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.
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Tenuta di Arceno Valadorna is made from 60% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot .
The first impression of the nose is earthy with notes of cypress, vanilla bean, and spice. There are deep fruit flavors of black cherries, plums and blueberries followed by pleasant hints of chocolate and dried rose petals. On the palate, the tannins are chewy and accompanied by lively acidity; contributing to a long finish dominated by flavors of dried figs and licorice. The 2016 Valadorna is a time bomb of joy that will stand the test of time and age well in the cellar if patience permits.
This Merlot-led blend is sourced primarily from the Valadorna and Capraia blocks, which produce the estate’s most complex and mineral-based expressions of this variety. The blocks are located within the cooler part of the estate, naturally irrigated by the stream that undulates through it, and feature sandy brown soils and lower yields than typical. These blocks are often the last Merlot blocks to ripen on the estate.
Review:
Solid and radiant in the glass it shows notes of pink grapefruit, flowering geraniums, pressed blueberries, plums and rosemary. There is more in the background in the brightness of the lemon, lime and bergamot notes. Full body, well-polymerized tannins that are decidedly vibrant and tense at the moment and an impressive long finish that will relax over time. Better from 2024.
-Raffaele Vecchione - WinesCritic.com 96 Points