cdr
OUR FAVORITE APPELLATION
Cotes du Rhone, our favorite appellation.
2019 LES GARRIGUES $13
Named after the beautifully aromatic underbrush and scrub found all over Provence, Les Garrigues is an easygoing yet surprisingly full-blooded Cotes-du-Rhone. A Michael Skurnik Wines exclusive, it is produced by a single, small domaine in the Cotes-du-Rhone appellation, and bottled according to our preferences. A blend of predominantly Grenache, with a balance of Syrah, Les Garrigues is always balanced, delicious, and correct—never over-ripe, over-done, or overly alcoholic (a trait that sometimes mars wines of this scorching-hot southern climate)… We like to think of it as the perfect all-purpose value Rhone red, and its success over the years seems to confirm our opinion. Try for yourself!
2019 DOMAINE LA MANARINE BLANC $17 (organic)
The sole white wine of the estate is produced from a blend of Clairette and Bourboulenc. The grapes are fermented in temperature-controlled cement tanks and are left in contact with the fine lies for several months. Bottling takes place in early spring of the year following harvest. Production is quite limited
2019 DOMAINE LA MANARINE $15 (organic)
The standard bearer of the domaine is the Côtes du Rhône Rouge produced from the younger (but not young) vines (average 35 years old) of the estate. This wine is 100% Grenache and produces a classically spicy, full-bodied wine that speaks clearly of the “garrigue” of the region. The grapes are destemmed before the fermentation and the cuvaison is on the order of three weeks duration. The wine is bottled without filtration after twenty to twenty-four months of “elevage”.
2019 DOMAINE GRES ST VINCENT COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES “Singargues” $16 (organic)
Les Vignerons D’ Estézargues is a co-operative cellar in the small town of Estézargues which is located near Avignon. Les Vignerons D’Estézargues is truly unique in the wine world. All over France the co-op still plays a very important role in the production and sale of wine. Co-ops receive grapes from members and then make wine from them, this wine is made in large batches and grapes from many different vineyards are vinified together; the focus is on producing wine in quantity. Les Vignerons D’ Estézargues takes a fundamentally different approach; starting in 1995 the ten different growers in this co-op began to vinify their wine separately and make single cuvées from their best plots. On the heels of the single cuvée evolution Les Vignerons D’ Estézargues began to practice natural winemaking. Possibly one of the only co-ops in the world to do so, Les Vignerons D’ Estézargues uses no external yeasts, no filtering, no fining and no enzymes are employed on the grapes during the winemaking process. Michael Trebillon is one of the men behind Les Vignerons D’ Estézargues, he grows the fruit for Domaine les Genestas and Denis Deschamps makes the wine and their efforts have been hailed by wine lovers and critics around the world.
2018 DOMAINE LES GENESTAS COTES DU RHONE VILLAGES “Signargues” $16 (organic)
40% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 15% Carignan-Hand Harvested. No external yeast or enzymes are employed during the winemaking process. The wine is stored in enamel-lined tanks for 10 months before it is bottled without fining or filtration. The nose is redolent with smoky notes of cassis, blackberries, dried orange peel and sweet spice. The palate is a plush and delectable expression of red and black fruits backed by brambly tannins and the wine finishes with a supple dash of orange zest and black pepper.
2019 VIGNERONS ARDECHOIS “VIN BIOLOGIQUE” $13 (organic)
70% Grenache, 30% Syrah.From a hidden corner of the Rhône Valley, this is from 30+ year old vines, grown in the hills west of Montélimar, on stony and sedimentary soils. The grapes are hand-harvested, fermented in cement tanks before being aged in stainless steel. At bottling, the wine is unfiltered, lightly fined and lightly sulfured before bottling. It offers bright soft and juicy red and blue fruit with mineral notes and balancing acidity. Eminently chuggable.