Domaine Alary, Cairanne Rouge, La Brunote
Country: France Region: Cotes du Rhone
Varietal: 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 20% Carignan
Vintage: 2022 Colour: Red Style: Dry
Producer: Domaine Alary
Description:
"One of the top names in Cairanne, Domaine Alary is a must stop for fans of traditional Southern Rhône wines."
- The Wine Advocate
Denis Alary’s wines are benchmark Southern Rhônes: spicy, rich and peppery with warm, juicy fruit, they are consistently appealing and a great representation of the region. Year after year, we see leaps in quality from this excellent domain in Cairanne, which has been making wine in this little-known region of the Rhône Valley for 11 generations (since 1692). Denis and his son Jean-Etienne are now in charge of the vineyard, where they work according to almost hysterical, biodynamic principles in the field.
La Brunote is a single-vineyard wine made from 100-year-old vines. All grapes are picked exclusively by hand, and the bunches are first sorted in the field and then also upon arrival at the winery. All grapes are destemmed before vinification, which takes place over 15-18 days. The wine is then aged for 18 months in large, old cement tanks and then 6 months in bottle before release. This non-barrel-aged La Brunote is an impressive Rhône purchase that beautifully balances the vintage's solid and age-worthy structure with fresh acidity.
Tasting Notes: Intense and complex nose with lots of black fruit and spices, alongside notes of chocolate and licorice that add to the complexity. A suave, forward and soft palate, with body sustained by mature tannins. This opulent and seductive wine is a natural pairing with beef rib or spicy lamb curry.
Food Pairing:
Duck with orange - Tagine of lamb with apricots - Poached and salted duck, strong cheeses.
