2011 Domaine des Tours, Reserve, Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, Rhone Red, France.
After a long day pouring a nice selection of California Merlot for #MerlotDay it was really nice to come home to this beautiful Domaine des Tours Reserve, one of the great value wines of the world made by Emmanuel Reynaud of the famous Chateauneuf du Pape Chateau Rayas. The spicy complexity and rustic earthy charms seduce completely with a sense of maturity and sensual pleasures that don’t often fin their way into an under $25 bottle of wine, the Domaine des Tours Reserve Rouge is a blend of Grenache, Counoise, Syrah, Cinsualt and Merlot (making sure I don’t offend any of the International Merlot Day officials…) fermented and aged in stainless tank and cement vats, some of the blend is from declassified lots of estate Chateau des Tours Vacqueyras, grown on a mix of sand, clay and stony soils over marne rock, almost the same as in Gigondas. This mostly Grenache cuvee opens to reveal dried flowers, burnt orange, wild red peach and peppery spices in a light cloudy garnet hued wine, this wine at first smells and tastes much older than it is, a confusing effect that lasts a few moments before the wine unfolds into a fresher version of itself with waxed blueberry, pomegranate, dusty plum, baked morello cherry and tangy red currant pushing through along with hints of game and truffle, licorice, garrique/lavender and a touch of stewed strawberry. The overall impression is all about old school hedonism, and even though there are some quick aging elements going on, it is just part of the experience, though I may suggest drinking this tasty stuff early (and often) it looks to have reached it’s best, drink from 2015 to 2018? This natural, slightly weird and sexy red is a really wonderful and unique southern Rhone expression, kind of interesting like a pseudo antique, I can’t wait to get a few bottles more!
($24 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
