Y. Rousseau. Napa Valley Reds

Tasting notes & discussion 38

93 Pt. Tannat (Meredith May, Tasting Panel and The Somm Journal)

Typically $65/$125 bottle from Y Rousseau Wines
Vintage 2018 Tannat & 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley
Available for AZ; CA; CO; CT; DC; FL; GA; IA; ID; IL; IN; KS; 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 Y Rousseau Wines: “Y. Rousseau Wines is a dream that began long ago in the South-West of France and continues to grow and evolve today. Yannick Rousseau, French native, founder and winemaker, followed his heart and passion for winemaking all the way to Napa Valley where he met his Texan-born wife, Susan. The two of them bring their combined entrepreneurial savvy to embrace the ebbs and flows of running a family winery with the legacy of their racines, hospitable style, and discriminating artisanship.”

Roi Sun d’État

TASTING NOTES:
Le Roi Soleil - “The nose exhibits intense, dark berries, black cherry baked pie with underbrush earthy notes. The mouth is full, bursts with complex flavors, bold tannic structure and great balance between richness and energy. High mountain fruit brings depth, density, beautiful black fruit and foresty notes. The refined and well integrated French oak adds layers and complexity to the mouthfeel.” (AbV 14.5, pH 3.75, Cabernet Sauvignon)

The Musketeer - “The nose opens on lush, ripe black raspberry fruits and dark roast coffee notes. Earthy undertones intermingle with spices and plush cherries in the mouth. The palate is loaded with dark ripe berries, hints of warm spices and espresso. This is an elegant wine, bold, intense and dense, memorably balanced with a persistent finish. Drink now after 2 hours decanting or between 2022 and 2035.” (AbV 14.7%, Tannat)

BARRELS: French oak, majority new.

TANGENTIALLY RELATED FACT to help you make conversation over this wine:

Raison d’État. More of an accusation at this point than an explicit doctrine, it translates to “reason of the state.” To act with raison d’État is to forgo other considerations in favor of what is in the national interest, AKA whatever you think helps your nation. Perhaps it could be positive, but its connotation tends toward political actions aimed at increasing a nation’s power or sense of security while sacrificing some degree of transparency or honesty. The Italian phrase “Region di Stato” was one that Machiavelli championed, and we all know the associations that name has. Cardinal Richelieu is the one most associated with the French variation, however, particularly in his push to ally France with Protestant states despite being a Catholic nation. This was at a time when the Holy Roman Empire was gaining in power, so it was theoretically in France’s best interests, as far as the balance of power in Europe was concerned, to stand opposed to the HRE.

PAIRS WITH (winery recommended): N/A

OR (really-going-with-the-theme-option): Raisins d’État.

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