
67Wine
Gael Petit Tavel La Combe des Rieu ROSE 2020 750ml Practicing Organic
Behind the historic label lies a wine of class, depth, and substance, bearing a rich bouquet of wild strawberries, flowers, garrigue, and sweet spices, culminating in a long, stony finale. Not really a rosé, but not quite a red, it is simply...Tavel, the way it was meant to be, validating the appellation’s legendary standing as the “rosé of kings.”
On the nose, the wine is expressive and beautifully complex. The palette extends over notes of very fresh red fruits with aromatics that could be found in a white wine, namely notes of turmeric, a touch of vanilla and even a pastry side, it's both disturbing but devilishly gourmand. We can't wait to taste it. The mouth is ample and endowed with a beautiful rich substance. The main characteristic that makes this wine so unique is the remarkable balance between freshness and complexity. The aromatics are intense and evolve as the tasting progresses. The finish is persistent and remains very digestible.
Gaël Petit’s family history is deeply intertwined with that of Tavel. Records show his ancestors inhabited the quaint, sunny Provençal village across the Rhône from Châteauneuf-du-Pape as far back as the sixteenth century, and his great-grandfather, a former mayor, played a major role in the creation of the Tavel AOC, granted in 1936.
Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan. Winemaking: Whole-cluster fermentation in concrete tank with indigenous yeasts lasts 5-8 days. Lightly crushed clusters are layered with intact whole clusters. Occasional light pump-overs. Aged 275-L used barrels.
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