The Strapping 1999 Santa Duc, Gigondas

I was surprised to find bottles of this 1999 Domaine Santa Duc, Gigondas on the shelves at MacArthur Beverages.  With the 2009 available for the good price of $30 per bottle, this $25 offering of the 1999 vintage is irresistibly priced.  This wine has the rustic Gigondas personality with a core of modern fruit which should appeal to a broad array of drinkers.  It will live for some time to come but right now it provides a satisfying and strapping glass of wine.  This wine may still be available at MacArthur Beverages.

1999 Domaine Santa Duc, Gigondas – $25
Imported by Robert Kacher Selections.  This wine is a blend of 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, and 5% Cinsault which was aged for 12 months in 50% in old barrels and 50% in old foudres.  The color was garnet with a cherry core.  The nose starts with cedar and garrigue aromas eventually revealing lots of herbs and roast earth.  In the mouth there is a mature start but there is a noticeable core of youthful black and red fruit which has some plumpness.  With air the fruit becomes a tad tart with everything balanced by the acidity.  There are still rustic, grapey tannins which coat the inside of the lips.  The incensed finish has flavors of stone and iron mixed with black and red fruits.  The long aftertaste is slightly puckering with some salivating acidity.  It is drinking well.  *** Now-2019.

A Rhone Wine Dinner Hosted By Jan and Rick

Eight of us recently attended a Rhone Wine dinner hosted by Jan and Rick.  While they continue to host a variety of barbecues and holiday parties, they have started organizing a series of wine-themed dinner parties.  As an example we attended their Spanish dinner party in September 2011.  Each couple brings a dish along with two wines (or a magnum).  Jan decorates the bar and dinning room with related pictures from their travels and the table is set with linens, dishes, place cards (mine bore a wine bottle), and flowers to match.  I thought this dinner was particularly fun.  All of the food was tasty from the Gruyere puff balls and mini Croque-monsieur, to the seafood bisque Provencal, and chocolate cake.  The wines were a big hit with a good balance between the 2010 vintage and 2004-2000 vintages.  A few other wines were opened but I did not get around to tasting them.  The evening was casually paced with enough time to enjoy the food and both savor and discuss the wines.  We left rather late, though way past our typical bedtime we were excited and satisfied.

Appetizers at the Bar

2000 Domaine du Trapadis, Cotes du Rhone Villages Rasteau
This wine is a blend of 70% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, and 10% Carignan.  Decanted for two hours this revealed a light to medium intensity nose of red fruit, spice box, and cedar.  In the mouth the brighter red fruit had raspberry flavors, a medium mouthfeel and young core.  There were finely textured tannins as it tightened up towards the finish.  There were mature flavors and drying tannins in the aftertaste.  *** Now-2015.

2010 Domaine Brusset, Les Travers Blanc, Cotes du Rhone Villages, Cairanne
This wine is a blend of 30% Clairette, 30% Grenache Blanc, 20% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, and 10% Viognier which was fermented in vats and new barrels. No malolactic fermentation.  The nose was delicately textured with aromas of floral white fruit.  In the mouth the flavors were of light, yellow fruit with a marked juiciness, and some lifted flavors in the aftertaste.  The profile was lighter but with good flavor.  ** Now.

My Place Setting

2010 Domaine Rouge Bleu, Cuvee Mistral, Cotes du Rhone
This wine is a blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Carignan which were fermented in concrete tanks.  This was double-decanted twice, two hours prior to tasting.  I took just a quick note.  There were focused red fruit flavors, some cinnamon, minerals, an inky/lipstick note in the aftertaste, all supported by plenty of acidity.  There is good potential here, it just needs several years of age. **(**) 2015-2022.

Seafood Bisque Provencal

2010 Chateau de Saint Cosme, Blanc, Cotes du Rhone
This wine is a blend of 30% Picpoul, 30% Roussanne, 20% Marsanne, and 20% Viognier which was fermented in old barrels and aged on the lees.  The nose revealed lovely, textured ripe white fruit.  In the mouth there were good, ripe flavors, sweet spiced fruit, which started off as lively on the tongue than expands and fills the mouth.  There were notes of Meyer lemon in the finish as sweet spices came out in the aftertaste.  Lovely to drink right now.  *** Now-2014.

Chicken in Riesling

2001 Chateau de Saint Cosme, Gigondas
This wine is a blend of 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 5% Cinsault which was aged in 60% used wood barrels and 40% tanks.  The nose revealed earthy, rustic red fruit, cedar, forest floor, and some floral notes.  In the mouth the flavors bore a touch of lavender as they turned towards blue fruit.  The flavors became leaner as sweet spice came out in the aftertaste.  *** Now-2017.

2003 Domaine Santa Duc, Gigondas
This wine is a blend of 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, and 5% Cinsault.  The aromatic nose revealed ripe, blue and red fruit, spicy notes, and tobacco aromas.  In the mouth the ripe fruit had good depth, was inky with ripe tannins, and an expansive aftertaste with flavors of licorice.  This contemporary Gigondas is still youthful and should develop and last for many more years. ***(*) Now-2022.

2004 Domaine Chante Cigale, Chateauneuf du Pape, en magnum
Imported by Saranty Imports.  This wine is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, and 10% Cinsault.  Double-decanted an hour before I tasted it.  The nose revealed smoked tobacco and dark blue fruit.  In the mouth the flavors shed baby fat with air with the blue and dark blue fruit tightening up.  This easy-going wine remained tight with integrated acidity, very subtle sweet spice, a touch of warmth, and an overall primary nature.  Magnums of this will easily cellar for years to come! **(*) 2017-2025.

Chocolate Cake

Two Rhones With Some Age

Veronique Peysson-Cunty has run Domaine de Font-Sane since the 1970s.  The 1998 Cuvee Futee is the first vintage I ever bought of Font Sane and we first drank it back in December 2007.  Back then I appreciated it for its brawniness and minerals but today the fruit is fading faster than the rest of the wine.  So drink up!

Vineyard, Image from Domaine du Trapadis

Domaine du Trapadis has 19th century origins and continued to sell the entire harvest until contemporary times.   Helen Durand started bottling some of the wine at the age of 16 in 1990 and by 22 she was running Domaine du Trapadis.  Over the last several years we have tried the 2000 Les Adres, Cotes du Rhone Villages Rasteau but always found it quite tight.  When MacArthur Beverages recently put out the entry cuvee of 2000 Rasteau I quickly snapped up a bottle.  It did not disappoint and proved to be a great example of a fully mature Cotes du Rhone Villages.

1998 Domaine de Font Sane, Cuvee Futee, Gigondas
This wine is a blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah sourced from 35-year-old vines.  It is only produced in the finest vintages.  The wine is aged for 24 months of which 8-12 months are spent in 100% new oak barrels.  There is a wild nose of leaner red fruit with a touch of pruned fruit.  In the mouth the red fruit flavors mix with dark wood notes.  There is plenty of acidity to keep things lively but the fruit is fading and becoming hard.  There are some sweet tannins, a bit of spice, and with air more weight and sweet spice in the finish.  The wine wraps up with drying tannins inside the lips.  Drink now but will certainly last.  ** Now.

2000 Domaine du Trapadis, Cotes du Rhone Villages Rasteau – $16
Imported by MacAthur Liquors.  This wine is a blend of 70% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, and 10% Carignan sourced from 20-year-old vines (at the time). The Grenache, Mourvedre, and Carignan are co-fermented with the Syrah fermented separately due to earlier harvesting, all with indigenous yeasts.  The wine is aged for 18 months in cement tank.  There is a light, maturing nose with a youthful core.  In the mouth the medium-weight red fruit bears a touch of roast, and cedar before turning gentle with soft red fruit, a touch ripe blue fruits with spice.  With air it takes on a light to mid-weight, fine, pebbly texture with ripe tannins.  Drinking at its peak right now.  *** Now-2015.

I Taste Barrel Samples of Beaucastel

I decided to make a quick visit to MacArthur Beverages to pick up some Greek wines and others to taste.  When I walked into the store everyone was in the back tasting some wine.  I was pleased to see Olivier Lotterie of Vineyard Brands again (he recently poured the Tablas Creek at the California Barrel Tasting) and completely surprised to see Cesar Perrin of Chateau de Beaucastel/Famille Perrin tasting barrel samples and other selections.

Cesar Perrin and the Author

The 2010 Chateau de Beaucastel, Coudoulet de Beaucastel and Beaucastel Rouge were barrel samples.  This is indicated by the different label which indicates Enchantillon pris sur cuve or “Sample taken from vat.”  According to Danny Hass (Vineyard Brands) these two wines have completed blending and will remain the same until they are bottled in September.  It was a pleasure to taste all of these wines.  For those who cannot wait the 2009s are lovely and if you have the money then squirrel away a bottle or two of the Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape.  I would like to extend my gratitude to Cesar Perrin and Olivier Lotterie for letting me join the tasting and to Danny Hass for quickly answering my questions.

2009 Famille Perrin, Cotes du Rhone Villages - $11
Imported by Vineyard Brands.  This wine is a blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache sourced from 15-25 year old vines, a good portion of which are declassified young vines from Vinsobres.  There was a youthful and floral nose which was quite engaging.  In the mouth there were tart red fruit flavors, a little lightness, grapier tannins, and lots of red fruit in the finish leaning towards a citrus aspect.  This is a young but approachable wine to be drunk over the short-term.

2009 Perrin et Fils, La Gille, Gigondas – $30
Imported by Vineyard Brands.  This is a blend of Grenache and Syrah sourced from 40-year-old vines.  The nose was focused with red and blue fruit, supported by a hint of grapefruit, and eventually some good, earthy Gigondas stink.  In the mouth the flavors were focused with the strength of the wine held in check by youth.  The aftertaste revealed dark red fruit and was a little spicy.  I would cellar this for five years.

2010 Chateau de Beaucastel, Coudoulet de Beaucastel Rouge, Cotes du Rhone – $25
Imported by Vineyard Brands.  This barrel sample  is a blend of Grenache 30%, Mourvèdre 30%, Syrah 20%, Cinsault 20%.  There was a nose of young black fruit with grapey aromas.  In the mouth the black fruit flavors led throughout along with some herbs, in an easy-going manner.  There was lively acidity throughout.  It is currently playing it close and will benefit from several years or more of cellaring.

2010 Chateau de Beaucastel, Beaucastel Rouge, Chateauneuf du Pape – $75
Imported by Vineyard Brands.  This barrel sample  is a blend of 30% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache , 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, 5% Cinsault and the rest a blend of Vaccarese, Terret Noir, Muscardin, Picpoul, Picardan, Bourboulenc, and Roussanne.  It is the same blend as the 2009 but from a 30% smaller crop. The nose revealed tighter red fruit with hints of ripeness.  In the mouth there were red fruit flavors with lots of focus that put on weight as it developed in the mouth.  The tannins are very well-integrated, a bit spicy.  This wine is focused and determined to develop with age, the tannins and acidity are seamlessly integrated and lend to its understated capability for longevity.  Revisit in five years but should last for a very long time.

2009 Chateau de Beaucastel, Chateauneuf du Pape – $80
Imported by Vineyard Brands.  This wine is a blend of 30% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache , 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, 5% Cinsault and the rest a blend of Vaccarese, Terret Noir, Muscardin, Picpoul, Picardan, Bourboulenc, and Roussanne.  There is lovely brambly fruit on the nose tilting towards blue fruit flavors.  In the mouth there are lots of up-front softness (not flabby) before a seductive, racy quality (Licorice/Kirsch perhaps) comes out which persists all the way through the long aftertaste.  There are dark ripe flavors in the middle with lovely tannins and a stellar aftertaste.  I imagine this will drink earlier than the 2010.  A beautiful and very good wine.  Very approachable right now this is hard to resist drinking but should be amazing once mature.

Two Mature Wines for a Cold Winter’s Weekend

In searching my tasting notes for Domaine Les Pallieres I realized that I have not tasted the 2000 since December 1997.  The light amount of snow and ice this past weekend (and new episode of Downton Abbey) provided the perfect excuse to pull corks on the Pallieres and Harveys. The Harveys Vintage Port was bought almost four years ago for roughly $35 per bottle.  A John Harvey & Son selection, this was specifically imported into the USA by Heublein.  Many of the established British wine merchants with their extensive connections and experience bottling their own wines, carry their own house selections.  They generally represent good value.  Having shopped at Harveys during my Bristol days I readily snatched up 5 or 6 bottles of this port.

The Pallieres was a solid drink with its strength lying in the earthy nose.  At its peak this is an enjoyable but not thrilling wine which was easily upstaged by the 2003 Domaine Santa Duc, Gigondas.  The Harveys was thoroughly enjoyable.  It has been a few years since we last opened a bottle, when the alcoholic spirits were already poking out.  While that is a bit distracting, the nose and initial flavors have an enjoyable complexity; a glass of Dow’s 10-year-old tawny tasted ripe and young in comparison.  While this will chug along for some time I would recommend drinking it over the next five years before the fruit fades too much and the spirits take over.

2000 Domaine Les Pallieres, Gigondas – $33
Imported by Kermit Lynch.  True to my old note the nose is very earthy and rustic with lean fruit.  In the mouth the red fruit mixes with notes of minestrone soup, hints of ripeness and a healthy dose of fine+ drying tannins which cover the lips.  The higher-toned red fruit becomes lifted towards the finish leaving impressions of some minerals.  A solid drink that may be drunk without thought or a good precursor to better quality Gigondas.  Now-2017.

1983 Harvey’s Vintage Port – $103 (available in Switzerland!)
Imported by Heublein.  This is a Martinez Vintage Port.  There is a nose of cedar, tobacco, and hints of sweetness similar to BBQ bark.  In the mouth the black cherry are sweet at first with spices developing as the flavors expand in the mouth.  The first half is subtly complex.  The finish starts off spicy before the spirit reveals itself.  The flavors thin a bit in the finish with evidence of heat but the aftertaste is pleasing.  This bottle is comfortably within its mature plateau.  Now-2017.

Starting the New Year with New Gigondas

The village of Gigondas is nestled in the hills of the Dentelles mountains.  It is almost a dividing point between the lower, flatter plain and the higher, hilly area.  The two ridges of the Dentelles are located just south of the village and run east-west.  The vineyards closer to the river Ouveze lie at 100-150 meters where the stonier soils contain less clay.  Those nestled against the Dentelles reach 600 meters where there is rich, yellowish clay soils.  The Saint Cosme estate is located just north-east of the village.  The estate of Boussiere is located south-east of the village, high-up on the nothern side of the Dentelles Sarrasines.  Grand Montmirail is located at the extreme south-eastern limits of the Gigondas region on the south side of the Col d’Alsau and La Salle at middle elevation of 300 meters.

I recently purchased all three of these wines from MacArthurs.  Of these three wines my heart was captured by the Bouissiere which I strongly recommend you try.  There is an elegance to this wine lent by the high altitude vineyard where the Syrah grows quite well.  Indeed this wine has the highest proportion of Syrah.  I also recommend you try the Saint Cosme.  This is not rustic Gigondas, instead it is a full-bore, concentrated, tannic Gigondas that needs age and will last for over a decade. The Brusset was a decent drink and though it changed personalities over two nights, it never achieved its balance. The Bouissiere is imported by Dionysos Import and available for $27.  The Brusset is imported by Simon N Cellars and available for $27.  The Saint Cosme is imported by The Country Vintner and available for $35.

2009 Domaine La Bouissiere, Gigondas
This wine is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah that was aged for a year in both tank and 1-3 year old barrels.  The nose is clean with fruity red fruit and delicate finesse.  In the mouth the elegant red fruit has a powdery texture with good weight which expands in the finish.  The lovely fruit has sweet spice, licorice, and incense notes before minerally/steely notes come out in the aftertaste.  This is a pleasure to drink but will develop and last.

2009 Domaine Brusset, Tradition Le Grand Montmirail, Gigondas
This wine is a blend of 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, and 5% Cinsault.  The wine was aged 60% in vats and 40% in 2-4 year old demi-muids.  There was a dark, fruity nose.  In the mouth the flavors were darker and richer than the Bouissiere.  The flavors integrated with textured tannins and herbs in the finish.  This showed less liveliness and acidity than the Bouissiere.  On the second night there was a slight floral quality to the nose.  The mouth was better balanced and felt coiled, with ripe and sweet blue fruit flavors.  It became spicy in the finish, with some heat.

2009 Chateau de Saint Cosme, Gigondas
This wine is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 17% Mourvedre, and 3% Cinsault.  The wine was aged for 12 months in 70% 1-4 year old wood barrels and 30% in cement and wood tanks.  This was salty, rich, and clearly the most concentrated of these three bottles.  There were lots of fine+ tannins and spicey flavors in this wine which is cleary youthful and primary.  On the second night it was still concentrated with blue and red fruits, unyielding, and contained lots of drying, fine tannins in the aftertaste.  This will greatly benefit from short term aging and should last for some time.

The Beautifully Perfumed 2009 Piaugier, Gigondas

This is a new selection on the shelves at MacArthurs.  I was excited to try a bottle of this 2009 Gigondas not only because Phil had recommended it but because we really enjoyed the well-priced 2009 La Grange de Piaugier.  This bottle did not disappoint, while it drank well right after opening, its beauty was revealed after one hour.  It really is worth purchasing this wine just for the nose alone.  This is a very elegant Gigondas at a great price so I recommend you drink a few bottles now and cellar the rest.  This bottle from Domaine de Piaugier is imported by DS Trading Company and available for $23 at MacArthurs.

2009 Domaine de Paiguer, Gigondas
This wine is a blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, and Syrah sourced from 40-year-old vines.  The nose is beautifully scented with aromas of orange rind, spices, then floral with a subtly sweet maple note.  In the mouth the flavors are floral with spiced red fruit that is both complex and fresh.  There are supporting coarse tannins, good clean body, and a finish with more floral fruit, a wave of acidity, and drying tannins.  This opened up after one hours then started shutting down after three hours. ***(*) Now-2022.

Drinks with Erin and Sean

This past weekend long-time friends Erin and Sean trekked over to our house to catch up.  The wines were poured right after opening and were enjoyed by all.  Erin commented that she drank a lot of Gigondas during her trip to France last month.

2007 Talley Vineyards, Chardonnay, Rincon Vineyard, Arroyo Grande Valley
This wine is 100% Chardonnay sourced from the 89 acre Rincon Vineyard.  The vines were planted in 1991 and are located on soils of shallow clay loam over sandstone.  The wine was 100% barrel fermented, malolactic fermentation in barrel followed by 16 months of aging on lees in 30% new French oak.  Drunk over three nights this bottle improved with time.  The color is of golden straw.  The rich nose makes way to fresher fruit in the mouth with immediate supporting acidity.  There is a mild, buttery texture the precedes flavors of stones, apples, and notes of toast.  There is prickly acidity on the tongue tip.  Jenn really enjoyed this on the second night.  Needs a bit more time. ***(*) 2015-2019.

2008 Willamette Valley Vineyards, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley
This wine is 100% Pinot Noir that was fermented in small bins then aged in 10% new Alliers French oak barrels.  Red fruit on the nose followed by a mouth of concentrated notes of cherry and some spice.  This lighter bodied wine has balanced acidity, and unobtrusive tannins.  A solid bottle that could stand another year or two of aging. *(*) 2014-2019.

2009 Domaine Santa Duc, Cuvee Tradition, Gigondas
The cuvee Tradition is a blend of 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre, and 5% Cinsault that was hand harvested before aging for 18 months in casks and tuns. I picked this up at the Bobby Kacher tasting.  This was drunk over a few hours.  It was enjoyably concentrated with good fruit that exhibited a lot of texture on the tip of the tongue.  The acidity comes out midpalate as fine, ripe, flavorful tannins step up.  This chewy wine has ripe fruit from the beginning with a spicy aspect, and is full of incense that fills the mouth.  Drink now for a robust experience or cellar for years to come. ***(*) Now-2022+.

Tasting Robert Kacher Selections at MacArthurs

This past Saturday I managed to squeeze in a short visit to MacArthurs to taste several wines poured by Bobby Kacher.  For over two decades Bobby has imported wines from his base in Washington, DC.  Though there was a continuous crowd of approximately one dozen people, he poured the wines, kept track of what everyone was drinking, meticulously managed the bottle temperatures, checked every glass before handing them over, and kept up an engaging banter.  To demonstrate the development of secondary aromas and flavors for one customer, he opened up a bottle of the 2007 Vernand Ambroise, Les Vaucrains.  My notes are a bit better than usual for a store tasting because the pours were decent and wine glasses were used.

This was a fun tasting.  I always enjoy tasting wines that I have not picked out and particularly enjoy tasting outside of the regions we typically drink from.  The Domaine Thomas, Domaine Santa Duc, and Chauvenet-Chaupin are all pleasing and interesting wines appropriately priced between $24-$35 per bottle.  At the higher-end of the selections I would be happy simply smelling glasses of the Ogier and Bertrand Ambroise.

2010 Domaine Thomas & Fils, La Crele, Sancerre – $23.99
This wine is 100% Sauvignon Blanc sourced from the La Crele vineyard.  This vineyard is located on a hillside with soils of limestone and small rocks.  The vines are 35 years old.  A strong, lifted nose of  subdued tropical fruits with good citrus and grassy components.  In the mouth there is a good mouth feel with balanced acidity.  After we had tasted the Santa Duc, Bobby poured us a second glass of this wine to demonstrate the purity of the nose.  Quite a nice wine. Not Rated.

2009 Domaine Marc Morey & Fils, En Virondot, Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru - $69.99
This wine is 100% Chardonnay sourced from a steep, rocky section.  There is a rich, delineated nose with some toast aromas.  In the mouth there are green apple flavors, an undertone of vanilla, and crisp apple-like acidity.  The fruit is textured with tannins becoming evident towards the finish.  This wine is young and need time for the oak to integrate.  But I must admit that I rather liked the tannins. Not Rated.

2009 Domaine Santa Duc, Cuvee Tradition, Gigondas – $29.99
This wine is a blend of 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre, and 5% Cinsault.  The nose sported pure red fruit and a little earthiness.  In the mouth the lovely textured red fruit lifted and expanded midpalate before the incensed finish.  The mouth is completely covered by the time of the long aftertaste.  There is a nice quality to this wine as the fruit turns darker with blue/black berries in the finish. Not Rated.

2007 Michele & Stephane Ogier, Cote-Rotie – $79.99
This wine is 100% Syrah with 70% sourced from Cote Blonde and 30% from Cote Brune.  The vines are 18-63 years of age.  This was incredibly aromatic, the most out of all wines tasted this day.  The nose was earthy and textured with aromas of red and black berries.  In the mouth the flavors were more subtle with red, grainy fruit and a cool finish.  Right now the nose steals the show but hopefully in a few years it will develop in the mouth. Not Rated.

2009 Chauvenet-Chaupin, Cotes de Nuits-Villages – $34.99
This wine is 100% Pinot Noir.  A nose of red fruit.  In the mouth there are brambly red berries, good body, and a mineral-incense aspect.  The fruit turns bluer midpalate with a fine texture before becoming lifted in the aftertaste.  This should develop for a few years but it is absolutely pleasing at this point. Not Rated.

2009 Domaine Joblot, Clos  de la Servoisine, Givry 1er Cru - $39.99
This wine is 100% Pinot Noir sourced from very rocky, limestone rich soils.  This was lighter and more structured than the Chauvenet-Chaupin.  With more obvious oak, there is a complex midpalate, and long finish.  Very young at this point. Not Rated.

2007 Bertrand Ambroise, 1er Cru ”Les Vaucrains, Nuits Saint Georges – $79.99
This wine is 100% Pinot Noir sourced from 50+ year old vines then aged in 100% new oak.  The nose immediately revealed developed aromas of earthy, maturing fruit.  In the mouth there were ample flavors of red fruit that are still precise.  There is plenty of supporting acidity, still very fine tannins, and somewhat of a lifted aftertaste.  I would give this a few more years of age or several hours in the decanter. Not Rated.

A Pair of Wines from the Gold Cup Weekend

Vines at Sang des Cailloux, Image by drea.mers (flickr)

William came down for the Gold Cup last month.  In anticipation I opened up some wine I thought he would not normally drink at his restaurants.  For his first night I choose two recent releases as I wanted something tasty but not too intellectual.  This was a good decision because the horrendous traffic resulted in William showing up at midnight.  We all enjoyed the Sang des Cailloux very much.  This is not suprising as these wines are consistently amongst my favorites from Vacqueyras. The Bastide Saint Vincent is available for $22 and the Sang des Cailloux, which is imported by Kermit Lynch, is available for $30 at MacArthurs.  I would pass on the Bastide Saint Vincent and upgrade to the Sang des Cailloux.

2009 La Bastide St Vincent, Gigondas
This wine is a blend of 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre.  This is immediately recognizable as a modern style of Gigondas.  There was clean red fruit and integrated acidity in this approachable wine.    It was priced well but I really did not get excited as I missed the earthiness and rusticity I prefer in my Gigondas, which is reflected in this very short note. ** Now-2017.

2009 Domaine le Sang des Cailloux, Cuvee Azalais, Vacqueyras
This wine is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre and Cinsault.  There are concentrated red berry flavors with a dark core running through the wine.  It is young but with air some herbs, earthiness, and Vacqueyras spice eventually come out in this medium+ bodied wine.  Remarkable easy to drink right now.  Evocative of past vintages of the Cuvee Azalais I would recommend cellaring this for at least five years though it will mature longer. **(**) 2017-2025.