13.5% abv, Famille Chapoutier, Tain, imported by Saranty Imports, Stamford, CT. Cork closure: natural. Biodynamic calendar: fruit day.
It’s hard to think of a Rhône Valley wine appellation as anonymous or undiscovered as Duché d’Uzès. Located in the Southern Rhône proper, Duché d’Uzès was promoted from a Vin de Pays (or IGP) region to full appellation status in 2009 and the decision was ratified in 2013. So the wines here are still quite undiscovered and cover an area of around 300 planted hectares. Adhering to the standards of the South Rhône, the wines are blends, and in the case of the white wines, the focus in Viognier. Chapoutier’s blend for the 2018 is 40% Viognier with 30% each, respectively, of Roussanne and Grenache Blanc. The winemaking is very straightforward, as the wine is raised in stainless steel with some fine lees contact before filtration and bottling.
Tasting note: This wine is medium gold in color with. nose of medium intensity; extremely floral with aromas of honeysuckle, magnolia, white peach, honeydew, cantaloupe, kaffir lime zest, wax and wool. On the palate this wine is dry with medium acid, medium-minus body, medium alcohol, medium flavor intensity and a medium+ finish with flavors of acacia, orange blossom, melon, beeswax, and ginger. This wine was about what I expect from an entry their white wines from the Southern Rhône, it was nothing transcendent and mildly interesting, but a bit clunky in balance overall and with an average finish; drink now, this wine is good: 8.7/10.