Friday Sips

2015 DOMAINE DES ACCOLES
COTEAUX D’ARDECHE ROUGE
‘LES RENDEZ-VOUS DES ACOLYTES’
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE

Located about 40 minutes north and west of the city of Orange, not far from the Right Bank of the Rhone River lies Domaine des Accoles. Olivier Leriche spent 13 years as winemaker at famed Nuit-St-George Domaine de L’Arlot. In 2011 he amicably departed and along with his wife Florence, set about to acquire vineyards in this adventurous growing region. Safe to say that with his Burgundian spirit and looking for finesse and smoothness rather than sheer heft, this dynamic couple is now staking claim to another up and coming region of France.

100% Grenache, the Rendez-Vous Acolytes is from a terraced vineyard planted on clay and compacted calcareous soils. Definitely on the wild side of Grenache, this is an incredibly delicious, perfumed wine that leaps out of the glass of pure strawberry, Nyons olive, smoked meat and prominent peppery. In the mouth, it shows intensity but given its cooler situation, maintains harmony with ample vibrancy and spice on the chiming finish. Drink this wine over the next 3-4 years with grilled meats, especially game or spicy sausages.

2014 DOMAINE DES ACCOLES
‘LE CAB DES ACOLYTES’
$16.99 BTL./$203.88 CASE

100% Cabernet Sauvignon and quite surprising in its profile. Whole cluster fermentation (50%) is practiced here and not only is the Cab varietally strong, it is the Southern French garrigue and the proximity of the cool peaks of the Ardeche that most influence the wine.

Cassis, rosemary, dusty earth, pekoe along with hints of underbrush and tobacco, this is a Cabernet not meant to be compared with Bordeaux. Quite plucky and spirited, bursting fruit and fennel spice shine through in the mouth along with a backdrop of vanilla and cedar. Elevated and drawn out, this is a perfect choice with grilled beef, charcuterie, soft cheeses and dark chocolate, which includes perhaps a chicken doused with a mole sauce.

2016 CAMERON RAMATO
PINOT GRIGIO
$23.99 BTL./$287.88 CASE

Pinot Gris is normally thought of as white, but in actuality, it is a grey, slightly pink grape and when left on its skins the resulting wine comes out rather pink. In 2011 John Paul took on a block of old vine Pinot Gris from the famed Oregon Grand Cru site of Abbey Ridge and in a move of genius decided to do a skin-contact Pinot Gris.

Coming off as a copper/pink color and meticulously designed, this wine is one of the more individual expressions in Oregon. Inspired by a Friulian technique and the Northern Italian region's wines, the stellar 2016 Ramato has a forward, fullish nose of nectarine, red flowers and enhanced by forthright powdery/rocky aspects. This seamless beauty coats your mouth with rich flavors that are kept in perfect balance by bright acidity and earth tones which are all derived from the alchemy of old vines. Not a porch pounder, this wine screams for seafood, perhaps an elaborate preparation of crab, shrimp or salmon.