Domaine Fond Croze Rasteau Le Haut Plateau 2017
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
This dark wine with purple reflection, offers a beautiful shine. Its powerful and fleshy nose is defined by notes of black fruit, vanilla and roasting On the palate, a frank attack with the sweetness of an exceptional sweetness that marries perfectly with a powerful fruit.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Made from 100% Grenache aged in new 500-liter barrels, the 2017 Rasteau Cuvée Le Haut Plateau offers a rocking bouquet of ripe strawberries, kirsch, blackberries, sweet spice, and cedary oak. It’s ripe, medium to full-bodied, and undeniably sexy. It’s probably not for the staunch traditionalist out there, but it’s a brilliant example of pure Grenache that has plenty of Provençal charm.
Barrel Sample: 91-93
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Rasteau Haut Plateau is 90% Grenache and 5% each Mourvèdre and Syrah, all matured in 500-liter barrels. At the moment, the cedar and vanilla notes are in the lead, but there's a substantial fruit presence lurking in the background—mainly cherries, but also some garrigue-inflected raspberries and even touches of dark chocolate. Full-bodied and velvety textured, this is a solid example of Rasteau that doesn't go over the top into baked fruit and fudge, but instead remains fresh and drinkable, despite the ample alcohol (labeled at 15.5% alcohol).
Barrel Sample: 91-93
Domaine Fond Croze is truly a family business – any and all of the family are likely to be at the cave when you go to visit.
Charles Long first purchased land outside Saint Roman de Malegarde after returning from World War I. His son, Raymond, expanded the vineyards once he started full-time in the business and today, Raymonds sons Bruno (the winemaker) and Daniel (the vineyard manager) are the 3rd generation.
The Longs produce a wide range of honest and unpretentious wines from their 70 hectares. From 2009, Domaine Fond-Croze follows organic methods.
Grenache thrives in any warm, Mediterranean climate where ample sunlight allows its clusters to achieve full phenolic ripeness. While Grenache's birthplace is Spain (there called Garnacha), today it is more recognized as the key player in the red blends of the Southern Rhône, namely Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône and its villages. Somm Secret—The Italian island of Sardinia produces bold, rustic, single varietal Grenache (there called Cannonau). California, Washington and Australia have achieved found success with Grenache, both flying solo and in blends.
A long and narrow valley producing flavorful red, white, and rosé wines, the Rhône is bisected by the river of the same name and split into two distinct sub-regions—north and south. While a handful of grape varieties span the entire length of the Rhône valley, there are significant differences between the two zones in climate and geography as well as the style and quantity of Rhône wines produced. The Northern Rhône, with its continental climate and steep hillside vineyards, is responsible for a mere 5% or less of the greater region’s total output. The Southern Rhône has a much more Mediterranean climate, the aggressive, chilly Mistral wind and plentiful fragrant wild herbs known collectively as ‘garrigue.’
In the Northern Rhône, the only permitted red variety is Syrah, which in the appellations of St.-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Cornas and Côte-Rôtie, it produces velvety black-fruit driven, savory, peppery red wines often with telltale notes of olive, game and smoke. Full-bodied, perfumed whites are made from Viognier in Condrieu and Château-Grillet, while elsewhere only Marsanne and Roussanne are used, with the former providing body and texture and the latter lending nervy acidity. The wines of the Southern Rhône are typically blends, with the reds often based on Grenache and balanced by Syrah, Mourvèdre, and an assortment of other varieties. All three northern white varieties are used here, as well as Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourbelenc and more. The best known sub-regions of the Southern Rhône are the reliable, wallet-friendly Côtes du Rhône and the esteemed Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Others include Gigondas, Vacqueyras and the rosé-only appellation Tavel.