Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Sommelongue 2022 (Andre Brunel)

Drink it now or cellar for up to 8 years. It is recommended to decant it for half an hour. André Brunel was one of the most interesting characters of the Chateauneuf Du Pape appellation. Until 2022, when he passed away, Brunel owned one of the oldest estates in the region with 21 hectares, supplemented aby plots in two other appellations. His son Fabrice, who has now taken over the reins of the estate, carries on his father's legacy. The domain now operates in HVE (High Environmental Value) and tries to be more demanding every year in the management of the vineyard. The wines are aged in concrete vats to guarantee the best fruit expression. The cuvee Sommelongue is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Cinsault from a single plot located north of the city of Orange, which benefits from excellent sun exposure and allows the grapes to reach ideal maturity. A good canopy management in the vineyards allows the vigor of Grenache to be tamed, giving it balance. In the cellar, the fermentation, at high temperatures, lasts four weeks. This is a robust and velvety wine with soft tannins and a good concentration of spices and licorice. It is round and generous with a long finish. Try it with red meat and cold cuts.