There’s perhaps no cozier wine than a red from the Southern Rhône Valley. The most famous is Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but many rich, excellent reds hail from the surrounding towns as well. At their best they provide similar depth and complexity but far better pricing.
A case in point is Domaine les Goubert’s “Cuvée Florence.” Though it’s grown in Gigondas, in richness, refinement, and ageworthiness it more closely resembles a fine Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Made from only their best parcels of Grenache and Syrah, Cuvée Florence is noticeably better than many wines from its more famous neighbor.
As often happens, the 2012 Cuvée Florence has entered a superb drinking window… just as our stocks have nearly run dry.
We’ve been buying the Cuvée Florence for decades, but the 2012 is unusually good. The family’s thirty-something daughter Florence, whose birth inspired the creation of the cuvée back in the 1980s, is now the principal winemaker. Florence has modernized the winemaking a bit, but maintained her domaine’s high quality and stellar reputation.
The 2012 Gigondas “Florence” is a rich, velvety delight. The nose is deep and woodsy, showing cassis, leather, raspberry and spice. The mouth is smooth, dense, and very long. Vinous awarded 90-92 points, finding “mocha, licorice, and violet,” and “supple, building tannins.” Jancis Robinson called it, “attractive, and “very well balanced.”
This is rich, dark wine that will fit perfectly alongside a fine cut of beef or rack of lamb. It’s the perfect choice for a chilly autumn evening.
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Goubert Gigondas “Florence” 2012
bottle price: $48
FREE EAST COAST SHIPPING ON ANY 12 BOTTLES
