2011 Domaine La Bastide Saint Dominique, red Cotes du Rhone Villages, Rhone Valley France.
Don’t miss this pure Cotes du Rhone Villages from Bastide, it is a wonderful fresh red with clean red berry fruit, spice and density made from Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah from vines near Chateauneuf du Pape. This following Rhone wine reveals raspberry, boysenberry, kirsch and creme de cassis with a spicy burst of pepper and garrigue along with decent acidity and refined tannins. No oak, all stainless steel was used, allowing vivid clean layers and clarity of fruit to shine through completely in this well balanced and entertaining red. Hints of strawberry, lavender, anise and dried flowers linger long on the finish, drink now through 2016. This is a wonderful example of a simple wine excelling way past it’s price point and a great expression of place and vintage in it’s most transparent form.
($16 Est.) 91 Points, grapelive
