Southern France's Gem, the hills of Rhone are home to some of the most sophisticated wines in the world. This set pairs well with Swordfish, Bacon, Game, Venison, Bison, grilled red meat, Pork, Veil. Ideal wine serving temperature is 65 F.
Dom Garrigue Vacqueyras
Description: More rounded and fleshy than the 2017, yet also tannic, the 2018 Vacqueyras has classic notes of red and black fruits, garrigue, and pepper. Based on 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and the rest Cinsault and Mourvèdre, brought up all in tank, it's going to benefit from a year or two of bottle age yet keep for upwards of a decade. Flavors: Black fruit, pepper, sprice Grape Variety: 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Cinsault 5% Mourvèdre
Famille Brechet Bosquets Gigondas
Description: Bright violet. An expressive bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, peppery spices, potpourri and a hint of garrigue. Coats the palate with juicy blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter and more lively with air. Rich but energetic, displaying good finishing focus and gentle tannic grip. Flavors: Violets, garrigue, cherry Grape Variety: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre and 2% Cinsault
Paul Autard Chateauneuf Du Pape
Description: It's not far off the Côte Ronde cuvée and has a powerful, modern bouquet of black raspberries, chocolate, toasted spice, and graphite. Surprisingly elegant and seamless on the palate, with good freshness and elegance, it has fine tannins, medium to full body, beautifully polished tannins, and a great finish. The oak adverse need not apply, but it's a brilliant traditional cuvée that has a modern character yet never loses its Southern Rhône soul. Flavors: Chocolate, spice, graphite Grape Variety: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah 10% Mourvèdre
St Cosme Crozes Hermitage
Description: Looking at the Northern Rhône releases from Louis, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage offers terrific depth of fruit as well as hints of violets and pepper, medium body, and fine tannins. It's beautifully textured and just sings of Syrah. Flavors: Pepper, violets Grape Variety: 100% Syrah
Du Colombier Hermitage Rouge
Description: 2017 Hermitage is beautifully pure and layered, with smoking good notes of crème de cassis, white flowers, crushed rocks, and violets. Deep, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, it has plenty of tannins. Flavors: Cassis, violets, white flowers Grape Variety: 100% Syrah
St Cosme Cote Rotie Description: One of the gems in the Northern Rhône lineup is the 2018 Côte Rôtie, which, as with all of Louis' wines, wasn't destemmed and was brought up in 30-40% new oak. Stunning aromatics of black raspberries, olive tapenade, ground pepper, violets, and assorted meat notes all flow to a medium to full-bodied, opulent, seamless Côte Rôtie that has a smoking good texture. Count me impressed. Flavors: Raspberry, olives, meats Grape Variety: 100% Syrah