Domaine le Sang des Cailloux
Cuvée Floureto
2001
This beautiful Vacqueyras is still inky purple despite its age. When first poured it offers a sweaty funkiness, but this quickly blows off. What lingers is deep and resonant: earth, anise, chocolate, sweet tobacco, and ripe blackberries. On the palate it's a little tannic, but fulsome, with a spicy cherry body plus more chocolate and anise and stone. It finishes long. What stands forward is earth and sky and mountain. It feels just beautifully French.
We've loved this wine for years, and it was our house wine long ago, when we could buy a case for about $17 a bottle. Those were the days.
Price: $25–30
Drinks like: $35
Bang for the buck: 117% (or more)
