Re Gourt de Mautens, Jerome now makes a wonderful, but serious Rosé. Very cerebral and in need of food. Will probably age well. He has also made some great Vin Doux in recent years.
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Regarding Gourt de Mautens, for those interested in learning more here is a recent article I just stumbled across this morning that has a nice overview of owner/winemaker Jerome Bressy and his approach, as well as some recent tasting notes: http://frenchchronicle.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the link Kevin. I don’t see these available on the west coast. A few sparsely in the east. Do you guys import?
The rules for Rasteau are interesting. I have to say, I’m not up to speed on the regulations of the various southern Rhone appellations but to require at least 25% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre and 15% of other does seem rather prohibitive. I much prefer the Grenache dominated wines of the region.
It’s been a while since I last had anything from this AOC so on another hot pair of days in my area, I opened a 2015 Domaine Grand Nicolet ‘Terres de Bertrand’ [Rasteau] and, despite the local temperatures, quite enjoyed it. This is a higher altitude parcel different from their VV bottling, and it clocks in at at 14.5% abv, which is low given that our modern era can easily lead to 15% or 16% levels in this village. This is a Weygandt Metzler import, btw. For my eyes, it’s a dusky ruby robe, full bodied with a red berry California pinot like feel to the palate. I also find some rhubarb/celery flavors with Nilla wafers at the end, although there’s no oak, just concrete tank aging for the destemmed crush. For those with preconceptions about (dearly departed) Phillippe Cambie’s style, this bottling might surprise. There is a bit of carignan here, but I don’t get any ugly leathery notes here, at age 8. On my scorecard, I’ll slot this into the B+ zone.
I don’t see many Rasteau locally, nor do I actively hunt them down, but it’s rare to be disappointed. The AOC is maybe 1/3 to 1/2 the price of CNDP, and good estate/vintage pairs can age 10 years. K&L has brought in Soumade a few times recently, which was one of the early pacesetters.
Had the 2013 GdM the other day, really good bottle.
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Had the 2005 GdM last week, in a perfect spot (nothing of falling apart) … very enjoyable
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Rabasse Charavin makes some very nice Rasteau’s. Loved visiting there and did seven 12 case shipments back to the states. Unfortunately the person who handled the shipment at Ziegler’s in Sorgues left, and no one in that location would assist, not even when Corinne called them.
