Les Pallieres Racines Gigondas with Pizza
For carry in pizza dinner, we opened what I would call a classic ‘pizza wine’ - full, round, tangy robust with good QPR, lower price point for every day sipping such as with pizza or tangy BBQ.
This is very similar in style and comparable in price point to another wine from this same producer, from the same vintage, that I opened for a similar occasion a few weeks back - featured in these pages in this blogpost - Brunier Family Piedlong CDP Red Blend with BBQ Ribs. Then, I pulled that wine to take to son Alec’s and Vivianna’s, since they were with us during our 2019 visit with owner/producer Daniel Brunier at the Estate.
Domaine les Pallieres “Les Racines” Gigondas 2017
This Racines label is produced from thee domaine’s oldest vines, up to 80 years old with an average age of 65 years, grown in red sandy clay, limestone, scree soils. This is one of two Les Pallières labels/bottlings, and is the one that typically is open younger in its life, being riper and more concentrated than the its peers Terrasse du Diable bottling. The profile is typically of soft tannins with fruit that dark, expressive, pure and elegant, with a savory character reminiscent of tapenade.
It is crafted primarily with 80% Grenache in the blend, with the blend for this release is 80% Grenache 15% Syrah – Cinsault (co-planted) and 5% Clairette, all from the Gigondas Appellation. It ages in cuvees for 10 months, then in foudres for 7-9 months.
The Winemakers for this label are the proprietors of the grand vin, Vieux Telegraph: Frédéric and his brother Daniel Brunier.
This was rated 95 points by James Suckling, 93-95 by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, 94 by Vinous, 92-94 by Jeb Dunnuck, and 93 by Wine Spectator.
At seven years, this is likely at the apex of its tasting profile, but should continue to hold with age for several more years.
Dark ruby garnet colored, full bodied, dense concentrated and tightly structured yet approachable black raspberry and black currant and black cherry fruits accented with spice, black tea, smoke, finishing with garrigue, licorice, pepper and herbs with a long moderate and slightly edgy tangy, spicy, acidic finish.
RM 92 points.
https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/3131598
