2008 Domaine La Blaque Pierrevert

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  8/13/2009, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (LA BLAQUE Coteaux de Pierrevert) La Blaque Dear Friends, Out of nowhere, the 2007 Domaine La Blaque "Coteaux de Pierrevert" became our biggest offer of 2008 and maybe the biggest since 2006 (from a pure bottle-count standpoint) - it was also one of the only wines we offered last year that seemed to break the "palates differ" equation that every offer must go up against (i.e. half of our email list has a palate on the left, the other on the right) - nearly everyone that tasted the wine praised it in some fashion. The community found this wine to have a complexity of composition and early appeal that was hard to believe under $15 - I only wish we had more to offer last fall (we took 95% of the US allocation so there was no more wine to be had - not even a bottle). In truth, while I knew the wine was terrific and the region completely unknown to most, I never anticipated the response this wine would have while I was driving up the A51 that fateful day toward its discovery. Some offers strike a chord and others take on a life of their own - this one went even beyond that - there were even email list members that refused to try anything else until I could guarantee an additional allocation of La Blaque (extreme, yes). To jog your memory, this is the infamous wine that David Schildknecht labeled as "Cornas for $15" and most of you agreed in one form or another. With that said... The 2008 vintage is even better... ...and I'm not just saying that for effect - it is. The vines are a year older and the Syrah has an uncanny and more serious quality in 2008 that made me shake my head in amazement - it will be incredible to watch both vintages (2007 and 2008) over the next 3-5 years. The 2007 may be more precocious but the 2008 is overall a better wine...and it's cheaper. Due to a more favorable exchange rate, I was even able to shave almost $1.00 of the price of last year's version - that makes one of our biggest hits pretty darn appealing. The 2008 Domaine La Blaque is oh-so enticing from the moment you pour it into the glass. Inky to the rim with fresh blackberries, black cherry, incense and beef bouillon in the nose, the 2008 proves once again that the very best wines in the world do not have to cost more than $12. The flavors stain your palate with black fruit, plum, walnut and licorice with fine grained tannins in the finish not typically found at this level. Perhaps a bit more structured and less jammy than the 2007, this has more breed without loss of early appeal - a very complete wine at a great price - there's nothing more I can say. For reference, my original offer for the 2007 vintage is below (that describes my discovery of this property in the Alpes de Haute Provenìe). The only problem? This wine has been discovered since the last time we offered it (which always seems to be the case at this point - after we send out an offer it travels around the globe so fast, I still find it incredible. With that said, please let us know your interest at your earliest convenience. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - VERY HARD TO FIND: 2008 Domaine la Blaque "Coteaux de Pierrevert" (This is not the Rose' or the Blanc - both were $8.99 on release) Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA SOFR7624 ********************************** (Last summer's offer for the 2007 vintage) Blaque Dear Friends, When it rains it pours (so I am back to my obtuse and verbose ways with this offer) but the recent WA has forced me to offer a number of the best wines of the year in the same week - I apologize in advance to your pocketbook but at least many of them are bargain wines. This was another offer slated for later in the fall but David's praise has left me in a now or never situation - I'll resist the IMPORTANT tag here but I think it will be obvious that the wine deserves it... Heading up the A51, on the way to Grenoble to ski untracked powder, little did I expect to uncover one of the finest unknown producers in France, but I did. The snow had to wait, not to mention it gave me some pretty great wine to tote up to the ski chalet. Skiing is a different experience in Europe than in the US - the focus is on eating and drinking with friends and family and, maybe, if the weather is just right, you'll get a few runs in now and then - especially if one of them leads to a tucked away chalet serving fresh local alpine cheese, rose' and sausage for an extended lunch (yes, people drink while they are skiing in Europe). Exercise is not the priority, relaxation and conviviality are the prime reasons for venturing into the high country and they find their American counterparts just too serious about the pursuit of 30 runs a day to enjoy the true pleasure of the mountains - fresh air and food. Enough about skiing, back to the wine... The Alpes de Hauts Provence and Pierrevert in particular are home to one of France's last uncharted wine-lands - hot and very cold (sometimes in the same day), the high altitude location (2000-3000 ft) and incredible solar exposure above valley floor air/ozone layers make the photosynthesis in this region something to behold. With 320 days of sun per year, fresh air and the most alluring Mediterranean/alpine terrain, the region is tough to believe. The dichotomy of a Provencal climate and alpine topography are unmatched in Europe (think valley floor Palm Springs versus the top of the cable car and you will know what I mean - there's often snow at the top of the tram and 105 degree heat at the bottom base station). Domaine la Blaque is the top producer in this very small region - while absurd to use this analogy, they are the Chave of the Pierrevert. I use the term "unique" quite often but they personify the word and its definition. Their entire portfolio (and the wine we offer today, in particular) will bowl people over. La Blaque produces a Syrah blend and Viognier (as in Cote Rotie and Condrieu) with aromatic complexity, concentration and texture more than reminiscent of their counterparts in the Northern Rhone (although there is a small amount of Grenache and Mourvedre in the red wine as well). Their goal is to naturally produce the animale and style of un-oaked Voge Cornas with the aural grace of Cote Rotie for $15. Do I need to go on? I'm not going to say this is Voge Vieilles Fontaines but you get where I'm going with this. After all the scrounging around I do and sifting through so many wines on your behalf, this winery and vintage have to rank right up there as a reference point that will spawn future comparisons and copycats. The terroir, dedication to quality and pro-consumer pricing have made them one of my favorite entities at home (i.e., I like to consume the wines, not just talk about them) but in the end it's about the wine. Like our current Presidential race quagmire, when you strip away all the fluff and distraction, it should be about the meat and potatoes and this wine deliveries a plate-full of substance for a pittance. Cornas-a-like from one of the best vintages in the last 20-30 years ? I'll take as much as they will give me: An eye-opening look into the giggle-chasm of 2007 southern Syrah and (of all the unknown beverages we've offered this year) I would place this very high up the list - even if it sold for $20-25+. This parcel is directly from the Domaine with perfect provenance - we have a terrific price on this wine as well, about the same as in France. I've had my order placed for this wine since March (long before the Wine Advocate review), so we have first crack at the entire US allocation - I will open it up to 48/person to accommodate large events but I don't think you're going to want to share much of this...it's too good. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FIRST COME FIRST SERVED up to 48/person until we run out: 2007 Domaine la Blaque Coteaux de Pierrevert (Alpes de Haute Provence) - SOLD OUT