2010 Domaine de la Terre Rouge, Tete a Tete, Proprietary Red Blend, Sierra Foothills.
Bill Easton, one of the original Rhone Rangers up in the Sierra Foothills, makes Domaine de la Terre Rouge from Rhone varietals and for the Tete a Tete he uses Syrah, Mourvedre and Grenache. This classic Cotes du Rhone Village blend is rich, lively and easy to love with a dark purple/black hue with garnet edges that leads to boysenberry, blueberry, creme de cassis, red berries and cherry fruits along with pepper, liqueur notes, dusty earth, mint and smoky vanilla. Easton uses small mostly neutral Burgundy barrels for raising this wine, which is a cask selection of varietal then blend to form this cuvee, and the fruit holds up well hiding most of the French oak Francois Freres barrique flavors well, just leaving that smoky kiss of wood and vanilla note, it really works nicely for this vintage especially, it certainly tastes like a much more expensive wine, and is a great value. I like the density and smooth texture, while admiring the restraint and life the wine shows, this is a polished example of Sierra Foothills wine and shows Easton’s touch and experience, this is a great BBQ red and goes with many cuisine choices, drink now through 2018.
($18 Est.) 90 Points, grapelive