Vigneronnes: Sisters Dany and Carol Chastan make exquisite Rhône cuvées using old-school techniques. ambient yeasts, no oak (not even foudres), 100% whole cluster, no fining or filtering. It sounds like a recipe for a big rustic wine, but the Chastan sisters somehow managed to produce wines of superb texture and subtlety.
Appellation: Séguret is the simplest wine in the Joncuas lineup. Its soils usually don’t produce the same subtlety as Gigondas or Vacqueyras, but often match them in depth and punch. Séguret also often delivers terrific value.
Wine: The nose is dark and lovely, with notes of briary cherries, garrigue, orange peel, and provencal spices. The mouth is dark, old-school, and mid-weight, with lovely tannins and notes of raspberry and lavender. The handful of years in the bottle have smoothed and matured this wine beautifully. The Wine Advocate awarded 92 points, calling it “full-bodied,” “dark-fruited and herbal,” with a “long, mouthwatering finish.”
Serving: Think of this as an unusually rich and intense Côtes du Rhône. Serve it outside with summery fare: hearty salads or homemade pizza or grilled chicken thighs.
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Joncuas Séguret 2016
bottle price: $22
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