2004 Cotes du Rhone Bouquet des Garrigues

This domaine also produces superb Cotes du Rhones under the consultation of famed oenologist Philippe Cambie. These are all Provencal-styled wines with the Bouquet des Garrigues the lightest of them, with plenty of earth, pepper, Provencal herbs and sweet kirsch. The 2005 just slightly richer and fuller than the 2004. This wine is usually dominated by its Grenache component which consists of about 90-95%. From the Quartz soils that also produce the cuvee of Chateauneuf du Pape, Domaine du Caillou makes a Cotes du Rhone-Villages which is a blend of Grenache and Syrah. This is a more modern-styled wine with deeper ruby/purple color, fuller body, more crushed rock and mineral notes (as one might suspect from the name), and more tannin in an elegant style. After the tragic death of the young proprietor, Jean-Denis Vacheron, following the 2001 harvest, his widow Sylvie, assisted by winemaker Bruno Gaspard as well as renowned oenologist Philippe Cambie, has gone through a transitional period but has finally gotten this estate back to the brilliant heights her husband achieved between 1998 and 2001. 2004 is a strong vintage but is surpassed/eclipsed by the brilliant wines of 2005. This is great news for an estate that had long sold much of its production to negociants and then had a complete renaissance when the late Jean-Denis Vacheron took over control in 1996. Sylvie Vacheron is to be applauded for maintaining his vision of distinctive wines of world-class quality. The 2004s are the strongest vintage since 2001, but even they have to take a backseat to the 2005s. Importers: David Hinkle, North Berkeley Imports, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 848-8910, and a Christopher Cannan Selection, various American importers, including: Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300 and Diamond Wine Merchant, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 567-9897