2021 Domaine La Garrigue Côtes-du-Rhône Cuvée Romaine, France
The Cuvée Romaine is a blend made from the more precocious tanks at Domaine La Garrigue sourced from in and around Vacqueyras but in the charmingly polished rusticity that has defined this address. Not needing the extended aging in concrete to tame it like its sibling cuvée from Vacqueyras, Cuvée Romaine is far more complex and age-worthy than your average Côtes-du-Rhône due to the age of the vines and its long, whole-cluster maceration.
Specs
Varieties: Grenache, Syrah
Location: France, Côtes-du-Rhône
Soil: Clay limestone, gravelly clay
Elevation: 150 meters
Farming: Sustainable
Age of vines: 40-60 years-old
Fermentation: Hand harvested, lightly crushed fermentation in tank, delestage
Aging: 8–10 months on lees in concrete tanks, vegan
Alcohol: 15.5%
What’s Included
6-bottles:
6x - 2021 Domaine La Garrigue Côtes-du-Rhône Cuvée Romaine, France
Case:
12x - 2021 Domaine La Garrigue Côtes-du-Rhône Cuvée Romaine, France
Price Comparison
Not for sale on winery website, $252/case MSRP
About The Winery
Domaine La Garrigue
Owner: The Bernard Family
Founded: 1850
Location: Vacqueyras, France
Domaine La Garrigue, established in 1850 by the Bernard family, continues to be managed by Famille Bernard, specifically by brothers Maxime Bernard-Cosme of the fifth generation and Pierre Bernard. While Maxime oversees the estate, Pierre focuses on Les Florets, the family’s inn and restaurant situated beneath the Dentelles de Montmirail. Visits from the US are treated as special occasions, featuring lively tastings marked by differing opinions, arguments, and ample gossip. Fortunately, Maxime’s daughter, Virginie Combe, has been the winemaker for over a decade, crafting refined wines that embody the estate’s polished rusticity. Domaine de la Garrigue remains a traditional Southern Rhône estate where Grenache constitutes half of the planted hectares. With an average vine age of 50 years and a commitment to sustainable farming practices, the estate’s cellars reflect a timeless approach with concrete tanks and stainless steel fermenters, showcasing the natural terroirs of Vacqueyras in each bottle.
Throughout the years of collaboration with Domaine la Garrigue, there has been a gradual evolution in the wines without compromising their original charm or altering their style significantly. Representing the essence of the South of France, these wines encapsulate the character of Vacqueyras, an appellation overshadowed by Gigondas and Châteauneuf. Attaining cru status in 1990, Vacqueyras boasts three distinct terroirs: the red-clay-under-galets plateau of la Garrigue (the estate’s location), the sandy soils around the village of Vacqueyras, and the rocky limestone slopes at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Each terroir contributes specific attributes to the final blends at la Garrigue, with power from the plateau, finesse from the sand, and structure from the limestone slopes.
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2021 Domaine La Garrigue Côtes-du-Rhône Cuvée Romaine - $25 = 20.83%
I tried to buy a case but the system isn’t recognizing my membership and insists on charging shipping. Anyone else having this problem? I tried logging out and back in.
Wonder the blend, it changes year to year. Good producer, should still be drinking well, other recent vintages well regarded…a little giddyup at 15.5 though right?
A good simple roast chicken wine…
This is probably right in the middle of its drinking window. I am well stocked right now, if it were a GSM I would be more tempted, but I wouldn’t be able to finish this in time. The price is extremely good and very attractive, but I don’t really have space for a case.
@afwaller you know what, discussed it with the lady and she pointed out we could just give these away at this price and still come out ahead so I’m in for a case. This is a screaming deal even for a Côtes du Rhône.
So yeah…I ain’t need no rats! Big fan of Côtes-du-Rhône wines in general and really enjoyed anything from the Vacqueyras region specifically…so in for a few cases. Worse case scenario…I will have a lot of everyday drinkers to share! Fire up the Traeger!
Just got my case! Not exactly what I expected but am hoping it will get better with some age. The wine is opaque, dried fruits, graphite, eucalyptus on the nose. it is quite grippy and has a lot of mineral. It’s rustic and would go well with grilled meats, sausages etc.
My case arrived today and I just drank a glass. It’s not a typical Cotes du Rhone but I really like it. It’s got a lot of dried berries and some minerality. Enjoying it. No regrets at all. Looking forward to drinking it this summer with burgers and ribs.
Our case arrived, we tried this last night. It’s definitely rough around the edges but the fruit and chalk carry it through. Dark in the glass, some legs. Smells foresty. It’s got some tannins and body to it along with dark berries. This isn’t particularly polished but still compelling. Think it has enough structure to age a bit and may mellow slightly more if the tannins integrate a bit. On the other hand, it is not particularly complex and this may be the peak of the drinking window, hard to say. Good acidity but not sharp. Drinks fine now. We enjoyed it and it was such a good value.
2021 Domaine La Garrigue Côtes-du-Rhône Cuvée Romaine, France
Specs
What’s Included
6-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale on winery website, $252/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Apr 13 - Tuesday, Apr 14
2021 Domaine La Garrigue Côtes-du-Rhône Cuvée Romaine
6 bottles for $59.99 $10/bottle + $1.33/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $94.99 $7.92/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2021 Domaine La Garrigue Côtes-du-Rhône Cuvée Romaine - $25 = 20.83%
I tried to buy a case but the system isn’t recognizing my membership and insists on charging shipping. Anyone else having this problem? I tried logging out and back in.
@DebRVA I just hit the case purchase button and it shows free shipping. (I didn’t order.)
@DebRVA Is it possible your VMP lapsed d/t expired credit card?
@InFrom yes, I think that’s what happened. Card number changed due to fraud. Support is working with me on it now!.
Wonder the blend, it changes year to year. Good producer, should still be drinking well, other recent vintages well regarded…a little giddyup at 15.5 though right?
A good simple roast chicken wine…
@kaolis looks like 50/50 nosing around a bit?
WS rated 2021 Southern Rhone 88pts fwiw, not awful but weakest since 2014 (also 88pts).
This is probably right in the middle of its drinking window. I am well stocked right now, if it were a GSM I would be more tempted, but I wouldn’t be able to finish this in time. The price is extremely good and very attractive, but I don’t really have space for a case.
Edit: it is still extremely tempting.
@afwaller you know what, discussed it with the lady and she pointed out we could just give these away at this price and still come out ahead so I’m in for a case. This is a screaming deal even for a Côtes du Rhône.
@afwaller “give these away at this price and still come out ahead”…you make it up in volume.
Will there be any rats?
@dawnlac @winedavid59
@dawnlac I’ll drink some!
/giphy minty-gloomy-crusader
Wish we had some rats. But I know that I like Rhône wines, so in for a case!
So yeah…I ain’t need no rats! Big fan of Côtes-du-Rhône wines in general and really enjoyed anything from the Vacqueyras region specifically…so in for a few cases. Worse case scenario…I will have a lot of everyday drinkers to share! Fire up the Traeger!
No more cases
@ttboy23 guess we made the right decision pulling the trigger yesterday! No fomo for me now.
@afwaller FOMO is real!
Was hoping to get a case but has to settle for a six pack. If cases become available again, can I change it?
/giphy wet-wet-marble
Sure would like to read a rattage on this. I will try it and see what comes of it. I like wines from this region. Was just there 6 months ago. Cheers
@ScottHarveyWine love to see other winemakers on here! Still have a bottle of your barbera I need to pop, already enjoyed the rest of them!
Wow, a no-rat sellout, congrats
Just got my case! Not exactly what I expected but am hoping it will get better with some age. The wine is opaque, dried fruits, graphite, eucalyptus on the nose. it is quite grippy and has a lot of mineral. It’s rustic and would go well with grilled meats, sausages etc.
My case arrived today and I just drank a glass. It’s not a typical Cotes du Rhone but I really like it. It’s got a lot of dried berries and some minerality. Enjoying it. No regrets at all. Looking forward to drinking it this summer with burgers and ribs.
Our case arrived, we tried this last night. It’s definitely rough around the edges but the fruit and chalk carry it through. Dark in the glass, some legs. Smells foresty. It’s got some tannins and body to it along with dark berries. This isn’t particularly polished but still compelling. Think it has enough structure to age a bit and may mellow slightly more if the tannins integrate a bit. On the other hand, it is not particularly complex and this may be the peak of the drinking window, hard to say. Good acidity but not sharp. Drinks fine now. We enjoyed it and it was such a good value.