6/15/18 RHONE ROSE, RASTEAU & CHATEAUNEUF


FRIDAY SIPS
Rhone Rose & Rhone Reds
Today June 15 from 1:30 - 6:30
Come in today and have a rousing Rhone experience as we uncork two of the regions superb reds along with two classy dry Rose wines that are oh so representative of the South of France. Coincidentally, all of the wines today come from excellent producers of Chateauneuf ;-)


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2017 CHARVIN COTES-DU-RHONE ROSE
$17.99 BTL./$215.88 CASE

It's been three years since we've poured this Rose from a Chateuneuf-du-Pape maestro for a Friday Sips Tasting. The grapes for this wine literally come from just across the border of Chateauneuf and are the same utilized for his ungodly Cotes-du-Rhone that often outperforms other Chateauneufs of the likes La Nerthe, Mont-Redon and Grand Veneur. But I digress. On to the blitzing pink wine at hand.

Pale pink color, all directly pressed after 2 hours of skin contact. Very provencal herb scents, particularly lavender and fenoueil along with hawthorn, rose and cherry pit. Livewire zip, plenty of material that fills the mouth. A bit more full in the mouth from 2017’s conditions – think strawberries, cream and plenty of pop. Scintillating and succulent on the finish, this rose seemingly lasts for an hour on the finish. This will undoubtedly be one of the selections of the summer. Well, at least while I have some, it is quite limited. Enjoy with seafood, charcuterie or even barbecued chicken or ribs.



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2016 BEAURENARD RASTEAU
$21.99 BTL./$263.88 CASE

Domaine de Beaurenard’s Rasteau continues to be one of the finest price/quality wines that we sell. Along with this fact and given how wonderful this wines drinks well early and ages, the pedigree of 2016 and the Coulon’s brilliant techniques in farming and vinification are all over this wine.

As usual, this is 80% Grenache & 20% Syrah from terraced, stony slopes in the region that possess remarkable terroir. I initially tasted this wine last year and have been very excited over its arrival and after sampling it again, that excitement has not waned. Cropped at the same levels of a Chateauneuf, this deep and expansive expression of Rasteau is teeming with exotic spice, sun kissed red raspberry, rose petal, lavender and cracked white pepper. There is a mysteriousness to this wine. Enhanced by its dark and sinister quality that is a nod to the warm days and cool nights. These were the statements of vintage 2016. Harnessing the generosity of the sunshine and expressing the freshness of the mineral laden site beautifully, there is serious explosiveness but with great finesse throughout. Layered but never heavy a full core of red and purple plum, raspberry fruit shines followed up by a finish that expresses rosemary, white pepper and thyme notes on the finish. A helluva wine that will surely impress at summer barbecues but it will also drink and develop gracefully through 2027.



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2017 FAMILLE COULON
'BIOTIFUL FOX' RHONE ROSE
$14.99 BTL./$179.88 CASE

Originally we were going to pour Bandol Rose but we sold it all out before we had the chance to uncork any, so we are going on this Rhone route instead. Domaine de Beaurenard has created at new label, ‘Famille Coulon’ for their Biotiful Fox wines. The 2017 Rose is upon us and like other pink wines from the south of France made by artisan producers, supplies are limited.

From the usual suspect grapes, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, this is not only a Rose of freshness but also contains ample substance. Energetic elegance, lithe fragrances reveal agile tones of cherry pit, lime, mineral, and a likable combination of hawthorn and fennel. Plenty of depth and body along with breezy, Provençal pop in the mouth this is essence of citrus that's been "cuisinarted" with the crunchy bits around the pit of a red plum. Sterling persistence, this illuminating rosé will work with friends but also smokes with white fish like halibut or sea bass that's been doused with good olive oil an spiked with garlic and saffron.div>



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2012 LUCIEN BARROT
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE
$31.99 BTL./$191.94 - SIX PACK

With a track record going back to the 70s, Domaine Lucien Barrot has produced rock-solid Châteauneuf wines that are some of the most sensual expressions of the region. One of the last who does whole cluster fermentation in total, these wines are traditionalist in every sense of the word. Bryan has worked with this fine estate’s wines since the 1979 vintage and can vouch for their fine quality.

One of the somewhat forgotten, great vintages of this decade, 2012 is super fine and we scored a hell of a deal on this one. Sultry, full-on tones of ground pepper, lavender, deep plum and smoked meat win the day both on the nose and in the mouth. Typical of the wonderful 2012 vintage, it has superb generosity and ripeness as well as a stylish cushiony texture and a lingering, smooth finish that has excellent spice and licorice. Accessible now, especially with a grilled steak, it is also very deceptive with its silky tannins and structure, it will easily develop for another 8-10 years.