SOLD OUT! The Chateau Teulon Rouge is a richly fruited, spice packed red for less than $10! This is a wine that I knew I was going to buy and get behind right when I smelled it.
It literally smells like Southern France, and I love that smell — Provencal herbs (lavender, thyme, marjoram), sun baked earth, and ripe berries burst out of the glass. Even better, the palate is not too heavy but not too light, with just the right amount of fruit backed by just the right amount of savoriness. The tannin is soft, the acidity is there but not aggressive, and the it offers up just enough earthy nuance to make it interesting but not weird. Sound good?
2013 Chateau Teulon Costieres de Nimes Rouge
A hearty and soulful bottle of French red at a great price!
SOLD OUT
Although Chateau Teulon’s wines are relatively new to the United States and Table Wine, they are not a new estate. The family has actually farmed vineyards in the village of Saint Gilles, just south of Nimes, since 1703. The southernmost part of the Rhone Valley, this area enjoys a Mediterranean climate perfectly suited to the cultivation of the classic Rhone varietals.
The young Phillipe Teulon is the current head of the estate, and he definitely has an intimate knowledge of his family’s vineyards and the overall terroir of the region. Phillipe’s red wine is a blend of 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre from older vines grown in the rocky, sandy soils of the region.
In case you didn’t know, the vineyards of Costieres de Nimes are quite similar to those found just east in Chateauneuf du Pape. Along with cultivating similar varietals, these vineyards are composed of rocky, sandy, well drained soils that stress the vines and lead to more intense and mineralic flavors.
Phillipe ferments his wine entirely in tank to preserve freshness and purity, but trust me, this is no shy wine. Medium to full bodied and packed with ripe aromas and flavors of dark cherry, blueberry and plum, the wine finishes with that classic white pepper, herbal, mineral nuance that Southern French wines are famous for.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville