Weekly Rhones…
These were all purchased recently for under 30 bucks and are simply fantastic, unique bottles of wine.
2005 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
I had this blend of 44% Mourvedre, 26% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 5% Counoise open for two days and it offers up fantastic, meaty and almost exotic aromatics of dark fruit, licorice, asphalt, underbrush and baking spices. It gained complexity with air and is rich, perfumed and interesting. The palate is full bodied and fruit driven with ripe tannic structure, beautiful texture and a solid, concentrated mid-palate that carries into a long finish. This estate is producing amazing wine that blends the ripe, fruit driven character of the central coast with the density, structure and depth that can be achieved from the Southern Rhone. (93 pts.)
2006 Les Obriers de La Pèira Coteaux du Languedoc Les Terrasses du Larzac - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc Les Terrasses du Larzac
This takes some coaxing but with air, gives up fantastic aromatics of cherry and raspberry fruit mixed with iron, spice and earth nuances. It’s impressive on the palate and shows beautiful purity to go along with medium to full body, solid concentration and a rich, supple texture. Balanced and rich, this shows nice length on the finish and is a beautiful, well made wine. (91 pts.)
2004 Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Prestige des Hautes Garrigues - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas
One of the most impressive 2004s I’ve had, this blend of 80% old vine Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 3% Syrah and 2% Cinsault has stunning aromatics of pepper and licorice infused black cherry fruit, roasted herbs and garrigue, graphite, tar and hot stone notes. There’s almost a meaty, savory quality to the aromas and there’s real depth and complexity paired with rich, sweet fruit and if you love Southern Rhones, this baby can make your knees weak. The palate is medium to full bodied with considerable structure that’s front and center at the moment. It’s concentrated without being over the top and is beautifully balanced, rich, textured and long with noticeable tannins on the finish. Accessible now but give this 5 to 10 years to flesh out and gain complexity. A stunning wine! (93+ pts.)
![[good.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/f/f84c5acc11486ee4baba6dee6cf61dbd133abb18.gif "thumbsup"){kind=small}