There is something hedonistic and satisfying about enjoying a well made bottle of southern French wine. The 2006 Domaine des Girasols Rasteau Côtes du Rhône Villages is a delicious, passionate, earthy wine. Sure, it has some super-ripe fruit and a hint of fieriness on the finish, but the lovely combination of black pepper spice and dark brooding damson fruit from the syrah with white pepper and ripe raspberry from the Grenache, bring back rich memories of the southern Rhône. It has good syrah driven structure and length, yet lovely Grenache roundness; nice weight and body, but pleasantly free of any obvious new oak flavours. With the ripeness (and heat), the classic Côtes du Rhône feel but the old school character it is hard to know what badge to give to this, although I feel I want to give it one. Given that the super-ripe fruit has more savouryness than jaminess, and with the satisfying edgy tannins, harmonious rusticity, this seems, slightly awkwardly, to fit best as an Old School Beauty. It is very enjoyable, whatever it is.   I recommend serving this wine several degrees below room temperature – important for all reds, but particularly here to keep the heat in balance. 49% syrah, 36% Grenache, 11% cinsault, 4% carignan, for those who care. View high resolution

There is something hedonistic and satisfying about enjoying a well made bottle of southern French wine. The 2006 Domaine des Girasols Rasteau Côtes du Rhône Villages is a delicious, passionate, earthy wine. Sure, it has some super-ripe fruit and a hint of fieriness on the finish, but the lovely combination of black pepper spice and dark brooding damson fruit from the syrah with white pepper and ripe raspberry from the Grenache, bring back rich memories of the southern Rhône. It has good syrah driven structure and length, yet lovely Grenache roundness; nice weight and body, but pleasantly free of any obvious new oak flavours. With the ripeness (and heat), the classic Côtes du Rhône feel but the old school character it is hard to know what badge to give to this, although I feel I want to give it one. Given that the super-ripe fruit has more savouryness than jaminess, and with the satisfying edgy tannins, harmonious rusticity, this seems, slightly awkwardly, to fit best as an Old School Beauty. It is very enjoyable, whatever it is.

 

I recommend serving this wine several degrees below room temperature – important for all reds, but particularly here to keep the heat in balance.

49% syrah, 36% Grenache, 11% cinsault, 4% carignan, for those who care.