TAVEL (FRANCE) 2010 CUVÉE A LA PEINTURE, 14%.
Much about the
featured painter, Daniele Buisson, on the label but not so much about the wine from Tavel.
It is Rosé, as that is all they
produce in this southern Rhone village.
The nose is slightly shy, yet aromatic.
On the palate it is dry and the fruit, after a shy shakehands, begins to
blossom and you find yourself sipping a smooth and flavoursome wine. Tavel
wines are dry and tend to have more body and structure than most rosés.
Tavel promotes
itself, not in a shy way, as the Best Rosé in France and it is certainly a contender.
But there are many such contenders further south in Provence where virtually
each wine village produces a very presentable rosé. I especially liked the one from Mas de la Dame.
On a recent visit to Tavel, I bought
this Cuvee a la Peinteure. But they do have another ace up their sleeve and the
helpful lady in the Vignerons de Tavel premises produced it, though not from
under her sleeve! In my humble opinion, then and now, the Cuvee Royale was
better and didn't cost a whole lot more. This may well be the best in France!
It is grown in a different part of Tavel
on the smooth round stones also found in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and is located
east of the town in the direction of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Irish stockists of
Tavel, not necessarily my tastings, include Power and Smullen and O’Briens
For more on my visit to Tavel, and the strange little
animal I saw after lunch (and the tastings!), click here.
