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Domaine Le Colombier, Vacqueyras, Vieilles Vignes

Southern Rhône, France 2011 (750mL)
$22.00
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Fruit
Earth
Body
Tannin
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Alcohol
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Domaine Le Colombier, Vacqueyras, Vieilles Vignes


Nestled below the rugged, saw-toothed Dentelles de Montmirail Mountains lies the appellation of Vacqueyras, which is located just south of Gigondas and twenty kilometers from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The village received its appellation status in 1990, but the Mourre family of Domaine Le Colombier has been crafting wines in the Vacqueyras since 1962. Their vineyards boast some of the oldest vines in the entire appellation. Today’s Vieilles Vignes, which translates to, “old vines,” is sourced from incredibly old vineyards—including a parcel of vines that were planted back in 1902. The result is a wine of ample concentration and astonishing translation of terroir.
 
Meticulously farmed by the founder’s grandson, Jean-Louis Mourre, the estate is currently in the process of organic conversion. Before Jean-Louis took the reins of the estate in 1996, he studied geology, which has only furthered his aptitude as a vigneron and his appreciation for the treasures buried in his family’s chalk and clay soil. Under his dedicated guidance, the family’s domaine has reached even greater heights. This blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre is meticulously farmed to produce low yields and pristine, terroir-driven fruit. The fruit is destemmed, vinified for 4-5 weeks and aged in concrete vats, without the influence of oak, which results in a red wine of authenticity and purity that is simply delightful.
 
The 2011 Colombier Vacqueyras Vieilles Vignes displays an opaque, almost crimson core with garnet and slight orange reflections on the rim. The fragrant nose offers aromatics of cassis, black cherry liqueur, dried black raspberry, ripe blackberry preserve and dried black plums over a bouquet of dried roses, violets and countryside garrigue intertwined with wild earth, crushed stones and a complex background of olive, meat, and black pepper. Nearly full-bodied with a beautiful sweetness to the fruit, the palate captures the essence of lush black cherry, Chambord, dried blackberry and complex savory flavors of wet violet, wild earth, garrigue herbs, olive, meat and black pepper. Perfectly mature at its near five years of age, this wine is ready to drink now; no additional aging required. It comes out of its shell within only 10-15 in a decanter. Bordeaux stems are preferable, but Burgundy stems perform quite well too. Serve along side this roasted lamb shank recipe with roasted potatoes for a perfect evening.
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Country
France
Region
Southern Rhône
Sub-Region
FranceVacqueyras
Soil
Clay and Chalk
Farming
Sustainable
Blend
80% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre
Alcohol
14.0
OAK
None (Concrete)

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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