidity brightens the fresh, ripe red fruits that gradually fade on the medium length finish. This wine is a great bottle to drink now but has potential to age for up to 10 years, if you’re patient enough! I would pair this with lighter meats, aged cheeses, or red sauced pasta dishes.
-TheLooseTannin
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