Ch Juvenal Petit Homme 20

How about a 94 point blockbuster red from the South of France, made at a family-owned estate, by the most famous consulting winemaker in Châteauneuf-du-Pape? And by the way, the Insider-Deal price is unbeatable!
Yes, please, bring it on!

Over the years, I've been very fortunate to meet and make friends with some of the most wonderful winemakers in Europe. It's no accident or surprise; the folks I meet are humble, down-to-earth, hard-working people who genuinely love sharing the passion for their home, the grapes they grow, and the wine they make. As I've often opined, the Forestier and Alban families, owners of Château Juvenal, exude this warmth and generosity. Once again, I'm delighted to present the fruit of their labors to AWM Customers.

Anne-Marie and Bernard Forestier purchased Château Juvenal and its surrounding vineyards in 2001, determined to put the Château on the map as one of the region's finest estates. In 2011, they merged the property with the Ablan family, built a new winery, and focused their attention on Grenache and Syrah-based wines. The families brought rock-star winemaker Philippe Cambie from Châteauneuf-du-Pape onboard as consulting winemaker, completing the formula for greatness.

Ever wonder why some wines remind you of lavender?

La Terre Du Petit Homme is a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, from 50-60 year vines planted on gravel soil mixed with clay and limestone. The vines are located on slopes of southern exposure and harvested manually to ensure proper ripeness. After harvest, the grapes receive an extra-long maceration extended pump-overs to extract the maximum flavor and color.

The deep red pomegranate color opens to complex aromas of black cherry, blueberry, and red and black currant, with the fruit transferring beautifully from the nose to the palate. Touches of black pepper, roasted herbs, red licorice, olive tapenade, charcuterie, and violet join the nicely lingering finish of red and blue fruits. The plush fruit on the finish is balanced by a pleasingly savory thread of spice and garrigue.

This bold and vibrant red is a no-brainer with steaks and chops from the grill; however, the wine's ample freshness and lift allow it to pair with just about any meats.

Jeb Dunnuck sums it up nicely in this recent review:
"The 2018 Ventoux Les Ribes Du Vallot (70/30 Grenache and Syrah brought up in stainless steel) is similar to the 2017 and offers perfumed raspberry and dark berry fruits, spice, and floral notes as well as rounded, textured, pure style on the palate. It's going to be a smoking value geared for near-term drinking. This Ventoux based estate continues to produce a bevy of charming, fruit-forward, impeccably mad reds and whites. Some of the reds just about max out the value scale."

This one indeed maxes out the value deliciousness scale! Grab some while we have it; this one won't hang around too long.