March 10, 2022 - Southern Rhône

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For the March WAC Wine Club tasting we’ll take a tour of the Southern Rhône and experience some of the most interesting and finest wines the region has to offer.  All from established AOC Crus, we’ll taste an unusual white from Vacqueyras; an interesting rosé from Tavel; a stunning Gigondas and two superior Châteauneuf-du-Pape (CDP) wines.

Wines:

  • 2017 Chateau Bois d’Arlène l’Orée du Bois, Vacqueyras

  • 2019 Domaine de la Mordorée Tavel La Dame Rousse

  • 2017 Domaine du Gour de Chaulé Gigondas Cuvée Tradition

  • 2010 Domaine des Sénéchaux, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 

  • 2013 Domaine de la Janasse, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Information & Tasting Notes:

  • 2017 Chateau Bois d’Arlène l’Orée du Bois, Vacqueyras

    • You’ll be in for a treat as this winery’s owners, Arlene Libby and Norge Larson who divide their time between Seattle and the Southern Rhône, will be joining us for the evening and will share their story.

    • Hidden on the flood plain of the Ouvèze river, Château Bois d’Arlène is a beautiful property that includes vineyards, a meadow, an oak and pine forest, an almond grove, a pond, the site of a now abandoned sheep pen, and a Provencal château. Formerly the agricultural land of the Popes in Avignon, it has become a diverse and abundant landscape. This white is a blend of Roussanne, Clairette, and Viognier; the grapes are harvested very early in the day to preserve all the aromas and are directly pressed.  Grapes come from old vines, some 70 years old, and the vineyard is certified organic.

    • On the nose you’ll notice scents of aromatic flowers, yellow apples, peaches, lavender and lemon peel. Jasmine, honey, ripe melon add complexity to the palate while a hint of oak accentuates a distinctive finish.

  • 2019 Domaine de la Mordorée Tavel La Dame Rousse

    • This family estate produces award-winning wines, famous CDP and Lirac wines and are known for producing the best Tavel Rosé. The estate is certified organic with a focus on biodynamics. The terroir consists of galets roulés (cobblestones), flat white limestones and sandy soils. The grapes are picked by hand with the wine a mix of 60% Grenache, 10% Cinsault, 10% Syrah, 10%, Mourvèdre, 5% Clairette and 5% Bourboulenc. This rosé is unusual as it is produced using the saignée method and has an ABV of 14.5%.

    • The nose exhibits perfumed notes of fresh boysenberry, red cherry, currants and tangerine lifted by a cutting mineral edge. Black fruit flavors are intensely ripe and penetrating, accented by shavings of black pepper and a firm, fine-grained grip of tannins.

  • 2017 Domaine du Gour de Chaulé Gigondas Cuvée Tradition

    • Established in 1900 in the heart of Gigondas, Gour de Chaulé is now run by the founder's great-granddaughter, Stephanie Fumoso. This is a female-driven property as Stephanie's grandmother and mother were both actively involved in making the wines and establishing the property's domaine bottlings. Grenache is the main grape variety, making up about 80+% of the blend with Syrah and Mourvèdre contributing to the rest. Grapes are harvested manually and never destemmed. The end-result is a traditionally-made and well-balanced wine that reflects some of the best that Gigondas has to offer.

    • On the nose there are hints of black currants, raspberry, strawberry, anise and pepper. It's full-bodied and tannic, shows black cherry, cranberry, crisp spices on the palate with nice acidity, yet finishes on a silky note. 

  • 2010 Domaine des Sénéchaux, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 

    • The Domaine des Sénéchaux counts itself amongst the oldest vineyards in Castro Novo, the birthplace of the wines of Pape and the creation of "appellations d'origine contrôlées." It lies in the heart of the mythical Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation and dates back to the XIV century. It owes its name to the Domaine's key vineyards in the Bois Sénéchaux area. This nearly 65-acre estate is owned by the famous and much-loved Bordeaux proprietor, Jean-Michel Cazes. To say that he and his family have done a terrific job improving the quality at this estate is an understatement as it has become one of the “go to” wines of the appellation. Considered a spectacular Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the 2010 Domaine des Sénéchaux Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of 56% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, and 2% assorted varieties.

    • Leather, cedar and licorice notes accent fresh cherries on the nose, while the full-bodied palate manages to be warm, generous and creamy in texture while finishing crisp, intense and long. There are also hints of charcuterie, spice box, and Christmas fruitcake in this full-throttle, rich, concentrated wine. Says, Jancis Robinson, “Honest, meaty Grenache character. Minty, succulent, rich but not overbearing. Spicy finish, lots of dried herb complexity. Long, peppery finish. Pushes all the right buttons.”

  • 2013 Domaine de la Janasse, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    • This estate was founded in 1976 by Aimé Sabon, who turned over the winery to his son who still oversees the vineyards that are organically farmed. The property consists of 40 hectares, spread over as many as 70 different parcels throughout the appellation. This 2013 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée, Vieilles Vignes, comes from the rolled pebble soils (tractor-destroying galets roulés), which are responsible for impacting the richer, more powerful profile imparted from these soils. Mostly foudre-aged Grenache, it incorporates 20% Mourvèdre and roughly 23% Syrah, all raised in barrel. Medium- to full-bodied, the wine is beautifully concentrated, ripe, with impressive sweetness and tannin.

    • The wine exhibits a deep purple color, offers fabulous dark berry fruits, licorice, Provençal herbs and earthy/stony minerality on the nose. Features of dark plum sauce, crushed cherry and warm blackberry confiture flavors form the core. Melted black licorice, plum eau-de-vie and black tea notes fill in the background. A lovely echo of Grenache appears at the very end. This is a highly structured red wine that reflects the richness of a historic and unique terroir.

Suggested Food Pairings:

Below are suggested meals to serve with each wine; full recipes available here.

  • 2017 Chateau Bois d’Arlène l’Orée du Bois, Vacqueyras

    • White Fish in Cream Sauce

  • 2019 Domaine de la Mordorée Tavel La Dame Rousse

    • Salad Niçoise

  • 2017 Domaine du Gour de Chaulé Gigondas Cuvée Tradition

    • Seared Duck Breast with Blackberry Pan Sauce

  • 2010 Domaine des Sénéchaux, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 

    • Rosemary Steak Strips

  • 2013 Domaine de la Janasse, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    • Lamb Chops