2009 Domaine les Grands Bois Côtes du Rhône Cuvée les Trios Sœurs
This is another inexpensive Côtes du Rhône. 2009 is rumored to be a good to great vintage, so I’m bottom feeding for inexpensive, exciting wines to stock up on for the winter, like a squirrel for nuts.
I tried learning more about Domaine les Grands Bois and owners, Marc and Mireille Besnardeau from Google. It seems that they’ve vineyards scattered about several areas of the Rhône, including Rasteau, the one place on the list that I actually recognize. I really need to go to France soon and visit these places!!! That would be fun.
Marc was a sommelier in Paris before marrying Mireille and moving down south to get involved in winemaking. Weygandt Wines describes these as “robust” and “delicious.” K and L Wines, where I picked up the bottle for $13, describes this particular one as “enormously satisfying.” Sadly, we didn’t really agree.
2009 Domaine les Grands Bois Côtes du Rhône Cuvée les Trios Sœurs: 60% Grenache, 30% syrah and 10% carignane. The wine is an opaque purple black color. John thought that it had the nose of “vinegar.” Hegui thought “nail polish.” This was a tongue coating creamy wine with full body and a lot of refined tannins. We identified red fruit and tar notes. Though smooth, it somehow didn’t wow our tasting group.
Well, back to the drawing board.