14% abv, Saint Cécile-les-Vignes, imported by BBR Imports, Houston, TX. Cork closure: natural. Biodynamic calendar: fruit day.
A new Cotes du Rhone-Village was granted in 2016, Saint Cécile for 100% red wines. Comprising around 1,300 hectares, the village is located due west of Cairanne on the north side of the town of Orange. The new village features a unique terroir of silty and sandy clay soils with round galet stones.
According to Vins-Rhone.com: “It started with the production of wine amphorae; now vineyards stretch as far as the eye can see. The Côtes du Rhône Villages Sainte-Cécile appellation features three cooperative wineries, and fifteen private ones, all committed to the highest quality. 30% of the winegrowing area is farmed organically. The vineyards grow across a wide plain, almost cove- ring it. Vines are everywhere, growing in every free space, even creeping up to the village walls. They cover the ground like a sweeping carpet, the colours changing with the seasons – fresh green in spring, darker green in summer and finally, burnished gold in autumn.”
Domaine Rouge-Bleu’s 2017 Saint-Cécile is 75% Grenache Noir with 20% Syrah, 3% Mourvèdre and 2% Roussanne. The vines are farmed biodynamically over an area of 8.5ha, grape bunches are hand harvested, and the wine is matured for two years in a combination of neutral French oak and concrete tanks.
Tasting note: The cuvée Mistral is medium garnet in color with a nose of medium+ intensity featuring aromas of lavender, black cherry, dark plum and licorice. On the palate this wine is dry with medium+ acid, medium tannins, medium body, medium+ alcohol, medium+ flavor intensity and a medium finish with flavors or dark cherry, blackberry, sour plum, herbs de Provence, fig jam, leather and nutmeg. This was a real joy, a fun and juicy wine with a fairly judicious balance and enough going on to be very good: 9.1/10. Drink now or through 2026.