Laurus Gigondas 2008

15.5 / 20

Producer: Gabriel Meffre

Region: Côtes du Rhône

Country: France

A Grenache and Syrah blend, this Côtes du Rhône has a composed bouquet where strawberries and cherries mingle with some toast/smoky notes and an earthy, truffle like aroma. After opening up, some black olives (not unusual in the Côtes du Rhône wines I've tasted so far) also appear.

In the mouth, it felt a bit closed. Good structure, fresh acidity but the cocoa/oak notes are very much to the foreground, overpowering the red fruit that can be felt underneath. Good, strong ending but one feels that this still needed some time to settle and balance - specially in the palate.

Tasted on 2012-03-11

Domaine Richaud Terre des Galets 2010

16.0 / 20

Producer: Domaine Richaud

Region: Côtes du Rhône

Country: France

Really nice Côtes du Rhône bought and tasted in Paris a couple of weeks ago - a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan.

Black olives in the nose, a touch of sous bois and balsamic and lots of jammy black fruit. Very intense, inviting and deep bouquet all around.

Nicely structured in the palate, quite big and with a lot of dark fruit creeping up all over the place. Good, balanced acidity and some very present tannins grant it a pleasant, all around appealing taste. Very nice persistence with notes of black fruits and a hint of toast.

Went really well with a very rare entrecôte.

Tasted on 2011-10-04

Domaine de la Janasse Côtes du Rhône 2009

15.5 / 20

Producer: Domaine de la Janasse

Region: Côtes du Rhône

Country: France

A french white from Côtes du Rhône, this starts by showing aromas of tropical fruit, along with some crisp citrus notes. Further along the way some faint vegetable notes also appear.

In the mouth, this is an half-dry wine with some lingering sweet notes. Balanced acidity, it shows tropical fruit in the palate along with a smokier/toasty feel. Finish is average, with an aftertaste reminiscent of lemon rind.

Tasted on 2011-05-29