Piaugier Sablet Rouge 2019

2018 Domaine de Piaugier Sablet Rouge

SOLD OUT! I honestly didn’t think we’d see any more of the 2018 Domaine de Piaugier Sablet Rouge, but miracles do occur. One of the top Southern Rhone values of my 20 year wine career, this will sell out fast.

Sablet is located directly north of Gigondas and this is the village that Domaine de Piaugier calls home. Quite a bit richer, more concentrated and complex than the estate’s entry level CDR, this drinks a lot like Gigondas at a fraction of the price.

Piaugier Sablet Rouge 2018

2018 Domaine de Piaugier Sablet Rouge | On Sale Through Saturday, October 17th

“TOP SOUTHERN RHONE VALUE EVER! DRINKS LIKE TOP-FLIGHT GIGONDAS!!” – JS

The 2018 vintage is sold out. Stop by the store or click here to order the new vintage in our online store.

The village of Sablet is know for its sandy soils — “sable” translates to “sand in French.” And it’s these sandy soils that make Piaugier’s Sablet Rouge so uniquely delicious. Soil isn’t the most exciting thing to talk about but it plays a huge role in wine, from vineyard to bottle. And well-drained, sandy soils are notorious for producing vibrant, elegant and highly aromatic Grenache-based wines.

In the words of Robert Parker, “This small estate, managed with intelligence and talent by Jean-Marc Autran, deserves praise for its Côtes du Rhônes.” Yes they do and thanks for noticing Bob! Jean-Marc and his wife Sophie farm their 12.5 hectares in Sablet without the use of chemical fertilizers or sprays. In addition, all of their grapes are hand harvested and sorted. They ferment in cement tanks with indigenous yeasts and they aged this one in used barriques for 18-24 months. They then bottle with minimal filtration and sulfur addition.

This traditional, meticulous and “slow” way of crafting their wines is counter to the many highly processed wine that line the shelves at grocery stores. And that’s why this tastes better! But surprisingly, it doesn’t cost that much more. Nope, this blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, all from 30-50+ year old vines, is soulful and full of character, much like your favorite wine monger.

Just 2,600 cases were produced in the warm and healthy 2018 vintage. And right out of the bottle, this one shines. Offering up a nice mix or red and dark berry notes along with notions of white pepper, nutmeg, earth and forest floor, this opens up even more on the palate. Full bodied, but not a monster, I pick up lovely flavors of peppery raspberry and dark currant along with notes of rosemary, lavender and pine.

I wouldn’t recommend laying this down for any serious length of time. But I would recommend enjoying it with your favorite lamb or mushroom recipe or a combination of the two. And decanting it will help it reach its full glory in 30 minutes or so.

The 2018 vintage is sold out. Stop by the store or click here to order the new vintage in our online store.

Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville

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