Grenache

Calcareous Vineyard

If you read my blog on a regular basis you’ll know that I’m a sucker for the Rhone varietals.  The Rhone Valley in France is my wine heaven, but Paso Robles is an area that is doing fabulous things with Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre and the rest of the Rhone grapes.

Lloyd Messer and his daughter Dana Brown, both experienced wine distributors in Iowa, founded Calcareous Vineyard in 2000.  They shared the dream of owning and operating a winery of their own and after researching many renowned wine regions around the world decided that California’s Central Coast was where they wanted their dream to come true.  They named their winery “Calcareous” after the Latin word describing the white colored lime deposit soil.  Their goal and motto has been to “Let the Soil Speak”, and you can taste it in their wines.

Sadly Lloyd Messer passed in 2006, so today Dana and her sister Ericka are keeping the dream alive!

I opened the 2010 Calcareous Vineyard Grenache-Mourvedre tonight, which is 57% Grenache and 43% Mourvedre.  After first pouring a glass the oak was overwhelming, so I decided to decant it for a bit.  Ahhhhh … what a difference an hour can make.

On the nose are plum, cherry, black pepper and cinnamon.  The palate confirms the aromas with the cinnamon even more pronounced, but in a good way.  I love it!  There is also some licorice there that adds to the overall taste and finish.  After giving it the time to decant, it is a well-balanced wine with some really fun things going on and a medium-plus finish.  I’m definitely going to be checking out more wines from Calcareous Vineyard!

If you’d like to do the same, here is Calcareous’ website:  http://www.calcareous.com

Visiting Gigondas

After visiting the Northern Rhone Valley, Gigondas was our next stop.

Gigondas is a charming village located near Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Southern Rhone.  It is also an appellation that produces some fabulous wines, both red and rosé, with its vineyards sitting below the dramatic rock formation called the Dentelles de Montmirail.

For many decades all of the wines of Gigondas were simply Côtes-du-Rhône, but in 1966 they were elevated to Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages.  In 1971 Gigondas was deservingly awarded its own appellation.  By law, the red wines of Gigondas can be made of no more than eighty percent Grenache, and no less than fifteen percent Syrah and/or Mourvedre.  The remaining blending varietal is usually Cinsault, but may be any other red Rhone varietal except Carignan.

One of the top producers of Gigondas is Domaine de Cayron.  I have some of their wines in my home cellar and was excited to visit them.  Sadly when I arrived for my tasting the winery was closed and I received no response to my knocks on the door or rings of their bell.

Thankfully, not far down the road sits the Caveau du Gigondas.  Here one can taste a plethora of Gigondas wines (over one hundred!), including wines from Domaine de Cayron!  The tasting room is a large, modern space that has many wines along the walls.  At the tasting bar we bellied up and were offered as many tastes as we liked, all being poured from small bottles that were filled directly from barrel at the respective winery. 

My husband and I tried many, but not all, of the wines.  One of our favorites was the 2010 Domaine La Bouïssiere Gigondas Le Font de Tonin.  This full-bodied wine is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20 % Mourvedre.  Its floral and dark fruits on the palate are well concentrated with nice minerality.  We bought a couple of bottles that will sit in our cellar for a few years, because they need some more time to evolve.

The Caveau du Gigondas is a GREAT place to taste.  It was quite busy while we were there, but nonetheless the service was wonderful and the fellow tasters very friendly.  We were given a written list of each wine available to taste, and we were able to pick and choose our preferences.  One man we met had tasted them all!!!  I sure do hope that he wasn’t driving!!!

If you’re in Gigondas be sure to plan a visit.  They are located right next to the town hall and the tourist information office.  They are closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day, along with 15 days in January.  Otherwise they are open daily from 10am – 12pm and 2pm until 6pm.  You can check out their website at: http://www.caveaudugigondas.com/

2007 Domaine Catherine Le Goeuil Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne

My husband is out of town, so I spent some time rifling through our cellar last night to find a wine for just me.  In celebration of my upcoming trip to the Rhone Valley, I decided on a half bottle of the 2007 Domaine Catherine Le Goeuil Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne.

Cairanne, located in the French departement of Vaucluse, is a small village located between the Rhone River and the famous Dentelles de Montmirail mountain chain.  Along with its neighbors Beaumes-de-Venise, Rasteau, Sablet, and Seguret, Cairanne is considered one of the five best areas allowed to use the Côtes du Rhône Villages AOC distinction.  The red wines of this region require a minimum of 50% Grenache and at least 20% Syrah and/or Mourvèdre; other permitted varieties (Counoise, Cinsault and Carignan among others) must not exceed 20%.

Catherine Le Goeuil is a bit of a trailblazer.  She was born in the Congo to French parents, but had always wanted to “return to her roots”.  In 1993 she and her family bought this six-hectare domaine.  After their first chemical treatment to the vineyards she became very ill, and she realized that if these chemicals made HER ill, they would also make the vines ill.  She began the conversion to organic farming and today her winery is now certified organic.

And now for the wine!  On the nose are bright berry aromas with a hint of fresh flowers and some damp earth.  The palate of this medium bodied wine is very pleasing with spicy red currant, thyme and good acidity.  This is a very pleasant wine possessing a substantial finish with black pepper and hints of the terroir.

I saved a glass for tonight and had it with a fresh salad drenched in a very garlicky dressing, along with a chunk of Beemster XO Gouda from Holland.  It was a great pairing with both.

There are many lovely Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages wines on the market here in North America.  A lot of these wines are of great value and don’t break the bank.  This wine is one of them!

2007 Domaine de Terrebrune

My husband and I are heading to Provence this summer, so last night we popped in the movie “A Good Year” and cracked open a bottle of red from Bandol to get in the spirit.

The wine we chose was the 2007 Domaine de Terrebrune.  This winery and its vineyards are located near the village of Ollioules in the south of France.  Bandol is considered the best wine appellation in Provence, producing small amounts of white wine and some lovely dry rosés, but their red wines are what put Bandol wines “on the map”.

By law, the red wines of this appellation must be at least 50% Mourvèdre, but many winemakers use as much as 100%.  Grenache and Cinsault compliment the blend.

The 2007 Domaine de Terrebrune, a deeply colored and full-bodied wine, is 85% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache and 5% Cinsault.  After pouring it into a decanter, I immediately poured some in a glass and swirled.  On the nose was watermelon and raspberry.  I then let it sit for about 30 minutes.  After allowing it to get some air, I found dark black cherry, earth and some wonderful fresh herbs on the nose.  The fruit and tannins were nicely balanced on the palate, and the finish was pleasant and long.  The longer this wine sat, the better it become.  At this point it definitely needs a few hours of decanting, or be sure to lay it down for a few more years.

This estate is certified organic.  They use no herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilizers.  Domaine de Terrebrune does not use machinery in the vineyards.  Everything is done by hand.  The grape selection is even done in the vineyard, not at a sorting table.  The wines are bottled unfiltered and unfined.

I look forward to visiting Domaine de Terrebrune this summer!  I’m sure I’ll find their current vintages as exciting as this 2007.

2009 Banshee Mordecai

We’re having a great bottle of wine tonight that doesn’t break the bank!  The 2009 Banshee Mordecai is a blend of Syrah, single-vineyard Turley Zinfandel, Napa Valley Mourvedre, Paso Robles Grenache, along with a splash of some other varietals.

This is a big California Red, with some nice earthiness to balance it out.  It has big blackberry fruit with some cherry cola on the nose.  As this wine opens up, it has some barnyard qualities to boot!

The palate screams the cherry cola, complimented by a little spice, vanilla, mocha and blackberry.  It also has some good earthiness to help make you forget that it’s California, and balances out the wine beautifully.  If you enjoy big New World wines with a touch of Old World earthiness, you’ll agree with me.  The ’09 Mordecai is a complex, delightfully fun wine for only $25.

 

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