Review of Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Villages Puyméras Rouge 2014

We received the product for review and all opinions are our own.

The Rhône Valley is a very intriguing wine region for wine lovers the world over. It offers a very unique perspective into French wine, as the terroir is much different than the world famous wine regions of Champagne, Burgundy, and Bordeaux. Texas wine drinkers might actually know more about the valley than they may think, due to the fact that we grow (and drink, of course) many of the same grapes in Texas as the Rhône. GSM blends have been a staple in Texas wine for quite some time now, and they have been some of my favorite wines to taste. Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre are obvious dominant varieties here in the Lone Star State, but let us not forget about the wonderful Carignan grape. Warm, arid, windy conditions can be hallmark in parts of the Rhône Valley which makes for some great hot weather grown wines.

The wine up for review this time around is from the Rhône Valley, and presents itself as a fairly classic example of such a prestigious wine growing region. Located in the southern Rhône Valley of France, this bottle of wine was produced from ~30 year old vines which assists in offering depth and character to this very drinkable vino. This wine saw no oak aging as it spent its life in concrete tanks. It was bottled un-fined, and used tangential filtration.

Once the cork is wrangled from its tomb, the wine pours into the glass a light garnet. The nose is quite complex tossing around refined notes of ripe red fruits such as pomegranates, ripe red cherries, and raspberries, all while retaining a slightly jammy character, and a hint of pepper on the finish. The palate confirms the nose, while balancing the profile out with gamey characteristics, and round-grippy tannins. The finish is smooth and moderate in length.

Specifications:

• Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Villages Puyméras Rouge, 2014 vintage
• Appellation: France, Rhône Valley
• Terroir: Stony terraces composed of rolled pebbles and angular shale, covered with fine red shingly soil
• Grape varieties: 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Carignan
• Barrels: None. Aging was done exclusively in concrete tanks.
• Clarity/brightness: Clear, semi-bright with small particulates of sediment
• Tannins: Medium plus
• Acidity: High
• Alcohol: Medium
• Finish: Medium plus
• Alcohol by volume: 13.5%
• pH: 3.6
• Price: $18.00 at the time of review

All in all, I must say this wine is a very pleasant drinker for 18 bucks. Round, firm structure, along with the ability to age for several more years to come, make this a winner overall. The body is definitely medium, so don’t expect to pair this bottle of wine perfectly with your juicy ribeye steaks. No, save this baby for wet rub BBQ pork ribs, and your favorite fall season side dishes to compliment this jammy, fruit forward wine. Finish off with a freshly torched Crème brûlée, and you have yourself the perfect evening in.

Sip, savor, and enjoy my fellow aficionados.