Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Domaine La Garrigue has always been one of my favorite Eric Solomon estates. Solomon has the producer bottle this cuvee two or three years before La Garrigue’s other wines. It is essentially declassified Vacqueyras from 60- to 90-year-old vines. Another wine looked after by Philippe Cambie, it has been a consistent winner in every vintage I have tasted, and the 2013 is again an outstanding effort. A blend of 65% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah aged in concrete, it is a quintessential Provencal fruit bomb offering abundant notes of black cherries, black currants, roasted Provencal herbs, licorice, incense and background earth. It possesses a dark ruby/plum/purple color, medium to full body, and a ripe, fleshy, hedonistic personality.
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.
Typically thought of as a baby Chateâuneuf-du-Pape, the term Côtes du Rhône actually doesn’t merely apply to the flatter outskirts of the major southern Rhône appellations, it also includes the fringes of well-respected northern Rhône appellations. White wines can be produced under the appellation name, but very little is actually made.
The region offers some of the best values in France and even some first-rate and age-worthy reds. Red wine varieties include most of the Chateâuneuf-du-Pape varieties like Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Counoise, as well as Carignan. White grapes grown include Grenache blanc, Roussanne and Viognier, among others.