| Domaine Des Espiers |
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I first met Philippe Cartoux at Decouverte du Vallee du Rhone, an amazing Rhone
Valley wine event held every other year during the month of March and consisting
of 19 different tasting events over the span of a week. On this particular day,
the Gigondas event was being held in Les Palais des Pape, the spectacular 14th
Century cathedral inside the old walled city of Avignon. A more impressive and
beautiful tasting venue I could not imagine. All the top Gigondas producers were
there and I had an appointment to meet with Philippe and learn his story. I was
intrigued to hear that back in the 1980’s he and some of his fellow growers
had resurrected and grafted a very old Syrah clone better known in the early
1900’s. He attributes the richer style of his Gigondas, a 65% Grenache/35%
Syrah blend, to the robust nature of this old Syrah grape. Several days later
I met Philippe at his property in Vacqueyras in the middle of a howling Mistral
and a flurry of snow as we proceeded to taste through the rest of his wines.
His Sablet literally reminded me of a baby Gigondas with plushy, bright fruit
and a long finish made from 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah fermented entirely in
tank.. |
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