Winexpression

On a busy road dotted with small businesses in Berkeley, California, you find one of the most renowned importers of French wine in the United States. Kermit Lynch sits next to an amazing bakery and cafe (a well planned out trap for customers), in a building that is somewhat non-descript of the gems contained within. The store is laid out impeccably well, organized by region, cases of wine resting on the concrete floor but stacked high enough to be at a convenient grabbing level, with more prized wines showcased in elegant racks. The staff is friendly and well trained, and to my knowledge, pronounce the Chateau and regional names correctly, accent and all.

The Wine:

On my visit, the 2003 Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas caught my eye, a Rhone blend that blossoms from the calcareous soils and clay in this southern region of France. The growing season in 2003 wrapped up with a heat wave that intensified ripening, lending this wine to robust flavor. Wild Boars pose a problem in the Pallieres hills. When the grapes reach this intense level of ripeness, they are able to satisfy the Boars picky appetite who clean the vines of it’s valuable fruit.
This Estate has a rich history, and is owned by the Brunier family today. From TWM:

Also under the Brunier stable… Domaine Les Pallieres in Gigondas where the previous owner Pierre Roux had no heir to succeed him. Methods at Pallieres are very traditional and the vines average at least 50 years of age. The domaine had been in the Roux family since the 15th century.

Tasting Notes:

I despise French wine labels when the grapes used and percentages in the blend are non-descript on the bottle. I was able to find the blend from this site [TWM], which states it’s 65% Grenache, 17% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, 3% Cinsault. The wine has a beautiful light red cherry color with the cherry theme carrying into the bouquet accented by a touch of cinnamon. The Grenache takes center stage on the palate with rich berry flavor, mineral notes, and a highlight of chalk. The mouthfeel is round with good tannic structure and a chewy finish. Very well balanced.

Score: 92 pts JAT

This wine is available through Kermit Lynch and other fine retailers for around $30 USD.

This entry was posted on Monday, January 9th, 2006 at 9:00 am and is filed under Ratings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.