2007 Clot de l'Oum Côtes du Roussillon Villages Caramany Saint Bart Vieilles Vignes

JancisRobinson.com

• By Tamlyn Currin
  7/10/2009, (See more on JancisRobinson.com...)

  (Clot de l'Oum, St-Bart Vieilles Vignes Côtes du Roussillon Red) Subscribe to see review text.

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  7/16/2009, (See more on Garagiste...)

  (SAINT BART Clot de lOum) UPDATE: The Garagiste Hype Machine We have an open door policy at Garagiste and part of the fun for everyone on the email list, after they've received their shipments, is bantering back and forth on wine that missed the mark or went beyond even my bombastic praise (it happens). Our friends and email list members are never scolded for expressing their opinion - this is a two-way street between Garagiste and the outside world and it's one of the main elements that makes us different. When I tell you about a wine or the stories of my life, I feel as though I'm talking with you, not at you. Positive and negative comments occur on a regular basis as everyone has a different palate and (thankfully) many of you find the time to let others know how you feel via our own Forum page or the myriad of blog sites around the world. If a wine is your favorite, there's assuredly a strong percentage of the community that has it as their least favorite - opposites are welcome here and we relish it. With that said, the poor 2005 Saint-Bart (older sibling to the wine we offer below) has been the whipping boy for many of our most loyal email list members and it's been called everything from "thin and insipid" to "an example of the Garagiste Hype Machine" (by the way, there are just as many of you that found it to be excellent). One of our email list members, who is very hard on us but is also first in line to applaud when he receives a top value, produced one of the quotes of the year in reference to my original enthusiasm for the wine - we have it stapled to the wall in the office but it is a little much to print in this email. While I believe the hype related comments miss the point - they would be better phrased as "Jon was wrong on this one" or something to that affect, keep in mind, there is no master plan to deceive. Garagiste is not a game of us versus them, completely the opposite - I could hype or sell anything, I chose to write about and offer wine I actually like without influence from any outside agent or importer - that fact alone continues to motivate me to do this everyday. Those of you that know me personally, know the "sales" aspect of the industry is my last favorite aspect of Garagiste - I wish the wines could be shared with everyone in some co-operative way but I haven't figured out a way to keep our doors open and do that - maybe in the future? For the time being, I'm content with giving back to the world via our commitment to organic conversion and organic farms, further study on environmentally sound UPS/Fed EX packaging (stay tuned for a big announcement on that), the lowest prices we can muster and donating time and/or money to charities of your choosing each year. Not everyone will like every wine we offer but the big sell-all conspiracy that some of you chat about simply doesn't exist. Palates differ, passion is prevalent but we wouldn't want it any other way. - Jon Rimmerman ********************** 2007 Saint Bart Dear Friends, If the 2005 was the whipping boy, what about the 2007? 2-3 years ago, Clot de l'Oum's entry-level 2004 Compagnie des Papillon was my Wine of the Year. The wine was from an atypical growing season (much like 2002 in the Barossa) with heavy Syrah tones that were reminiscent of St. Joseph rather than the Roussillon. The WOTY honor was as much for the single wine as it was for the discovery of a source that I knew would become a major factor in the years to come. While many of you still argue about the WOTY designation for the 2004 Papillon and its bottle variation, I believe there will be no argument with the vintage about to hit the world stage. Maybe it's the bright halo of 2007 that has showered its fairy dust upon Clot d l'Oum but Eric Monne's 2007's are going to place him on a world stage that has been waiting for his song and dance to posses the substance of its promise. Instead of an 2007 entrance with the Papillon (Eric's least expensive cuvee), we head straight to the Vieilles Vignes, the Saint-Bart. While noted below by David S to be mostly Carignan and Grenache, it is actually has a more significant portion of Syrah grown on a gnarled piece of solid pre-alpine rock that appears to have spilled forth from the Pyrenees to the south. If you wish 2007 in the Northern Rhone was as strong as it was in the South but also wish to drizzle a fine Priorat such as Clos Mogador over your 2007 Janasse Vielles Vignes, Eric Monne's 2007 Saint-Bart is like an amalgam of the above - North meets South meets Priorat but (unlike the Rhone proper) all three elements are from a great, even profound, growing season. In the Roussillon, the 2007 Syrah and Carignan were downright incredible and this wine has harnessed that magic with kid gloves and a completely organic approach. Compared to a typical luxury Crozes Hermitage or Gigondas (that are priced about the same as this), I believe you will find this wine hair-raising in its expression of varietal, vintage and passion: Please note: Unlike many examples from the Roussillon, Clot d l'Oum requires 2-3 years in bottle to show itself (across the entire spectrum). They are always perplexing on release but experience with older vintages shows that patience will be dooly rewarded. Do not be quick to judge this portfolio, give each wine time to unfold and they should prove to be worth the wait. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for atmospheric and intrinsic qualities that belie its Roussillon roots. This parcel is directly from the winery cellar: 2007 Clot de l'Oum "Saint-Bart Vieilles Vignes" Cotes du Roussillon Villages Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA SOFR6599