Red Wine Chateau Cohola Gigondas Cor Hominis Laetificat 2019. Winemakers Cheli and Jerome first met at university in Andalucia before returning to Jerome’s homeland to make their own wine. In 2012 they purchased a rundown estate in Sablet which they have since converted into a fine organic winery. Uniquely, their wines are aged in a remarkable 7th century cellar close to Roquefort in the region of Averyron. Gigondas wines typically offer exceptional value for money, and this example from Cheli and Jerome is no exception. Their vineyards in the appellation have a diverse range of soils featuring scree slopes, clay, limestone, and sand which helps to create complex and characterful wines. Yields are kept low to maximise quality and to avoid over-stressing the vines. The blend is primarily composed of Grenache along with some Syrah and Mourvedre for balance and intensity. The couple use long macerations to extract lots of colour and flavour and prefer to avoid new oak barrels which may overwhelm the natural personality of the grape varieties. Expect luscious layers of dark fruit overlaid with spice and toasted oak notes from the balanced ageing process. A great wine to pair with rich game dishes or to keep in the cellar for a few more years.
2019
Red Wine Chateau Cohola Gigondas Cor Hominis Laetificat 2019
Red Wine Chateau de Beaucastel Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet 2019. No need to decant it, but best to open it an hour before serving it. The 16th century Chateau de Beaucastel is a historical domain of enormous importance in the Rhone Valley. It was bought by the Perrin family in the early 1900s, and saw its growth amplified by Jacques Perrin. Since 1978, his sons Jean-Pierre and François have perpetuated the immense work of their father, to then pass the business into the hands of Perrin’s fifth generation. With a global following for their Chateauneuf du Pape, the wines of this historic property are consistently regarded among the best in the region. The 30 hectares vineyard of Coudoulet lie just east of the main estate, and it’s often considered the “baby Beaucastel The vines, organically grown, like all other properties of the Famille Perrin, are planted on sandy, clayey and calcareous subsoil with superficial pudding stones, typical of the southern Rhone. This first-class Cotes du Rhone is a blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, and Cinsault. The wine shows an intense ruby color. The nose is an explosive mix of blackberries, cherries, plums and ripe raspberries, followed by subtle spices, hints of leather, and undergrowth. In the mouth, it is juicy, with excellent structure, good persistence, and medium to full body. The tannins are strong but well balanced. It ends with a long, spicy finish and still has a few years to go. Its juiciness will pair brilliantly with duck breast, beef and aged cheeses.
2019
Red Wine Chateau de la Gardine Chateauneuf Du Pape 2019. The Brunel family have been winemakers since the 17th century, but it was only in 1945 that the renowned wine merchant Gaston Brunel purchased Château de la Gardine in Chateauneuf du Pape. Today the estate is run by two generations of Brunels, Gaston’s two sons and their wives along with his grandchildren. In total they have 52 hectares of prime vineyards which are predominantly planted to red varieties as well as 20 hectares of woodland to aid biodiversity and sustainability. One unique feature of the winery is their original bottle design which is modelled on an ancient bottle Gaston found buried in the ground when he began digging to expand the cellar. To copy its unique shape he had to go all the way to Italy and all of the family’s wines have been put in these distinctive bottles since 1964. The family’s classic Chateauneuf du Pape is sourced from vineyards with four different soil types to create a complex, multi-layered wine. Pebbly galets” soils give structure and body, limestone brings minerality, and clay and sandy soils help to create elegance in the finished wine. Once vinified the wine is aged in a combination of stainless steel tanks and oak barrels for 9-14 months.
2019