Tasting- Gres St. Vincent Cotes du Rhone

Name: Gres St. Vincent Cotes du Rhone
Variety: Grenache Blend
Region: Southern Rhone
Country: France
Year: 2010
Price: $14

Winery review: From a unique, organic co-op in the Rhone valley, this delicious, Grenache based blend delivers satisfying weight and earthiness but stays light on its feet. Unlike many co-ops that blend growers' fruit into one wine, here each makes their own. Though the blend is dominated by Grenache, the Syrah takes center stage on the nose, with classic notes of liqourice, black fruits, and a wonderful whiff of violets. The tannins and acidity are in wonderful balance here, and on the palate the juicy, exuberant fruit from the Grenache takes over, building to a chocolate note on the finish. A great example of the class and sophistication showing in the 2010 vintange and of the wide range of great values available in the Southern Rhone.

My review: The nose of this wine was reminiscent of blueberries. The wine had a very smooth transition from nose to primary to mid. The finish started off slow but then brought in heat with an arid pepper finish. Had it not been for the harshness of the finish, this would have been a buy.

I tried this wine without food.