Saint Jean Du Barroux Ventoux La Pierre Noire 2006
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2011-
Robert
Parker
Le Barroux is a small Provencal town located in the heart of the Vaucluse. Its twelfth century castle overhangs the stone-built village houses and picturesque alleys. In between the two famous mountains, the Mont Ventoux and the Dentelles de Montmirail, le Barroux is renowned as being an excellent tourist site, providing a magnificent scenic point of view. Nature surrounds the village, forests and fruit trees, intermingled with vines which paint a varying landscape of changing colors. The small estate vineyardsof Saint Jean du Barroux extend over 15 hectares of the hillside, at an elevation of between 300 to 400 meters. It consists of 11 hectares of vines and 4 hectares of fruit trees and forest, on alternating terraces and slopes. Owner and winemaker Philippe Gimel is the heart and soul of this tiny project, working the vineyards by hand in harmony with the environment.
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.