Crous Saint Martin Les Etriers Red (Côtes du Rhône)

Tasting notes & discussion 19

90 Pts (Wine Enthusiast)

24 HOUR SALE
Typically $30/bottle from Crous St Martin
Vintage 2022 from the Rhône Valley
Available for AZ; CA; CO; CT; DC; FL; GA; IA; ID; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MA; MD; ME; MI; MN; MO; MT; NC; ND; NE; NH; NJ; NM; NV; NY; OH; OK; OR; PA; RI; SC; SD; TN; TX; VA; VT; WA; WI; WV; WY
Sold by participating winery or licensee, fulfilled by Wine Country Connect

About Crous St Martin: “An overnight blockbuster for us immediately upon arrival two vintages back, Crous St Martin is a collaboration between Rhone expert Harry Bosmans and Eric Bonnet of Domaine Bastide Saint Dominique. Harry is a household name amongst quality growers in the Rhone Valley and an invaluable resource thanks to his skill on both the production side and on the sales side. Eric’s family has been growing grapes in the north-east corner of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation for three generations now, with 120 acres of vines in their name.”

By the Stirrups

TASTING NOTES: “A savory nose intertwines with aromas of fresh plums and iodine in this wine. Mouth-coating acidity and plush tannins support dark fruits and provide a lengthy finish. Notes of freshly crushed plum, black currant, apple skin and black olive on the palate lead into a subtle saline finish. Drink now.” — Wine Enthusiast

(AbV 14.0%)
VARIETALS: It’s a literal Rhône blend, so probably something like GSM.

BARRELS: French oak, I’m sure.

PAIRS WITH: N/A

THAT REMINDS ME OF: Stirrups, as Les Etriers translates to “the stirrups.”

The earliest stirrups seem to have appeared in India, a couple hundred years since the earliest saddles started showing up. These stirrups were toe loops, a rope hung from the saddle that had a loop just big enough for your big toe. Just imagining getting on a horse using a toe loop… feel like it’d break my toe off. Also, you may notice that to use a toe loop, you would need a free toe. This is because most riders in the region were doing so barefoot.

Next you have hook stirrups a few more centuries forward. These ones were made of bent metal. They hung straight down from the saddle, and you would just fit you foot into the crook of the hook. Seems a little uncomfortable, but it’s better than a toe loop.

You finally got more comfortable shaped metal rings with potential for a foot pad in China around 200 AD. Invasions and trade from groups in Central Asia would then propagate them to Europe.

Crous Saint Martin Les Etriers Red (Côtes du Rhône)

90 Pts (Wine Enthusiast)

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