As Matisse famously said: "What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity..." Today's wine is that quote in vinous form.
Made by a young vigneron in the Southern Rhône appellation of Tavel, and sourced from a single vineyard comprised of galet roulés (rolled pebbles), the exact soil type found in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. However, unlike many of the heavy-handed wines of that famous appellation, this Grenache blend is ethereal, lucid and exquisitely balanced. Its purity and lift are astonishing, bursting with the grape's vivd red fruit and savory spice.
There's a punchy exuberance to this wine's aromatics that really blew me away, it explodes from the glass as soon as it's poured. A wine which embraces the bold, rich traditions of Tavel, but turns them up a notch, highlighting the fresh, vivacious side of this warm and sunny climate.
Matisse would have loved this wine, but not as much as I do!
Today, I'm proud to offer the only bottles of 2023 Alexandre Hote, Tavel in South Carolina. |
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65% Grenache with 35% Cinsault, from a parcel of galets roulés on top of pure limestone bedrock, planted in the 80s. Farmed without pesticides and harvested manually, the grapes are crushed and fermented separately. The wines are continuously tasted by Hote, and blended to his specifications before being racked into used barrique to age a full year. Bottled un-fined and unfiltered.
This wine jumps from the glass with unbridled freshness and verve, highlighting both grapes in perfect harmony. The Grenache pops with ripe cherry, rose petal, crushed rocks and subtle peppercorn spice. While the Cinsault offers a jolt of high-toned flavors: pomegranate, raspberry and zippy blood orange. All this vibrancy and electricity judiciously parried by concentrated, earthy minerals and delicate, soft tannins. A beautiful wine of impeccable balance. |
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Alexandre Hote has been growing grapes for decades, managing the familiy vineyards and selling his crop to the local cooperative. At 40 he made the decision to jump to winemaking, and began expanding his holdings and start winemaking at home. His approach is always vineyard first, as his training is rooted in farming as his family has for generations. His winery is minimal and sits just behind his home with only a few barrels and a manual press.
Everything in the cellar is done by hand, from pressing to racking and bottling, which Hote and his wife do together every year. While the Rhône may be a vast sea of wines, Hote stands out with his terroir transparency and deft approach to winemaking. Easily my new favorite Rhône discovery. |
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2023 Alexandre Hote, Tavel - $39.99
*SPECIAL NEWSLETTER PRICE - $37.99
*SPECIAL 2-PACK PRICE - $35.99/btl
To order, reply directly to this email or call me at 843.576.4845
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Justin Coleman
Proprietor
Monarch Wine Merchants |
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