2010 Ventoux Nature

Since it has no sulphur, the 2010 Cotes du Ventoux Nature needs to be treated carefully as these wines tend to go berserk when transported through any amount of heat. When I tasted it in the Rhone Valley, it performed exceptionally well. A blend of 50% Mourvedre, 30% Syrah and 20% Grenache aged in neutral tanks, it shows no hint of oxidation, revealing a terrific dense purple color as well as a big, exotic nose filled with black and red fruit, licorice and charcoal-like notes. A beefy, sauteed mushroom-like character is also present in mouth. The tannins are sweet and the wine is round, medium to full-bodied and ideal over the immediate future. This estate has been one of the world's finest sources of high quality, reasonably priced Ventoux wines for many years. Proprietors Sebastian Vincente and Manou Barthelemy run this biodynamically farmed operation of just over 100 acres, and all the wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered with low levels of SO2. The Cuvee Nature sees no SO2 whatsoever. The 2010s are brilliant, largely because of tiny yields and cool nights, which gave the wines more acidity and focus. Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083