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2009 Domaine Grand Nicolet Cotes du Rhone

FRANCE
$13. 99
Bottle
$167.88 Dozen
Cellar: 3 - 4 Years (2015-2016)
ABV: 14%
Closure: Cork

Last of the 2009 Rhones.
Not long after Robert Parker began his assessment of 2009 Rhone in October 2010, he was commending winelovers to buy up. "This is the type of vintage consumers will love as the wines are fruit-forward, full-bodied, relatively high in alcohol with low acidity and sweet, well-integrated tannins". In this final shipment, traversing a range of terroirs the quality and value is obvious. They are wines that put Australian Grenache blends back in their place as the antecedents of these Southern Rhone archetypes. Now the treasure trove is drying up. One proviso on Parker's comments below: many of these wines were tasted before bottling. In this state, he tends to underrate wines initially, only to add points after they spend time in the bottle. The wines have rested since shipping and are now blossoming beautifully.

Tasting note: The entry level Nicolet is Grenache heavy (85% ) combined with Syrah and aged in cement tanks. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, it shows excellent colour saturation with an opaque black crimson red colour with deep dark crimson red hue. The nose possesses an excellent perfumed lift revealing scents of black raspberry and black cherry followed by some liquorice, earth and spice. Medium to full bodied the palate delivers flavours of black cherry, liquorice and dark raspberry followed by some dried meat characters . Spicy back palate. Firm dryish tannins provide a solid wall of support. Medium to long black cherry, liquorice, meaty earthy, spicy aftertaste. Cellar 3-4 years. Alc 14%

Other reviews... "This estate is increasingly one of the super-stars of the southern Rhone...a natural, pure wine with lots of sweet strawberry and black cherry fruit intermixed with hints of licorice and lavender. Broad, opulent and hedonistic, it is a classic example of both the southern Rhone and Provence. Drink it over the next 2-3 years." 89-91 points - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #191 - Oct 2010size>