Winemaker Notes
La Source refers to the natural spring that comes out of Unang's hill top--literally channeled through the house itself and no doubt used as the household water supply for ages--and which is so loaded with calcium that James has to yearly take a hammer to the deposit buildup coming out of the fountain in front of the house. This is the Syrah cuvée and comes from vines growing at 300 meters in the domain's most clay-rich soils, and is surrounded by oak and pine forests. Just over half the wine is raised in older barrels for one year.
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.