
Counoise is a red wine grape hailing from France’s Rhone Valley. Counoise is one of the grapes allowed for use in Chateauneuf du Pape. Counoise is black skinned and will display notes of pepper and moderate acidity, but will also add plum, strawberry, raspberry, anise, and licorice flavors. Chateau de Beaucastel is one of the producers that prefer the Counoise grape and incorporate about 5% in their blends. Besides Southern Rhone, Counoise is also grown in Provence, Languedoc, and recently released in California. Syrah makes for an ideal blending grape for Counoise, in addition to Grenache and Mouvedre. Counoise will allow younger wines to display more powerful aromas and a stronger palate. Counoise is primarily utilized in blends due to the lack of color, tannin, and alchohol when by itself. In Provence, Counoise is used in making Rose wine with good acidity that is dynamic and refreshing. California is trending towards the production of Counoise single varietal wines.
No products found
All older vintage wines have been purchased from a single collectors cellar. Pictures can be requested before shipment.
Thibeaud-Maillet Pomerol is made from 100 percent Merlot
Deep ruby with black rim. The nose is spicy, with blackberry, cherry, vanilla, chocolate and a delicate oak presence.
The wine is balanced, the tannins are present, but well integrated and round.
The finish is long and pleasant.
Harvest is done manually and the berries are selected with optical sorting before entering the cellar. Fermentations are carried out at controlled temperature with 3 to 4 weeks of skin contact. Once the malolactic fermentation is completed; the wines are put into barrels (50% new) and aged for 12 months. The estate uses three barrels from three different coopers: Vicard (Charentes)supplying most of the barrels with medium toast and a fine grain, Cadius from Burgundy supplies also fine grain/ medium toasts barrels and last but not least Sylvain, a local cooper is used for three barriques a year, those bring a bit more austerity but also a certain backbone to the blend.
Aged in French oak barrels for 15 months (50% new oak).
Delicious with grilled meat and grilled vegetables.
Review:
Spice, ripe cherry, dark plum, paprika and tobacco aromas. Medium- to full-bodied with tight-grained tannins, compact fruit and a long, firm finish. Drink from 2027.
-James Suckling 92 Points