Boise Coop Wine Shop

A French Quartet

• January 7, 2010

Grange des Rouquette

Across the Rhône River from Avignon, and just south of the appellations of Lirac and Tavel, is the tiny village of Fournès and the estate of Thierry & Véronique Boudinaud. The Boudinaud family have been winegrowers and winemakers in the western Rhône Valley for five generations. Thierry traveled extensively in his quest for knowledge about winemaking, working in California, New Zealand and Bordeaux. Ten to 15 years ago they planted the vineyards around their Domaine of Grange des Rouquette. They now own about 65 acres of vineyards within the Côte du Rhône appellation, and farm an additional 65 acres. Planted on the plateau between the villages of St.-Hilaire, Estézargues and Montfrin are old-vine Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Cunoise, with seven and half acres of Viognier and five acres of Marsanne.

2008 Grange des Rouquette Marsanne Viognier, $9.99
This bottling is a blend of 55% Marsanne, with the balance in Viognier. The two varietals are picked separately and the grape clusters are pressed whole, very slowly, to extract maximum flavors. After a short period of skin contact, two-thirds of the wine is fermented in stainless steel, with the remaining third vinified in new, one and two year-old barrels. The wine is then aged on its lees for three to four months. Bottling in early Spring ensures impeccable freshness. Aromas of white peach and citrus rind melt into the round, tropical palate that finishes on a bright mineral note.

2008 Grange des Rouquette Syrah Grenache, $9.99
This new bottling of red wine from Grange des Rouquette is produced from fruit grown on their best terroir. A blend of 55% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre, the three varietals are harvested separately, allowing each to attain maximum ripeness. Most of the wine is fermented in tank, with a small amount of the old-vine Syrah vinified in barrel. The beautiful, sweet red fruit in the nose is round and soft on the palate. A terrific new addition to the Grange des Rouquette line-up.

Domaine les Grandes Vignes

This Domaine goes back to the 17th century, and has been in the Vaillant family since that beginning. The Vaillant family owns close to 140 acres in the appellations of Anjou, Bonnezeaux, and Coteaux du Layon, and has been working organically since 2006. Two thirds of the vineyards are planted with red varieties, and one third with white varieties. The vines grow on soils mainly composed of schist and gravel. All the grapes are destemmed.

2007 Domaine les Grandes Vignes, La Varenne du Poirier, $18.99
The Anjou Blanc is all Chenin Blanc grown on grey-black schist. The wine is fermented and pressed using a pneumatic press, then matured 15 months in 400 liter oak barrels.

2007 Domaine les Grandes Vignes, Les Cocainelles, $18.99
The Anjou-Villages Rouge is entirely made of Cabernet Franc. The malolactic fermentation takes place in third-wine oak barrels.