I must admit it has been a while since I’ve been blown away by a wine at this price range, but it happened the other night. “Les Rials” from Domaine de la Chanade proved to be both easy to drink and complex. Happily this originated from the Gaillac region in south-western France, as it so happened I have been wanting to try more wines from this area. This wine is made from the thousand year old varietal “Loin de L’Oeil”, which is dialect for Len de L’elh, meaning “far from sight” – referring to the vine’s long stems. This grape, a source of pride for the region, has the capability of producing powerful, full bodied wines of great character. It is often seen as minor ingredient in the white wines of Gaillac along with the region’s other white grape variety Mauzac, and while sometimes lacking in acid, I saw none of that in this example.
Gaillac has a long wine producing history, even longer than Bordeaux and is considered one of France’s oldest viticultural areas. Producing all types of wine, from deep colored reds from Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Fer and Syrah, rosès and fruity whites (Mauzac, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle, Ondenc and Len de L’el), lovely dessert wines and even sparkling wines, this is a dynamic region with plenty of versatility. Outside investments are on the rise, as land is still relatively inexpensive. Expect to see more exciting wines coming out of this region!
Established in 1997, Domaine de la Chanade harvests all their grapes by hand and practices sustainable wine making . “Les Rials” is barrel fermented and aged on its lees which gives the wine great length and a wonderful texture.
I don’t often say this but this is a wine I would buy by the case loads – it is just that good (and affordable)! Perfectly fine to sip on its own, I can see this paired with a variety of summer dishes as well as cheeses and desserts.
TASTING NOTES:
“Les Rials” Domaine de la Chanade 2012
Golden color, the wine is very clean while extremely floral and honeyed on the nose. Stone fruit and white flowers come in as well. Medium bodied on the palate, flavors of rose water, apricot, peach, honey and white flowers come through with a slightly spicy finish. Pleasant, firm acidity beautifully intermingled with all the ripe fruit flavors, the wine has a great texture with a toasty nuttiness and creaminess coming from the aging on the lees, and finishes long.
Conclusion: This is one of the most interesting wines I’ve tasted in a long time. Incredibly aromatic with intense flavors. Reminds me almost of a super dry Gewurztraminer. Delicious with multiple layers and depth of flavor – an incredible steal and must buy for the summer!
Rating: 4.5/5 (related to price point)
Food Pairing: Grilled chicken dishes, swordfish, shellfish salads, spicy prawns, apricot desserts, apple pie, semi hard cheeses.
Retail Price: $9.99
SOILFUL WINES 