Vignerons de Caractere 2010 “Cuvee Prestige” Gigondas

Posted by Keith Wallace on Dec 31, 2012 in Wine Reviews | 2 comments

Vignerons de Caractere is one of the top co-operatives in the Southern Rhone.  They have been making a rather strong push into the US markets of late, especially in the Mid-Atlantic region. While being a co-op often means lower quality wines, that is not the case here. It does mean, however, that the wines are very well priced, including this Gigondas bottling.

The 2010 “Cuvee Prestige” shows a great deal of panache. Full bodied, it marries a dense and lush structure with a classic Gigondas minerality and “sweetness of fruit” as many of the local winemakers say. Dark fruit and mincemeat along with espresso rule the palate, while blueberry and dried leaves dominate the aromas. The finish is lean and clean with brighter flavors of cranberry and quince coming forward along with a touch of tobacco.

Gigondas is one of the great crus of the Southern Rhone, on par or surpassing Chateauneuf du Pape in sheer quality. This bottle is an excellent introduction to the region.

La Bastide Blanche 2010 Bandol Rosé

Posted by Keith Wallace on Apr 18, 2012 in Wine Reviews | 3 comments

Pink was the color of  both fallen samurai in ancient Japan and American gangsters of the 1920′s .  Now, Pink is “My Lil’ Pony” and Kindergarten birthday parties.  That is a crying shame; too many people ignore rosé  wines simply because of the hue.

This bottle is the antithesis of light and easy and sweet: it’s more Al Capone than Fudgie the Whale. Copper-colored, this wine has aromas of fresh tobacco and red fruits. On the palate, the flavor goes richer, with  deep strawberry and cherry flavors wrapped around  a core of mineral zing and some toothsome tannins. Burnt orange peel and black tar finish off this complex and aggressive pink wine.

E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone Rosé 2008

Posted by Wine Nut on Jan 2, 2011 in Wine Reviews | 0 comments

For many of us, Southern France springs to mind when thoughts turn to rosé. And Guigal, one of the most reliable producers in the Rhone Valley, comes through with flying tri-colors with this bottling. Perfect with everything from bouillabaisse to hot dogs…or even on its own!