2007 Heloise

Moving to the reds and a perfumed, lightly textured and elegant effort, the 2007 Heloise is 60% Syrah, 37% Grenache and the balance Viognier, that’s vinified separately before blending prior to bottling. Fresh and complex, with vibrant black and blue fruits, violets and spice, this medium to full-bodied 2007 builds in the glass and is seamlessly textured and never puts a foot wrong. Still youthful, it should shine through 2019 or more. Another up-and-coming estate (first vintage was 2006), Chene Bleu is located high up in the Dentelles de Montmirail, northeast of Gigondas, and covers roughly 70 acres of high altitude vineyards that are planted mostly to Syrah and Grenache, with the average age of the vines over 50 years in age. Restored by the Rolet family, with Jean-Louis Gallucci making the wines, this domaine has produced some incredible 2007s (as well as a smoking good 2010 white) that will compete with the finest efforts coming out of the Rhone Valley today. These are not cheap, but they certainly deliver on the quality front and show what’s possible from these higher elevation sites! They’re well worth checking out. Importer: Wilson Daniels, St. Helena, California; www.wilsondaniels.com