A pretty bottle of village-level Rhone wine. A touch reductive on the nose at first, but quickly tosses out a potpourri of scent. Unoaked, as Grenache-dominated wines often are, this is pure fruit on the palate. Rich and silky, flavors of cherry compote and black currant dominate. Fresh lavender rises into the finish with a touch of roasted apple.
From Balma Venitia, AKA Cave de Vignerons de Beaumes-de-Venise, which is the local cooperative. This region is best known for dessert wines, but the reds are an undiscovered treasure. Beaumes-de-Venise is a short distance from some of the better-known villages, including Gigondas.
Interested in ranking as well as general price level.
Neil, this wine rated in the 89-90 point range and was less than $15 locally. That said, we are waiting on the next vintage.