G Gonnet CDR Reveur Rouge 19

Long-time AWM customers know we're Francophiles and that we have a particular fondness for the wines from the South of France. The wines from this region are nuanced with a vibrant dose of garrigue — the local scrubby, piney herbs that grow everywhere. Thyme, rosemary, savory, bay laurel, lavender all mingle with the peppery notes of Grenach and Syrah, and after a sip or two, you'll feel like you've been transported to a holiday in Provence! 

 

The wines from my friends Guillaume and Kelly Gonnet are the epitome of quality and value and have been AWM staff and customer favorites for years. They're home base is Châteauneuf-du-Pape; however, over the years, they've added additional holdings throughout the Rhône Valley, providing them with an incredible wealth of terroir. 

 

From Châteauneuf-du-Pape to Côtes du Rhône, all of their wines feature distinctive labels with different colored birds. It makes me smile when folks call to place an order by the color of the bird!

 

Guillaume is a fan of tradition while, at the same time, a pioneer in advanced winemaking technology. His vineyards are organically and sustainably farmed, without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. In the winery, his philosophy is to guide the wine along with minimal intervention to present the perfect purity of his terroir. While he experiments with some oak aging, he prefers well-used barrels to protect the fruit's freshness. 

 

Guillaum's Côtes du Rhône Le Rêveur is a true overachiever, and in your glass, you'll immediately recognize and appreciate the wine's Châteauneuf-du-Pape lineage. As I often opine, you should drill down to the entry-level wines from a great vigneron to find the ultimate in value and quality.

 

After a quick swirl of this blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, notes of fresh, ripe blackberry, plum, and garrigue greet you on the nose, leading to a palate packed with dark blue and black fruits with a lovely underpinning of smoky minerality. The finish is round, long, and juicy with ample lift to balance the purity of fruit.

 

 

Cotes du Rhone "Le Reveur" Rouge 2019: 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah; stainless steel & cuve; fresh, ripe blackberry and plums dominate the nose with hints of garrigue and smoke; more ripe dark fruits on the palate but with tension and minerality; pepper and garrigue; polished texture; round and delicious with a juicy fruity finish; lots of pleasure here. Overachiever!