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Domaine Roche, Cairanne “La Bousquette”

Southern Rhône, France 2014 (750mL)
$25.00
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Domaine Roche, Cairanne “La Bousquette”

Today, three phenomenons have merged into one powerful cuvée: This severely limited offer is (1) one of France’s best-kept secrets; (2) a SommSelect “first;” and (3) a hauntingly delicious red that defies price-to-quality convention. 
The little-known secret is Cairanne, a newly minted appellation exploding with low-dollar, awe-inspiring wines that have prompted Decanter to label it as “the source of some of the best wines in the Southern Rhône.” We’ve fallen under Cairanne’s alluring spell too, so we were beyond excited to unveil today’s mature micro-bottling of “La Bousquette,” a single vineyard packed with primitive, gnarled roots buried in Burgundian clay-limestone soil. In fact, proprietor Romain Roche only unleashes the preternatural soul of this prized site in vintages that he deems exceptional, and 2014 perfectly fit the mold. What’s more, with vines clocking in at 120 years old, this hallowed site is the oldest vineyard in the entire appellation—how often can you say you’ve experienced a wine like that? Now with 5+ years of undisturbed aging, this sublime Rhône masterpiece is among the greatest ‘steals’ in classic French wine. Total production maxes out at 250 cases, as evidenced by the microscopic fraction we have to offer you today. If you love French wine in any capacity, this is an absolute must. 
Both Domaine Roche and the appellation of Cairanne are fairly new institutions, but there is no lack of pedigree from either. Coming from a family of winegrowers, a young Romain Roche stepped onto the scene in the late 2000s and decided to try his hand at sustainable farming and classic winemaking. He selected a handful of hectares from his father’s plots, including today’s ancient “La Bousquette” vineyard, and when Romain’s 2010 vintage put Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate into a frenzy, he became a budding sensation in Cairanne. 

For those unfamiliar with Cairanne, it’s time to get acquainted: Wine has been produced here for hundreds and hundreds of years, with archeological evidence dating back to the Romans. More recently, however, winemakers have been fighting hard to get recognized as a standalone appellation. After years of lobbying, their wish was granted: As of 2016, they’re officially an AOC, on par with the likes of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas. 

Having been gifted a highly favorable growing season in 2014, Romain gently harvested his ancient Grenache and Carignan vines by hand. In the winery, all grapes were de-stemmed and both varieties (~80% Grenache, ~20% Carignan) fermented together in concrete vessels. Following, the wine continued maturing in these same vessels for 12 months. 

By eschewing oak, the complexities and purities of these 120-year-old vines are able to shine in the glass. The wine pours a deep ruby with slight magenta hues and immediately erupts with a parade of purple and red flowers, crushed stones, garrigue, and dark brambly fruits. But despite all of its intoxicating aromas and rich mouthfeel, this 2014 “La Bousequette” is al all about finesse. You’ll be shocked by the simultaneous interplay of raw power, depth, and weightless mouthfeel. Again, we have ancient Grenache vines and hands-off, concrete aging to thank for that. The palate is medium-plus bodied and avoids any (1) excess heat, (2) chunky, rugged edges, and (3) overblown fruit that can be found in a slew of *much* more expensive Southern Rhône reds. You can either decant this for 5-10 minutes or simply allow it to rest in your large Burgundy stems for about 15 minutes. Either way, you’re going to experience a deeply layered and impressively fresh French value for the ages. Enjoy!
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Country
France
Region
Southern Rhône
Sub-Region
FranceCairanne
Soil
Clay & Limestone
Farming
Sustainable
Blend
Grenache 80%, Carignan 20%
Alcohol
15.5
TEMP.
60
Glassware
Burgundy Stem
Drinking
Now-2025
Decanting
Optional
Pairing
Provençal Lamb Burger

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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