2010 Cotes du Ventoux Cuvee Persia
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As shocking as it seems, the 2010 Cotes du Ventoux Cuvee Persia (90/10 Syrah and Mourvedre) reminded me of Jean Louis Chave's Hermitage, from a cooler, granite year. Aged all in new barrels and foudre, it has sensational minerality in its darker fruits, crushed flowers and graphite aromas and flavors. This gives way to a medium to full-bodied, focused, elegant and ultra pure 2010 that has fine tannin, excellent concentration and a big finish. It's a sensational wine. Put this in a brown bag at your next northern Rhone tasting and shock your friends.
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Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Dramatically different in style, the 2010 Domaine de Fondrèche Côtes du Ventoux Persia is a blend of 90% Syrah (from old vines) and 10% Mourvedre that is aged in a combination of demi-muid and barrique. It delivers a thrilling bouquet of black raspberries, cassis, spice-box, licorice, and sweet oak that carries to a full-bodied, rich, and layered palate that has nothing out of place and a seamless, polished texture. Balanced, very rich, and yet with beautiful freshness and poise, this needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will drink well for over a decade.
(made from 90% old-vines syrah and 10% mourvedre): Opaque ruby. Pungent, spice-accented aromas of dark berries, cherry pit, olive and violet, with a smoky topnote. Chewy, palate-staining blackcurrant and bitter cherry flavors gain sweetness with air and pick up a subtle licorice quality. Clings well on the finish, with the licorice and dark berry notes repeating.
90% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre. Spice and pepper and old leather handbags on the nose. Nervy. Just a trace of oak here for the moment but this should eventually be a great bottle. (JR)