2007 Rasteau Les Esqueyrons
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Absolutely compelling, the 2007 Domaine Grand Nicolet Côtes du Rhône Villages Rasteau Les Esqueyrons is a single vineyard cuvee that comes from red clay soils and the estate’s oldest vines. A blend of equal parts Grenache (70-year-old vines) and Syrah (50-year-old vines) that’s aged in neutral barrels, it possesses a deep, inky color to go with stunning aromas of sweet black cherries, baked earth, roasted Provencal herbs, licorice, and chocolate. Full-bodied and powerful on the palate, with a dense, concentrated mid-palate and loads of texture, it also has beautiful acidity, firm underlying structure, and a classically styled, broad, and chewy finish. I am quite the fan, and this benefited from a short decant, and drank brilliantly for the three days I had the bottle open. It should continue to shine for 12-15 years.
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The prodigious 2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Rasteau Les Esqueyrons is an atypical blend (for Rasteau) of equal parts Grenache and Syrah. The Grenache was aged in tank, and the Syrah in demi-muids. This is a dark ruby/purple-hued, stunningly rich offering exhibiting a sumptuous nose of roasted meats, Provencal herbs, lavender, licorice, oodles of black cherry and black currant fruit, and hints of chocolate and forest floor. A compelling, full-bodied, concentrated effort, it should drink well young, yet, because of its fresh acids, precision, and harmony, evolve for 10-15+ years. These fairly priced as well as exceptionally high quality efforts are made under the guidance of winemaking consultant Philippe Cambie, who has quickly brought Domaine Grand Nicolet to the top. Importer: Peter Weygandt, Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA; tel. (610) 486-0800