The UnCorker

Les Vignerons d’Estézargues Côtes du Rhône-Villages Signargues Les 40èmes Rugissants 2006

It’s a great thing when Astor Wines focuses it’s “15% Off Tuesdays” on the Rhone valley. It will save you absolutely no money, of course, because if you’re like us you will interpret this as a license to just buy better bottles – like this modern style effort from the Estezargues Coop. These vignerons have an interesting set-up, there are ten separate growers who all share a winemaker. They bottle under each individual estate’s name, but they also pool their grapes to make a series of blended cuvees under the coop’s name. While all their blends (even the boxed wine) is naturally vinified and unfiltered, this is the only carbonic maceration cuvee – a technique which mellows the tannins of these grapes (this year it’s 50% grenache, 25% mouvedre, and 25% carignan) and profoundly affects the style of the wine. The approach keeps the feel soft but this one is balanced with an earthy, blueberry fruit and a subtle spiciness. Retailing at around $19, it’s a good value despite the flood of decent 2006 Cotes Du Rhone at lower price points on the market.