Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Domaine la Monardiere Vacqueyras Les Calades, 2003

Christian and Martine Vache call this a Vacqueyras for early drinking, but that means it shows well right away and not that it's incapable of aging. I had my last bottle of the 2000 Les Calades last Fall, and it was drinking very nicely. It's 80 percent Grenache from vines planted in 1948 in vineyards located near a quarry.

Compared to the Camille Cayran (March 29), which comes from a similar blend grown only about 20 miles away, its appearance and its personality is much deeper and darker--some bluish black notes to go with the crimson and scents of black licorice, blueberries, black raspberries and dark cherries. (That's Vacqueyras as opposed to Cairanne.) Also flowers and Provencal herbs and spices. There's more tannin on the tongue; it's firm in the middle but finishes with ripe, open blueberry fruit. The tannins seem to fade away when the wine warms in the glass. Very enjoyable at this stage without any of the over-ripeness found in some 2003 Southern Rhones.

No comments:

Post a Comment