It's back, and Piaugier's Sablet is a fantastic taste of France's Southern Rhone Valley. What truly amazes me about this wine is its consistency. It's always delicious, but in the very strong 2022 Southern Rhone vintage, this stuff "behaves" a lot like Gigondas at a fraction of the price.
I have said it many times, and I’ll say it again, this is one of top Southern Rhone red wine values we can get our hands on each vintage. If you've loved it in the past, you'll love it again.
2022 Domaine de Piaugier Sablet Rouge
Drinks like an elegant Gigondas at half the price!
The village of Sablet, just north of Gigondas, is know for its sandy soils. In fact, “sable” translates to “sand” in French. It is these sandy soils that make Piaugier’s Sablet Rouge so uniquely delicious. Dirt isn’t the most exciting thing to talk about, but it plays a huge role in how a wine feels and tastes. It’s a known fact amongst “cork dorks” like myself that 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, they harvest and sort by hand, they ferment in cement tanks with native yeasts, and they bottle with minimal fining, filtration, or sulfur additions.
This traditional, meticulous and “slow” way of crafting their wines is counter to the many highly processed wines that line the shelves at grocery stores. And that’s why this tastes better! But surprisingly, it doesn’t cost 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 a touch fuller-bodied and darker this previous vintage, I love the combination of brambly red and dark berries, peppery spice, and herbaceous rusticity that flow through this classic Southern Rhone red. Rich, hearty, elegant, and rustic, this is the kind of red you want with grilled meats BBQ!
