Placeholder Image
SommSelect

Domaine du Colombier, Cuvée Gaby

Northern Rhône, France 2012 (750mL)
$35.00
/
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Your cart is empty.
  • In stock, ready to ship
  • Inventory on the way
Fruit
Earth
Body
Tannin
Acid
Alcohol
SommSelect

Domaine du Colombier, Cuvée Gaby


As I learned more about the wine and its producer, Florent Viale of Domaine du Colombier, I realized why it was so incredible. Florent is a tall, friendly man who has a passion for life just as much as he does his vines. His vivacious behavior shines through in his wines and the 2012 Cuvée Gaby is no exception. This stunning Syrah is made from grapes that are sourced from the bottom of the slope on the eastern edge of the great hill of Hermitage—the birthplace of Syrah that continually produces the most brilliant expressions of this varietal, with more quality than anywhere else in the world. Although the appellation of Crozes-Hermitage does not receive as much attention as Hermitage itself, on occasion, there are producers who impress even serious Hermitage enthusiasts. Domaine du Colombier is one of these producers; with Florent at the helm, these wines could pass for Hermitage with incredible ageability.

Domaine du Colombier is located in the small town of Mercurol, home to many ancient, stone structures and old ruins of churches from long ago. Surrounding the town are the beautiful old vines which are planted mostly to Syrah. The majestic hill of Hermitage dominates the landscape from any vantage point—gently rising towards the sky with sloping vineyards planted on all sides and at every angle. On the bottom of the hill, on the eastern side, Florent’s vines are planted for production of his Crozes-Hermitage 2012 Cuvée Gaby. These vineyards are sixty years old, originally planted by the wine’s namesake—Florent’s grandfather, Gaby. The vines are planted in limestone and clay soils, which is a unique combination for this region. Most of the Syrah vines in this area are planted in granite soils and are what makes these wines so age-worthy—though difficult to enjoy young. The presence of limestone and clay in Gaby’s vineyard is what allows the 2012 Cuvée Gaby to be so approachable in its youth. The body is soft, the palate is round and the fruit is rather delicious—an elegant combination that makes the wine absolutely delicious now, but also capable of withstanding substantial time in the cellar.

Visually, this wine is enchanting with a light purple core with garnet and purple reflections on the rim. The aromatics are richly filled with classic Rhône aromas of cured meat, black plum, fresh black cherry, wild blackberry, dried black olives, fresh violets and crushed black rocks. The palate is illustrious and dense with notes of ripe wild fruits, wet violets, cured meat and limestone minerality; the tannins are well integrated and luscious as they mingle with the flavors on the palate. Since I enjoyed this wine after it had been open for two days, I am going to tell you not to drink this wine until it has been decanted a minimum of two hours—I must only assume it will be more enjoyable if you wait until after this lengthy decant. I would even advise you to open it in the morning if possible; the wine clearly needs oxygen, based on how good it showed after two days open. Most wine would be vinegar by this point. Once decanted, enjoy this beautiful Syrah out of a large Bordeaux stem at just above cellar temperature, at about 60-65 degrees. This wine will age gracefully for the next five to ten years or more without effort as long as it is kept properly. For a rich and powerful pairing, enjoy this classic Rhône Syrah with a delicious braised lamb shank dinner.
Placeholder Image
Country
France
Region
Northern Rhône
Sub-Region
FranceCrozes-Hermitage
Soil
Granite
Farming
Organic
Blend
Syrah
Alcohol
13.0
OAK
Large Neutral Oak (small amount new)

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.

Others We Love