Winemaker Notes
Dark purple, with a nose of black berries, cherries, garrigues and black olives notes. Very ample structure, richness and power balanced by the freshness of the Ventoux terroir, garrigues, black cherry and tarry notes with velvety tannins.
Pair with terrines, roasted red meats, meats in sauces, game (venison haunch, rabbit or wild boar stew, stuffed poultry, poultry with truffles), soft cheeses (camembert, brie, etc.) and possibly red fruits and/or chocolate desserts.
Blend: 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Lastly, the Syrah dominated cuvee (there’s 20% Grenache) is the 2016 Ventoux Cuvee Quintessence. It’s another deep purple colored wine that has terrific purity in its black and blue fruits, ground pepper, olive and graphite aromas and flavors. Deep, rich and full-bodied, with beautiful polish to its tannin, this beauty will benefit from short-term cellaring and have 15-20 years of overall longevity.
Rating: 95+ -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Ventoux Quintessence is 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache, aged in 40% new barrels. Despite the ample new oak, it doesn't seem overly woody, instead offering up loads of crème de cassis and blueberry fruit. Savory complexity comes in the form of dried herbs and baking spices, plus a dusting of cocoa powder on the long, warming finish. This is a full-bodied and fully ripe wine, but it stays balanced and never comes across as heavy or rustic in the least.
Range: 91-93 -
Wine Spectator
This provides a lush and velvety feel to the flavors of plum sauce and blackberry puree, while hits of graphite and black tea underscore the finish. Drink now through 2021.
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.