Domaine des Escaravailles "La Galopine" Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2019

Description

Domaine des Escaravailles La Galopine Côtes du Rhône Blanc was worth the cycle up the long, steep hill to taste it – the Domaine has great view too. This is a lovely white Côtes du Rhône wine produced from local grapes Roussanne (40%), Marsanne (40%) & the balance, Viognier. Its texture, body and smoothness reminds me of a fabulous white Burgundy; after tasting an earlier vintage I was told by genial winemaker, Gilles Ferran, that he calls it his Burgundy. Often blended in Northern Rhône white wines Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage, as well as in Languedoc-Roussillon, Roussanne brings acidity and perfume whilst Marsanne gives the wine its body. Viognier adds floral and fruit aromas and flavours.

In this Domaine des Escaravailles La Galopine 2019 you will find aromas and flavours of pear, ripe yellow apples and a touch of acacia honey and nuts. The grapes involved mean that there are perhaps more fruit flavours than in a Burgundy but the elegant structure and smooth, rounded, texture are simply sublime. High & steep vineyards on stony chalky soil, lees-ageing and a very short spell in oak during a cool temperature fermentation are partly responsible for the complex flavours. This really was the best white wine I tasted on that trip to the Vaucluse region of Provence and the few years in bottle have just made it even better! Sadly, there are only four bottles left of this amazing wine and no chance of getting any more anytime soon.

Escaravailles is the name for beetles in the local dialect, Occitan, hence the beetle on the label and on the cork of this wine; it is also said to be a nickname for black-robed monks that used to tend the vineyards in days gone by.   This small winery, in the same family since 1953, is situated high up in the Rasteau region. I have also stocked their red wine from the same Côtes du Rhône sub-region, ‘La Ponce’ Rasteau, for a few vintages.