Description

With Clos Du Mont Olivet La Sabonite you get the flavours and texture of mature Chateauneuf du Pape without the price-tag or waiting time. The amazingly well priced entry point to Chateauneuf du Pape and the great wines of the Sabon family. A blend of grapes from Chateauneuf and surrounding appellations, it is also a blend of multiple vintages. Therefore you get a wine that is consistently great throughout the years.

Savoury flavours, nice silky mouthfeel and a touch of animal/funk.

Service

Drink from now but give it a bit of air.

Food Matches

Cheese, charcuterie or red meat would be fine.

Rhone Valley

One of the great wine regions in the world. Situated along the Rhone river in South East France there is a distinct divide between the Syrah dominant North where the Mistral wind cools and regulates the temperature and the hot lands in the South where Grenache is at its peak. The region produces everything from easy going quaffers to wines that demand long term cellaring. Whites can be outstanding such as Viognier made in Condrieu and Rosé makes a fair impression too.

Vin de France

The catch all for wines that are either outside of any recognised appellation OR fail to adhere to the laws of an established appellation. It does not necessarily mean you are getting a cheap or nasty wine. In some cases a winemaker will purposefully ‘declassify’ a wine so they can make it better than if they stayed withing the appellations restricting influence.

Grenache/Garnacha

Spain’s gift to the world. We know it as Grenache and I think everyone has a soft spot for it in some way. Almost too exuberant in expressing its sweet red fruits and high alcohol, it often needs a little bit of other wines to add moderation, structure and depth. Much like Abbott and Costello. Despite this the wines of Priorat, Chateauneuf du Pape, Rioja and Aussie GSMs have an amazing ability to age for the long term.