WINESCENE

2015 Domaine D'Ourea Tire Bouchon - A Surprise In Every Sip

Last night I did something I don't normally do. I opened a bottle at home, and drank it. The whole bottle. Maybe it's the Coronavirus. Maybe it was the evening at home. Maybe it was just the fact that the wine was so darn good. But I'm thinking it was the fact that the wine was a 13 percent, at the most, low alcohol wine. As someone who prefers Grenache and Syrah, both of which are usually higher in alcohol, the Rhone red known as Tire Bouchon (the Corkscrew) from Domaine d'Ourea in Vacqueyras was about as opposite of any expectation. 

I've had this wine a few times before, the first time in Seattle, then another few bottles locally with friends, but last night after about 30 minutes of being opened and out of the wine fridge, the Tire Bouchon turned magical. I honestly wasn't expecting it to be so off the hook as I was looking for a simple red that I could enjoy with some paleo past and diced tomatoes. Nothing fancy. Nothing bold. Just a nice red to sit back and enjoy. So as someone who has spent many a day and night traversing the Rhone Valley, and driving through Vacqueyras. occasionally stopping in various wineries, this wine was a thrill ride that isn't expensive. Possessing a gorgeous purple and red color, the bright fruit flavors all blended nicely together in such a way that it would be a show stopper wine. The stats show the wine is a blend of 30% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 30% de Carignan, 10% Aramon, 10% Counoise.  Given the percentages of Carginan, Grenache and Syrah, one would expect the wine to big, brooding and bold. But this wine wasn't.  It was graceful. Elegant and delish.

Here was a totally and delightfully elegant, easy to drink, fruit forward wine that was sippable, drinkable, gulpable and fulfilling. It was loaded with fresh fruit flavors of berries-blackberry, strawberry, raspberry and black cherries. At age five, the wine is certainly at a point where letting them sit around isn't the right move. Having drunk this wine over the past year now four times, I have to say it's really at a point of sheer drinking enjoyment. It's also a testament to excellence in the winery, to the winemaker and to the entire team at Domaine d'Ourea so if you find this wine on your local store shelf, don't hesitate to buy it. I know I'll be hunting for more of it.

 

A Tale of Two 2016 Beaumes de Venise Wines

It has been a while since I wrote a comparative wine review, but the other night I decided to compare two 2016 Beaumes de Venise wines from producers I've had a good fortune to taste for a few years. The two, Domaine de Durban and Saint Amant are about as different as different can be. Having visited the Beaumes de Venise region a few times, the wines from there are vibrant, world class and under-appreciated outside of the region. They offer excellent value, the ability to age and go very well with winter, fall and spring cooking.

Domaine de Durban is the long established producer imported by Kermit Lynch for many years. They are one of the more traditional producers in the region so while best known for the white vin du natural, Beaumes de Venise blanc, that's made from Muscat and other grapes, the reds from Durban over the years have proven to be great value Rhone wines, rivaling the better known Cotes du Rhone Villages and even Gigondas wines. 

The 2016 Domain de Durban Beaumes de Venise is a blend of 70% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, and has the benefit of being closer to the valley floor. That means hotter days and cool nights compared to the high hill top 2016 Saint Amant Grangeneuve which is blended with 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Carignan and 10% Viognier . The absence of Mourvedre and the addition of Carignan and Viognier in the Grangeneuve makes this wine more floral, and more modern in style. While the Durban is more rustic, and suited for stews and roasted birds and meats, the Saint Amant has a much more open, fruit forward quality, showing a high degree of soil to glass transfer, evidence of how terroir plays into wine to a T.  With a filet or bone in rib-eye, the Saint Amant's style and body is more akin to those who like Cabernet or Merlot, while not losing its' dense structure.

Both wines are well made, offer great value and are loaded with fruit. Both will also age 7-15 years depending on cellaring, as they are by no means shy wines. 

Given the skyrocketing prices of Chateauneuf du Papes, wines from these two producers, like from those over the hill in the Ventoux, are excellent options in wines that will offer many years of enjoyment.