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Terre Des Chardons Discret

Southern Rhône, France 2010 (750mL)
$35.00
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Terre Des Chardons Discret


This 2010 Terre des Chardons Discret hails from the Costières de Nîmes appellation.  Until 2004, when it was admitted into the appellation of the Rhône Valley, the appellation was part of Languedoc-Roussillon. Nestled between the ancient city of Nimes and the western Rhone delta, it is the southwestern-most appellation of the Rhône Valley and I had mistakenly believed, the stepchild of the Rhône. I had previously been disappointed by the appellations wines, although the area boasts incredibly rich history. The Greeks drank the wine from this area before the Romans. Afterwards, the area was settled by Julius Caesar’s veterans after their campaign in Egypt. Further, Costières de Nîmes was the main supplier of wine to the Popes when they resided in Avignon during the great schism of the Catholic Church. 
 
Jerome Chardon, winemaker and owner of the domaine, grew organic fruit and vegetables on the land before he began cultivating vines 15 years ago. His vineyard is certified organic and biodynamic and his soils are something to boast about. In his blog (mindfullofwine) Ted wrote, “It is clearly a former riverbed that has turned into the color of rust from all the oxidized iron in the soil. It seems to give the wine its sense of blood and iron in both the aromas and palate. Also, you can’t see it, but there is a tremendous amount of limestone in the soil.” Jerome, who is as passionate and holistic a winemaker as they come, crafts his wine with whole cluster fermentation, utilizing only native, indigenous yeasts, and ages the wine in vat to allow the pure expression of this terroir’s Syrah to have a clear, unadulterated voice.
 
This Syrah has an opaque dark ruby center and moves to slightly orange reflections on the rim, which indicates just a kiss of maturity. The dark, and meaty and explosive nose boasts aromas of dried blackberries, black cherries and black plums beautifully enhanced by dried meat, concentrated black olives, beef consume, fresh-cracked black pepper, teriyaki, soy and crushed rocks. The Palate is rich, round and opulent, with luscious fruit, charcuterie, lavender, wild mushrooms and is driven by a totally savory quality with a mineral-driven edge. The mouthfeel is round, rich and creamy, with loads of glycerol; the palate is driven by immense savory notes and minerals for an incredible balance and lingering finish.  Serve at 55-60 degrees in an all-purpose stem. For an incredible pairing, try this Steak au Poivre, simple and delicious with meaty Syrah.
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Country
France
Region
Southern Rhône
Sub-Region
FranceCostières de Nîmes
Soil
Galets, Limestone and Iron
Farming
Organic and Biodynamic
Blend
Syrah
Alcohol
13.5
OAK
Neutral

France

Bourgogne

Beaujolais

Enjoying the greatest wines of Beaujolais starts, as it usually does, with the lay of the land. In Beaujolais, 10 localities have been given their own AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) designation. They are: Saint Amour; Juliénas; Chénas; Moulin-à Vent; Fleurie; Chiroubles; Morgon; Régnié; Côte de Brouilly; and Brouilly.

Southwestern France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux surrounds two rivers, the Dordogne and Garonne, which intersect north of the city of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The region is at the 45th parallel (California’s Napa Valley is at the38th), with a mild, Atlantic-influenced climate enabling the maturation of late-ripening varieties.

Central France

Loire Valley

The Loire is France’s longest river (634 miles), originating in the southerly Cévennes Mountains, flowing north towards Paris, then curving westward and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. The Loire and its tributaries cover a huge swath of central France, with most of the wine appellations on an east-west stretch at47 degrees north (the same latitude as Burgundy).

Northeastern France

Alsace

Alsace, in Northeastern France, is one of the most geologically diverse wine regions in the world, with vineyards running from the foothills of theVosges Mountains down to the Rhine River Valley below.

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