At Domaine de la Solitude last week we were treated to a tasting of Florent Lancon’s latest creation ( following on the heels of his superb 100% Grenache special cuvee Cornelia Constanza). This time its a sublime vendange tardive dessert wine made from Roussanne , Clairette etc, a rich gold colour , honey and marmalade, held together with sufficient acidity to cleanse the palate, delicious now and with a long, long life ahead of it. Not yet on the market the wine is presently… pro tem… in a Cotes du Rhone labled 50cl bottle…..but it does have a name: Les Grains D’Eole 2006 ( Grapes of the wind God). This is a wine style you wont find anywhere else in the appellation and again demonstrates why Florent is a young wine maker to watch.

Last week’s Selected Domaine’s tour scored a hit with our lovely client Elizabeth Mullins from Manhattan, NYC - she wrote in our guest book: “The trip truly exceeded all my expectations”. Thanks Betty, it was a pleasure having you with us, for the record this is what we tasted , in just 3 days!..At La Madelene:

Veuve Cliquot NV Champagne

Clos du Pape 2000 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc

Roger Sabon Cuvee Special ,Chateauneuf du Pape 1999

Cornas 2005, Alain Voge

Lirac blanc 2007, “Le Fermade”,Domaine Maby

Cotes du Rhone blanc (100% Viognier), St.Amant “La Borrie”

Vin de Table 2008, “Energie” (100% syrah), Domaine Viret at St. Maurice

Cotes du Rhone “Cesar”, Domaine Roche Audran, 2005 (100% Grenache)

Domaine Champ-long Cotes du Ventoux Rose “Tradition”

Gigondas, Domaine Goubert “Cuvee Florence” 2003

Domaine Solitude, Chateauneuf du Pape , 2000

Domaine Beauvalric, Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, 2007

At the Domaines:

Domaine Mourchon, Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret (Rose Loubie;Tradition;Grand Reserve;Family Reserve, one 100% Syrah the other 100% Grenache)

Chateau St. Cosme, Gigondas (Cotes du Rhone blanc; Gigondas ; Chateauneuf du Pape)

Domaine Solitude, Chateauneuf du Pape (Barberini blanc, Cotes du Rhone rouge; Tradition; Cornelia Constanza (100%Grenache);Cuvee Secret;Les Grains d’Eole 2006

Domaine Nalys, Chateaunuf du Pape: Blanc in 2007, 2006 and 2004; Tradition red 2007, Le Chataignier (100% Grenache), Cuvee Reserve (100% Syrah)

Chateau La Nerthe: Tradition white and red, 2006 and 1994 (red) and 1995 (white)

Domaines des Bernardins, Beaumes de Venise: Dry Muscat, Red Cotes du Rhone, Red Beaumes de Venise, Muscats – Esprit Libre, Classic, Hommage

At restaurants:

Le Girocedre: Cotes du Rhone Villages Cairanne 2006 blanc, Domaine Alary

Verger des Papes: Chateauneuf du Pape, Chateau de la Gardine, blanc, 2006