The April 2023 Auction: Part 1
Swipe left for previous · Swipe right for next
1 / 2Lot 2061
Estimate: $70
This auction has ended. Bidding is closed.
Collection name
Reviews
92VM
"Glass-staining ruby. A heady bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, garrigue and fresh flowers, with smoke and mineral nuances building in the glass. Fleshy and appealingly sweet, with deep raspberry and cherry flavors and a zesty white pepper quality on the back end. Finishes silky and long, with resonating spiciness and strong thrust. This project, a joint venture of Michel Gassier, the owner of Chateau de Nages in Costieres de Nimes, and peripatetic enologist Philippe Cambie, is fully focused on producing grenache-centric or 100% grenache wines raised in concrete, older oak and stainless steel vessels. The point, Gassier told me, ‘is to showcase the expression of the variety in the different regions of the southern Rhone with minimal winemaking influence, and new oak is the most influential quality of all.’ Quality here is very high for prices charged. Cambie, like every other winemaker I visited in the Rhone this November, is extremely pleased with the 2010 vintage, calling it ‘like 2007, but with more structure, or maybe like 2005, but with less tannins. A great year, however you describe it.’ Gassier and Cambie said that the key to quality in 2011 ‘was managing crop load, which, if you did, gave you really good concentration.’ Gassier pointed out that plenty of 2011 Chateauneufs cruise well past 15% alcohol, and even into 17% territory, ‘so it's a mistake to think that these are light wines to be drunk up when they're released.’"
Region
Red
Country
Score
"Glass-staining ruby. A heady bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, garrigue and fresh flowers, with smoke and mineral nuances building in the glass. Fleshy and appealingly sweet, with deep raspberry and cherry flavors and a zesty white pepper quality on the back end. Finishes silky and long, with resonating spiciness and strong thrust. This project, a joint venture of Michel Gassier, the owner of Chateau de Nages in Costieres de Nimes, and peripatetic enologist Philippe Cambie, is fully focused on producing grenache-centric or 100% grenache wines raised in concrete, older oak and stainless steel vessels. The point, Gassier told me, ‘is to showcase the expression of the variety in the different regions of the southern Rhone with minimal winemaking influence, and new oak is the most influential quality of all.’ Quality here is very high for prices charged. Cambie, like every other winemaker I visited in the Rhone this November, is extremely pleased with the 2010 vintage, calling it ‘like 2007, but with more structure, or maybe like 2005, but with less tannins. A great year, however you describe it.’ Gassier and Cambie said that the key to quality in 2011 ‘was managing crop load, which, if you did, gave you really good concentration.’ Gassier pointed out that plenty of 2011 Chateauneufs cruise well past 15% alcohol, and even into 17% territory, ‘so it's a mistake to think that these are light wines to be drunk up when they're released.’"
Have questions?
The world's most influential fine-wine producer and the benchmark for Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne and the Rhone. Its appellation (AOC) system codifies geography, grape and method, and its wines set the global standard for age-worthiness and terroir expression.
Spans the Syrah-driven northern crus of Cote-Rotie and Hermitage and the Grenache-based blends of the warmer south, led by Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Its wines are known for power, spice and warmth.
The southern Rhone's most famous appellation, blending Grenache with Syrah, Mourvedre and more into rich, warming, spice-laden reds from galet-strewn soils.
A warm-climate red giving generous, high-alcohol wines of red fruit and spice. It anchors southern Rhone blends and old-vine wines in Spain and Australia.
A late-ripening red lending structure, dark fruit and gamey, meaty complexity to southern Rhone and Mediterranean blends.
Syrah (Shiraz) produces dark, powerful reds with black fruit, pepper and smoked-meat notes. It yields elegant, perfumed wines in the northern Rhone and bold, rich styles in Australia.