Bob Has Spoken!
May 11, 2009
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"Throughout
the southern Rhône, 2007 is the greatest vintage I have tasted
in my thirty years working in that region. Nearly every
producer has attained largely unprecedented levels of quality.
I don't think any vintage has achieved the heights of
complexity, richness, and overall purity and balance that 2007
did."
-
The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker
Jr.
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2007 Clos du Caillou Côtes du Rhône
Vieilles
Vignes Cuvée Unique
"A Unique Blend of Old
Vines"
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Dear Wine
Friend,
Robert Parker is not
just blowing smoke up the HYPE chimney with
his superlative appraisal of the 2007
vintage. We have had the opportunity to
sample many of the best wines from the southern
Rhone's 2007 vintage at pre-arrival trade tastings in
San Francisco, and must confess to being
awestruck. However, our focus has been
to zero
in on the best VALUES of
the easy to mesmerize high quality levels
found within the Cotes du
Rhone and NOT specifically the much more expensive
Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Why? Aside
from consumer restraint to splurge on more
expensive special celebratory wine, it really gets down
to time and drinkability. Yes, the Chateauneufs
are hugely concentrated wines that will someday
reward. Right now, they seem
almost impossible to enjoy at this youthful stage.
And frankly, I don't want to wait another 20 years
(yikes I am getting old!)....I have plenty of great
wines already incubating! NO, I want
a wine to thrill me now, or over the
next five to eight years....and I don't want to pay
for a king's ransom for the right to add it to my
stash. The 2007 Clos du Caillou Vieilles
Vignes Cuvée Unique makes this promise.
Make no mistake
about it, Clos du
Caillou is one of the
very best producers of
Chateauneuf-du-Pape. This
domaine's wines are highly prized (its 07 ChNduPape
range from $56 - $165 a bottle), and its vineyards
border the prestigious estates of Chateau Rayas and
Beaucastel. Caillou tends wonderfully old Grenache
vines, some of which are 70 to 100 years old. With older
Syrah and Mourvèdre added to the mix, it's no wonder
that Caillou wines are across the board impressive for
their power, extract and deep minerality. Yet many
of the family's old vines are classified, by a
quirk of 1923 politics, as Côtes-du-Rhône and
Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages. It's why Côtes-du-Rhône barrel
selections show surprisingly like a kin to
Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The special old
vine Cuvée Unique, made in a
limited amount specifically designated for the US
importer, is really a lush, heady
Chateauneuf-du-Pape in
disguise!
"Along with the Coudoulet of
Beaucastel, the limited Côtes du Rhône Cuvée from
Vieille Julienne, Domaine Janasse, and the Côtes du
Rhônes made by Alain Dugas at La Nerthe, this estate
(Clos du Caillou) produces the finest Côtes du Rhônes of
the appellation,"
The Wine
Advocate, Robert Parker Jr.
TASTING NOTES
A blend of 80% Grenache, 13% Syrah, and
7% Mourvedre has been pulled from within Caillou's
rustic walled vineyards. Reminiscent of the
estate's top "Reserve" Cru, a blockbuster, but not
too muscled to deny immediate gratification. A
bouquet of purple flowers (think violets and lavender),
with anise, black cherry, and autumn baking
spices. Silky smooth, but still rich on the palate,
with raspberry, Valrhona-like dark cocoa
powder, a touch of minerality.....the lush flavors just
keep unfolding.
ALL OF THIS FOR $23.95 A
BOTTLE!
PURCHASE 3
BOTTLES FOR A 10% DISCOUNT TO
$21.56
PURCHASE 6
BOTTLES FOR A 15% DISCOUNT TO
$20.36
OUR
SPECIAL ORDER WITH THE IMPORTER IS LIMITED!
BUT ORDER A CASE (12) FOR A 20%
DISCOUNT TO $19.16
"Given the global economic crises,
these wines (07 southern
Rhone)....represent fabulous bargains
for shrewd consumers looking for delicious wines to
drink today or, in the best cases, age for a decade or
more."
The Wine Advocate,
Robert Parker Jr.
Map
of the Rhone Valley in southern
France. | |
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ORDER NOW TO RESERVE!! EVERYBODY
NEEDS A LITTLE VINO
HEDONISM!
IF YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR
WITH THE WINES OF THIS REGION, THEN THIS IS THE PERFECT
OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE!
JUST REPLY BY EMAIL DIRECTLY TO
THIS NEWSLETTER!!!
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The Wine Consultant - Est 1990
Eric Stumpf
Renee Kroeger
8039 Greenback Lane
Citrus Heights, CA 95610
(916) 721-WINE (9463)
REMEMBER! TASTING BAR EVERY SATURDAY
AFTERNOON FROM NOON TO 4PM.
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The Wine Consultant | 8039
Greenback Lane | Citrus Heights | CA |
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