2010 Domaine de Fondrèche Persia Ventoux Rouge
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Tasting notes
As shocking as it seems, the 2010 Cotes du Ventoux Cuvee Persia (90/10 Syrah and Mourvedre) reminded me of Jean Louis Chave's Hermitage, from a cooler, granite year. Aged all in new barrels and foudre, it has sensational minerality in its darker fruits, crushed flowers and graphite aromas and flavors. This gives way to a medium to full-bodied, focused, elegant and ultra pure 2010 that has fine tannin, excellent concentration and a big finish. It's a sensational wine. Put this in a brown bag at your next northern Rhone tasting and shock your friends.
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Dramatically different in style, the 2010 Domaine de Fondrèche Côtes du Ventoux Persia is a blend of 90% Syrah (from old vines) and 10% Mourvedre that is aged in a combination of demi-muid and barrique. It delivers a thrilling bouquet of black raspberries, cassis, spice-box, licorice, and sweet oak that carries to a full-bodied, rich, and layered palate that has nothing out of place and a seamless, polished texture. Balanced, very rich, and yet with beautiful freshness and poise, this needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will drink well for over a decade.
(made from 90% old-vines syrah and 10% mourvedre): Opaque ruby. Pungent, spice-accented aromas of dark berries, cherry pit, olive and violet, with a smoky topnote. Chewy, palate-staining blackcurrant and bitter cherry flavors gain sweetness with air and pick up a subtle licorice quality. Clings well on the finish, with the licorice and dark berry notes repeating.
90% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre. Spice and pepper and old leather handbags on the nose. Nervy. Just a trace of oak here for the moment but this should eventually be a great bottle. (JR)