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Grenache again
Let's wrap up a short holiday work week with a quick second look at a couple of recent topics:
Today we'll bring those threads back together with a tasting report on a fresh young Grenache-based 2005 Côtes du Rhône. The featured wine, Domaine Lafond "Roc-Epine" is an old family producer based in Tavel, on the west side of the Rhône across from Avignon, where the Rhone and Provence meet Languedoc. The Lafond family traces its heritage in Tavel back to 1780, according to the winery Website, and started making wine commercially shortly after World War II, in 1948. Jean-Pierre Lafond began the current winery in 1970, and his son, Pascal, joined the family business in 1978. Jean-Pierre, who is fond of horses, decided to name the propety after a famous race horse, Roquepine, but altered the spelling to "Roc-Epine," it is said, to add a touch of Provence to the name. The wine is simple but fresh and luscious, with plenty of mouth-watering acidity and soft tannins to give it structure and make it food-friendly. It's a wine to enjoy young and fresh, with something tood to eat on the table. My tasting report is below.
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This very dark ruby wine shows a reddish-purple hue. Youthful Grenache aromas focus on raspberry cordial, ripe and bright, with just a hint of a "leafy" undertone. Fresh and juicy fruit flavors carry over on the palate, nicely structured by snappy acidity and soft but perceptible tannins. On the simple side but very fresh, fine with food. U.S. importer: Wines of France, Inc., Mountainside, N.J., Alain Junguenet Selection. (Jan. 3, 2007) FOOD MATCH: A versatile table wine, it will fare well with red meat, pork, grilled or roasted poultry and mild cheeses. It made a surprisingly good companion with a hearty bowl of the bean soup featured in yesterday's 30 Second Wine Advisor FoodLetter. VALUE: Given the current exchange between the dollar and the Euro, the low to middle teens seems entirely fair for a Côtes du Rhône of this quality. WHEN TO DRINK: The fruit is so vibrant and lovely now, it would be a shame not to enjoy it while it's fresh. Mark this one as a Côtes du Rhône in the drink-early style, and treat it much as you would a basic Beaujolais: It won't go around the bend in the next few months, but I'd drink it up during 2007 and then look for newer stock.
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Today's article is cross-posted in our Netscape WineLovers Community, where we also welcome comments and questions. To contact me by E-mail, write wine@wineloverspage.com. I'll respond personally to the extent that time and volume permit.
PRINT OUT TODAY'S ARTICLE Administrivia To subscribe or unsubscribe from The 30 Second Wine Advisor, change your E-mail address, or for any other administrative matters, please use the individualized hotlink found at the end of your E-mail edition. If this is not practical, contact me by E-mail at wine@wineloverspage.com, including the exact E-mail address that you used when you subscribed, so I can find your record. We do not use our E-mail list for any other purpose and will never give or sell your name or E-mail address to anyone. I welcome feedback, suggestions, and ideas for future columns. To contact me, please send E-mail to wine@wineloverspage.com All the wine-tasting reports posted here are consumer-oriented. In order to maintain objectivity and avoid conflicts of interest, I purchase all the wines I rate at my own expense in retail stores and accept no samples, gifts or other gratuities from the wine industry.
Friday, Jan. 5, 2007
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Domaine Lafond 2005 "Roc-Epine" Côtes du Rhône ($14)
