Producer: Domaine La Bastide Saint Dominique
Wine: Cotes-du-Rhone
Vintage: 2005
Country: France
Appellation: Cotes-du-Rhone
Wine Type: Red
Varietal: Grenache 80%, Syrah 5%, Mourvedre 5%, Cinsault 5%
Grade: A-
Designation: Excellent Value
Price:$14

La Bastide Saint Dominique is small winery owned by the Bonnets in the Courthézon province of Vaucluse in the Southern Rhone. They produce excellent Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Cotes-du-Rhone wines. Their Secrets de Pignan is one of my favorites and is a 100% Grenache made from old vines. Their Cotes-du-Rhone makes a good introduction to sample the best the Bonnets winemaking prowess. The wine takes a bit of time to open up so I suggest keeping your paws to yourself for a good 20-30 minutes, perhaps decant it as well. There is an exotic nose that projects good things to come. It’s gamy and peppery with tarry pitch. The black cherry and cassis flavors emerge and the flavors blossom. The wine hints at rusticity but never goes wayward in the palate. Good structure and a good finish with notes of raisined fruit. 2005 was a good year in the Southern Rhone and this Cotes-du-Rhone drinks well now but can hold 2-3 years as well. C’est bon.

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