WTN: 2005 Domaine "La Garrigue" Cuvee Romaine

2005 Domaine "La Garrigue" Cuvee Romaine

Bought this wine as a cheap Rhone throw away to go with some pot roast. Was I surprised. Very nice vegetal nose with earth and tar. More mouth drying tannin than I prefer, but it seemed to integrate after 30 minutes in air. Nice crisp acidity with pepper and blackberry on the palate. Decent mocha coffee finish. Nice richness all round. All in all it was a heck of a wine for about $11. I plan to pick up more and decant for an hour or so next time.

[David M. Bueker]

This is never a throwaway, but rather a consistent value, and a Cotes du Rhone that I look to on a regular basis.

2005 Domaine "La Garrigue" Cuvee Romaine

Bought this wine as a cheap Rhone throw away to go with some pot roast. Was I surprised. Very nice vegetal nose with earth and tar. More mouth drying tannin than I prefer, but it seemed to integrate after 30 minutes in air. Nice crisp acidity with pepper and blackberry on the palate. Decent mocha coffee finish. Nice richness all round. All in all it was a heck of a wine for about $11. I plan to pick up more and decant for an hour or so next time.

Sam-
I had this wine last month, there should be a note here someplace...thought it was shutdown. That said, these are great values and worthy of spending Winger $$$ on..
Cheers,
BP

To be honest David, I'm not a huge CdR drinker. I had never heard of the La Garrigue as far as I can remember. I picked it up on a complete whim, and quite by luck of the draw. I simply grabbed the cheapest CdR from the shelf. Perhaps it is better to be lucky than good.

Sam-
I had this wine last month, there should be a note here someplace...thought it was shutdown. That said, these are great values and worthy of spending Winger $$$ on..

Bill,

Like I say, I don't drink much CdR, so I don't have a great basis for comparision. If it is shut down, then it will be one tremendous value when this wine opens back up again. The only thing I found a bit off-putting was the tannin. I will dig up your note.

Like I say, I don't drink much CdR,

Sam-

You'll have to work on that shortcoming.

'Winger

[David M. Bueker]

I am consistently amazed at the lack of Cotes du Rhone/Cotes du Rhone Villages notes on this board, particularly given how many folks (even me to a degree) are focused on value for their money. I think we need to do a Cotes du Rhone month in Wine FOcus, or an Open Mike to encourage exploration.

Thanks for the note, sounds like a very nice food wine. Any experience/thoughts on the La Garrigue Vacqueyras, btw?

[David M. Bueker]

I really like the Vacqueyras.

Bill,

I read your '05 La Garrigue note. It definitely sounds like you had an off bottle. My bottle was not at all bashful.

I am consistently amazed at the lack of Cotes du Rhone/Cotes du Rhone Villages notes on this board, particularly given how many folks (even me to a degree) are focused on value for their money.

David,

That explains why I haven't bothered with the CdR. With my kind of cash it's Petrus and DRC every night. No "pauper wine" served at the Platt house. Actually I don't have a good excuse. Of the several hundred bottles I have logged it looks like a little over a dozen have been CdR. Per Bill's suggestion I will work to rectify that shortcoming.

Sam-

To assist, I offer the following suggestion;

2005 Dom l'Espigouette CdR V V: Can age a few years or drink now with a multi-hour decant. Your usual haunt has it for ~$14, but it is available elsewhere in the Northern 'Burbs for $9.99. PM if interested in details. A definite pauper wine that fits the economic times.

Your CdR enabler,

'Winger

Bill,

I read your '05 La Garrigue note. It definitely sounds like you had an off bottle. My bottle was not at all bashful.

Yeah, that is what I thought...off or shut down. Your note however, suggests "off' as a more likely option. If you dig deeper in the archives, you'll find I had a wonderful bottle of this a bit over a year ago.

[David M. Bueker]

I hear really good things about the 2007.

Thanks Bill. I will look for the Espigouette.

David - Do you know if the '07 comes in at a price point similar to the '05? I thought the '05 might be an anomoly, in terms of price.

[David M. Bueker]

It's a couple of bucks more, but that's all dollar/euro issues. It's still a hell of a deal.