I’m a fan of this Domaine and in general, they produce big, rustic, tradition wines that possess lots of dark fruit and garrigue aromas paired with quality fruit and solid structure.  They’re also priced well and readers looking for a daily drinker that offers up boat loads of Southern Rhone character should check their Cotes du Rhone bottling!

2004 Domaine de la Côte de l’Ange Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
The flagship 2004 Domaine de la Côte de l’Ange Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is primarily old vine grenache from vines averaging 80 years of age and offers up beautiful aromas of cassis and blackberry fruit mixed with licorice, herbs, garrigue and a slight sauvage note that keeps you coming back for another sniff.  Think duck fat or pate and you’re close.  The palate is medium bodied and balanced with plenty of richness and a slightly rustic, savory texture.  While this lacks some mid-palate depth, it fills in with air (decant if drinking anytime soon) and shows ripe tannin and solid structure on the long finish.  (91 pts.)

I picked this up locally for just over 20 bucks and despite searching, was unable to find much information about the producer…  It’s an Alain Junguenet Selection and imported by Wines of France, Inc., but aside from that, I got nothing… vineyard, blend (I’m guessing high grenache), elevage… nada.  Either way, solid juice that deserves at least 5 years in the cellar and is a easy buy at the price.

And enough with the jibberish… on to the note!

2005 Domaine Bertrand Stehelin Gigondas (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas)
A rustic, rich and age worthy Gigondas, the 2005 Domaine Bertrand Stehelin Gigondas offers up dark, earthy black cherry fruit, ashpalt, licorice, meat and spice box notes.  This closed down quickly with air and showed a much more mineral and dark fruit profile.  Structured, fresh and delineated in the mouth,  it’s medium to full bodied and delivers plenty of Southern Rhone character on the long finish with ripe tannin and a chewy, savory texture.  This needs a couple years to flesh out but shows lots of promise and potential. (90 pts.)

2006 Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Ripe, suave and smooth, the 2006 Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes possesses blockbuster aromatics of chocolate laced cassis and blackberry fruit intermixed with vanilla, earth and spice box notes. Fresh, pure and only showing hints of barrique, it’s full bodied in the mouth and has impeccable balance paired with a stunningly smooth texture, fantastic fruit and a long, clean finish. Drink this over the next 15+ years. (95 pts.)