back to september 2009

today's wine is a trip back to september 2009, specifically the 3rd and 4th. i had promised a rose wine for this posting. st laurent des arbres is within walking distance of tavel, an aoc devoted entirely to rose and alleged to be the favored wine of louis XIV; rose is becoming ever more popular in france. in spite of those facts and the many wonderful tavels we have experienced the wine i chose to review is from the other side of the rhone, near the village of st cecile des vignes. this is the story of the rose that did not make it back to the united states.

through the amazing process of serendipity i made 2 discoveries while planning our trip to france for last september, "french word a day" and domaine rouge bleu; then i learned they were a husband and wife team (plus 2 kids, a dog, and her puppies). i inquired about a visit and we were rewarded with an exceptional experience. on september 3 we visited jean-marc and kristin at domaine rouge bleu and had the opportunity to taste their wines, with them, overlooking the vineyard and mont ventoux. in addition to his several outstanding reds, jean-marc offered his 2008 rose and his still fermenting (just harvested) 2009 rose directly from the fermentation tank. we are eagerly anticipating our return trip this september to have the mature 2009.

the 2008 domaine rouge bleu rose was wonderful. it begins with a nose of fresh red fruits. the tastes are subtle, red cherries, strawberry, and lemon with perfect crispness.

we included a bottle in our purchase with the intent of bringing it home. matters changed on september 4th at lunch, with a loaf of bread and a fresh cheese. alone in the tasting the wine had been excellent, coupled with our simple meal it was superb and easily held its own against any blush wine we have ever tasted. this is an exceptional wine with an exceptional range made by a producer who is focused on every aspect of his wine- the land, the vines, the grapes, and the vinification. of note, jean-marc also had arranged for us to visit his uncle jean-claude vidal of domaine du banneret on september 4.

i would strongly recommend this wine, and all of the wines of domaine rouge bleu. below i have abstracted from the winemakers site and from "french country wines" additional information and tasting notes. jean-marc is currently doing a wine tour of the united states.

Domaine Rouge-Bleu

Dentelle 2008

Possessing many mature vines, this new estate of 20 acres is farmed organically with attention paid to biodynamic processes. Near the village of Cairanne in the southern Rhone Valley, these wines are produced by traditional methods with care and attention by Jean-Marc Espinasse and his wife, the author Kristi Espinasse.

Terroir : Located at the foot Dentelles de Montmirail, the vines of this “cuvée” comes both from AOC Côtes du Rhône blocks (Carignan of 35 and Grenache of 57 years old) planted on a very rocky draining soil and on pebbles.

Working the vines : Inspired from bio-dynamiques methods (Consulting with Matthieu Bouchet – Terres en Devenir). Without any herbicides nor pesticides. Mechanical work on the ground. Products used : cooper, sulfur. Infusions of nettle, horsetail, wicker. Apply of MT 500, 501.

Harvest and winemaking : Manual in cases. They happened mid September in the morning in order to keep the freshness. After a straight press, the juices have been kept cold for a natural decantation before winemaking happens. Winemaking happened slowly for 3 almost weeks. The cold winter has permitted a natural fining. A light filtration has been done early January 2009 before the bottling, which ttok place on the 13th which is a fruit day on the moon calendar.

Tasting notes :

Very pale orange-pink color. Nose expresses delicate granada aromas with hints of lemons. The mouth is very fresh and as the fruit aromas develops, the fat and the length express too. This rosé can be enjoyed by itself and will also pair with seafood and white meats. (Winemaker)

Rouge-Bleu Vin de Pays Rose' 2008 $12.50 (from “French Country Wines”)

A very pale orange-pink color leads to delicate aromas of red fruit and lemon. As the fruit flavors develop in the mouth so does the structure of the wine present itself. Nicely balanced and with good acidity, a long finish is not a surprise. Enjoyable enough on its own, it will also pair nicely with seafood and white meats.