Domaine Martin Cairanne CDR Village 21

Regular readers of my newsletter will undoubtedly notice that Domaine Martin's wines appear regularly in this newsletter. While some vignerons I've introduced over the years have come and gone, Domaine Martin has been a long-enduring member of our Côtes du Rhône department. The Domaine's wines are remarkably consistent and consistently remarkable!

My introduction to brothers Eric and David Martin was, once again, courtesy of my broker friend, Anne. She has an uncanny knack for uncovering superb wines from French vignerons who prioritize quality and integrity, and I feel fortunate to call her a friend. Over the years, she's helped me source dozens of exceptional vinous elixirs; however, Domaine Martin still tops the list as both first and favorite!

The village of Cairanne is located north of Orange and just a short drive from Rasteau., It's a recognized appellation within the Côtes du Rhône that often flies under the radar for most wine lovers. Unlike Châteauneuf-du-Pape or Gigondas, Cairanne doesn't appear on the shelf of every bottle shelf or grace the pages of high-profile wine columns. The region may be out of the limelight; however, it enjoys most of its more famous neighbors' underlying terroir and embraces their magical mix of Grenache and Syrah as the backbone of its bold blends.

Domaine Martin has long impressed AWM customers and staff with their superb Plan de Dieu and terrific Tuesday night Petit Martin; however, the brothers' Cairanne rarely appears on the AWM shelves. Most of what they make gets immediately snapped up directly at the Domaine's tasting room by locals in the know. Occasionally, a small amount of this red gem travels across the Atlantic and makes it to the AWM; happily, a shipment has just arrived!

In your glass, Domaine Martin's Cairanne opens with aromas of high-toned berries, roasted herbs, and a subtle whisper of olive tapenade. A nice dose of garrigue slowly appears on the middle palate, with the remarkably lifted dark red fruit marching through the lengthy finish. For me, the Martin Cairanne leans more towards Grenache — a terrific counterpoint to their more Syrah-dominant Plan de Dieu,

Domaine Martin Cairanne pairs perfectly with roasted and grilled meats, and we will love it with roasted game birds and poultry. For a vegetarian treat, pour it alongside roasted eggplant layered with herbs and spices or a plate of smoky grilled mushrooms. If you're feeling more adventurous, try it with charred or planked vegetables drizzled with harissa -- it will handle moderate heat like a champ.