Domaine du Seminaire Cotes du Rhone Villages Valreas 2016
- Decanter
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Robert
Parker
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Blend: 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Carignan
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Lavender, black olive and blackberry aromas make for a very Provençale character. It's a little spicy and smoky on the palate, with lovely concentration, good balancing acidity and young, sprightly tannins keeping the fruit in check. It's really vibrant and expressive, very drinkable and detailed - a real success.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The medium to full-bodied 2016 Cotes du Rhone Villages Valreas is a classic example of the appellation. Ripe cherries lead the way, joined by hints of thyme, bay leaf and dried spices for complexity. The plump mid-palate is concentrated and creamy in texture, with tannins that turn silky on the finish. This charming wine should drink well for 5-6 years.
Other Vintages
2015-
Robert
Parker
On 100 hectares of land in the hills above the village of Valréas, a beautiful Provençal house, surrounded by olive and truffle oak trees, lavender fields, and thick forest, is the center of the idyllic micro-estate of Domaine du Seminaire. The vineyards are near the northern limit of ripening Grenache, in the colder foothills of the Alps, where they are swept by the strong mistral winds.
Hervé Pouizin is the fourth generation to farm this land; he and his wife, Mathilde, have preserved the self-sufficient estate mostly as it was a century ago, with one key exception: they converted everything to organic farming. Fermenting their wines in the same huge concrete tanks since 1938, the couple takes an old-school approach to winemaking and uses no oak. They produce high-toned, bright, floral wines, in keeping with their region and elevation, bottled early to preserve the fruit and with minimal sulfur.
These wines offer a fantastic value, as they are humble, pretty wines done exceptionally well.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
An appellation full of some of the most delightful and particularly charming reds, Côtes du Rhône Villages includes the best villages of the greater Côtes du Rhône appellation. The possibility for an appellation promotion exists for every named village but each has to achieve and prove superior quality before an upgrade will be granted. The main ones today are Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes-de-Venise, Vinsobres, Rasteau and Cairanne.
The Gigondas appellation, while sometimes producing wines with a touch of rusticity, can often rival Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Its elevations are higher and soils richer in limestone. Vacqueyras reds are more concentrated than the more general Côtes du Rhône reds and must be at least one half comprised of Grenache by law. Beaumes de Venise also includes some excellent higher elevation spots for making snappy, fruity and spicy reds but historically the appellation’s esteem came from its fragrant, sweet and golden Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise.