Friday Sips

2015 PESQUIER GIGONDAS
$26.99 BTL./$323.88 CASE

Currently this is the finest value in Gigondas and Mathieu Boutiere has elevated this wonderful family estate into the upper echelon of finest producers in the village. Vacqueyras and Cotes-du-Rhone are produced here but it the real specialty of the house has always been and remains this outstanding Gigondas.

As many of you know, 2015 is a sublime vintage for the Southern Rhone Valley. It will follow up with another one with 2016. However, back to what’s at hand, this gorgeous, big-boned yet lively 2015 Gigondas. Grenache (75%) driven aromas rule the day with scents of strawberry, Indian spice, grenadine and sultry, underlying lavender. Old vine, sultry texture that penetrates very deeply and expands with vibrancy and prominent black pepper on the finish. Typical of 2015, it has charm early on but this will no doubt age well for 12-15 years from vintage date.

2014 PESQUIER COTES-DU-RHONE
$13.99 BTL./$167.88 CASE

It truly is amazing to me how some love to follow what certain wine writers have to say and therefore dismiss an entire vintage only to come back and realize that it is actually better than what has been portrayed with words. 2014 makes my case because it is amazing to me how many folks taste this particular wine (as well as others) and come back wanting more. This truly makes me happy when we contradict such ideas.

Down to the stock's end of this yummy, savory 2014, the Pesquier Cotes-du-Rhone comes solely from the village of Sablet’s sandy, clay-limestone soils. Absolute transparency. Peat-smoke, lavender, kisses of blueberry. Spices abound with hints of tealeaf. Chewy fruit with ample charm up front with some Mourvedre muscle that arrives in mid-palate and carries to the back end. Nothing but sheer pleasure here, especially with its mouthwatering, engaging finish.

2015 BEAURENARD RASTEAU
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE

Like Pesquier’s Cotes-du-Rhone we are getting down to the end of Domaine de Beaurenard’s superbly priced 2015 Rasteau. Receiving as much focus as their prized Chateauneuf wines, Domaine de Beaurenard's Rasteau is a STEAL given the tedious biodynamic and terraced farming that goes into it. When we last saw this wine in March it was delicious but 9 months on, we are really seeing the potential of the vintage and the commitment to quality and excellence that the Coulon Brothers are all about.

This wine is a benchmark for Rasteau and doesn’t merely open a can of whoopass on others that are higher priced in this village and surrounding areas, it opens a case of whoopass on them! Ripe, full penetrating classic steely Rasteau nose with cassis and blackberry abound; builds more anise, lavender and especially violet as it sits in the glass. In the mouth, it is dense with underlying hot-rock aspects with excellent movement and energy. Lavish, complete and mouth filling, the structure and grip are submerged but present. Full, fresh and engaging, this wine brings it from the start to the lasting, long, exotic-spice tinged finish. Drink through 2023+.

2015 BEAURENARD CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE
$45.99 BTL./$551.88 CASE

The soul of the estate, Beaurenard’s Chateauneuf is from an average of 35-year-old vines coming off 25 parcels spread out over nine lieu dits. Since 1695, the Coulon family has been one of the most prolific in Chateauneuf-Du-Pape. What Daniel, Frederic, Victor and Antonin Coulon are doing in the vineyards as well as the winery is nothing less than stupendous and more importantly, leading the change into bringing Chateauneuf and the Rhone into better balance.

The 2015 Chateauneuf serves up persuasive strawberry and violet aromas. Very fine density and movement. Stunning depth but not a bit hot or overdone. Exquisite young CDP that is luscious and crawls through the mouth. Builds layers with full fruit submerging the tannic structure. Thai ginger spices and classic black licorice on the electrifying finish. This is outstanding price/quality rapport! Drink through 2030+.