Winemaker Notes
Pairs well with stuffed poultry, wild boar stew, and soft cheeses.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Tasted out of tank, the 2012 Cotes du Ventoux La Quintessence looks just as good. Juicy and fresh, with the approachableness of the vintage, it gives up ample flowers, garrigue, licorice and copious black and blue fruits to go with a medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured and seamless profile. The same blend and elevage as the 2011, it should drink nicely for upward of a decade. As a side note, I was able to taste the first vintage of this cuvee, the 1990, and it was still youthful in color and drinking beautifully, so don’t underestimate the ageability of this cuvee.
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.
Stretching across the slopes of the Ventoux mountain in the southeastern region of the Rhône River Valley, Cotes du Ventoux excels in the production of spicy and characterful red blends based on Grenache, Syrah, and other indigenous varieties. The region also produces rich and aromatic whites and rosés.