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 2007
Perrin Crus Côtes du Rhône Nature, 95% Grenache, 5% Syrah, 13% alc., $13.99:
Showing good dark color, with earthy underbrush over red and black plum and
berry on the nose that follows through in the big, chewy flavors with a rich
core of fruit and leathery undertones; this is a big mouthful of red Rhône
enjoyment. Full bodied and well structured for several years in the cellar, but
approachable now and then some; Kim likes this a lot and so do I. Find this wine2007 Perrin Crus Côtes du Rhône Villages, 50% Syrah, 50% Grenache, $14.99, 13% alc.: Clean dark color, with a pretty red and black fruit perfume, more berry than plum. On the palate, just a hint of chocolate over red and black currant and berry, just a little plum and undertones of earth and underbrush. Smooth, rich, full bodied and well structured for at least a few years in the cellar, but don’t be afraid to open one for dinner tonight, especially with some grilled red meat or a hearty stew. Find this wine 2005 Perrin Crus Côtes du Rhône Villages Vinsobres Les Hauts de Julien, 50% Syrah, 50% Grenache, $49, 14% alc.: It’s been a year since we last tried this, and it’s showing rather differently now. Still deeply, darkly colored, but with a smoked stone, sun baked red and black fruit character in both flavor and aroma that doesn’t remind us of what we tried before. At its heart is plenty of big, chewy, smoky, ripe dark plum, berry and currant fruit. Full bodied and well structured, with several years of development ahead of it, but also a lot of interesting qualities about it right now. I didn’t like the $45 price tag last year, and while it’s jumped another $4, it also gives more to come closer to justifying the tariff. Find this wine  Back in January,
we reported on a couple of wines from two new producers to us,
Domaine de Font-Sane and Domaine des Pasquiers. We liked them well enough to
obtain a couple more bottles from each, and here’s what we thought of them.2006 Domaine de Font-Sane Gigondas Tradition, 15% alc., $23.99: Deep and dark in color, with big earth and iron on the nose and a rich beam of black currant and blackberry that comes to the fore on the palate. Full bodied, well structured and very primary, with several years of development and improvement ahead of it, but approachable now with extended air. The rich fruit carries the day here, and the earth and iron provide great support. A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. Find this wine 2006 Domaine de Font-Sane Gigondas Terrasses des Dentelles, 15% alc., $34.49: Good dark color, with a dusty, sun baked plum and berry nose that doesn’t give a lot at first, but becomes more generous with air. Flavors echo and expand, with burry tannins and zippy acids; the sun baked character sets the tone of the wine’s personality. With its rich core of fruit, all this needs is 5-8 years in the cellar to smooth out the rough edges. A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. Find this wine  2006 Domaine des Pasquiers Côtes du Rhône Villages Sablet, 14% alc., $18.99:
Clean dark color, with earth, iron, black and red fruit on the nose; fleshes out
on the palate with a mélange of plum, berry and beetroot, and a note of lavender
lends a subtle touch that makes this distinctive. Full bodied, with solid
structure and good length; very nice now with air, and promises further
development over the next five years and beyond. Find this wine2007 Domaine des Pasquiers Côtes du Rhône, 14% alc., $13.99: Deep dark color, with sun baked plum and berry with a little chocolate on the nose; plenty more of the same on the palate, with a solid earthy anchor and a note of cola with air. Full bodied, with big structure and presence; a solid wall of earthy tannins vie with the rich core of fruit for dominance of the wine’s personality. There’s at least 3-5 years of development ahead for this, but with air, it’s already rich and flavorful. Find this wine Imported by AHD Vintners, Ltd., Warren, MI  We also tried another wine brought in by our friends at AHD Vintners in Warren,
Michigan, and liked what we tasted.2004 Domaine du Val des Rois Côtes du Rhône Villages Valréas, 13.5% alc., $19.99: Deep dark garnet color, and all earth, iron and tar on the nose; more of the same on the palate, with a solid core of black currant and blackberry fruit. Full bodied and structured for many years in the cellar, but tannin pigs will love it now with two hours or more in a decanter. Better yet, give it five years and try it then. Find this wine Imported by AHD Vintners, Ltd., Warren, MI How did the following northern Rhône find its way into this collection of wines from the south?!  2002 M. Chapoutier Crozes Hermitage "Les Varonniers," 13% alc., $47.99: Good
clean dark color, with dry, earthy black plum and black currant shaded with
leather; rich, but not at all fruit forward. Full bodied, well structured and
drinking very well right, with no danger of fading any time soon. Made from
organically and biodynamically farmed grapes. Find this wineImported by Paterno Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL 2005 Eric Texier Côtes du Rhône, 12.5% alc., $18.49: Clean dark color, with a slightly sun baked nose of smoky red fruit that doesn’t exactly jump out of the glass at first; the echoing flavors pick things up nicely, however, not restrained or austere, but rather rich and very dry at the same time. More in the red spectrum than the black, with earthy, smoky, peppery plum and currant shaded with a note of leather. Medium full to full bodied, with a certain leanness to it, but well structured and seemingly more backward than the 2006 Texier Brezeme we tried last December. A nice wine that likes air and drinks better for it, but five years in the cellar would be best for this. Find this wine  2003 Chateau Pesquie Côtes du Ventoux Quintessence, 80% Syrah, 20% Grenache,
$13: Deep, dark color, with a sun baked smoked stone character that is probably
the by-product of the intense heat of the mutant vintage; rich, ripe and earthy,
with a solid core of black plum, berry and currant. Big, chewy and well
structured, this likes some time in a decanter for drinking now, but would like
five years or so in the cellar even more. This was a clear out from the
distributor and our friends at Cloverleaf took everything they had, creating a
feeding frenzy that I got in on the tail end of. Regularly priced at around $19;
at $13, this is a tremendous value, but alas, it’s all gone now. Find this wine Imported by European Cellars, LLC, Charlotte, NC
2007 Kermit Lynch Vin de Pays du Vaucluse, 13% alc., $12.99: Good dark color,
fading at the rim; hints of animal, Provencal herb and cocoa over earthy plum
and red berry in both flavor and aroma. Medium full bodied, fairly rich, but dry
, with medium structure and depth for drinking now and over the next few years.
Solid everyday red with good QPR. Find this wine
Reporting from Day-twah, geo t.
Other Recent Wine Explorations Kermit Lynch's Traveling Roadshow The Wines of Charles Hendricks Wines of Distinction from Madiran, Bordeaux & more
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