Wine shops in Avignon

Chris, As you probably know, Avignon is almost next door to the town of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, so I would suggest spending a day visiting wineries there and in the neighboring towns of Bedarrides and Courthezon. Beaucastel is sort of out in the sticks, but in the town proper are Clos des Papes, le Vieux Donjon, la Nerthe, Dom. de Marcoux and Dom. de Pegau. My personal favorites to visit are Pegau and Clos des Papes, but your tastes may differ. For a more complete list of places to visit, see the section of the FAQ on the Rhone Valley (URL in my sig).

HTH Mark Lipton

I second that. Call the federation of producers

Chris Sprague wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@z24g2000prh.googlegroups.com:

YOu could also look as Mark suggests at the FAQ Gigondas is a good stop as is Seguret. you could tie that tri in with a stop in Vaison de la Romaine.

innews: snipped-for-privacy@z24g2000prh.googlegroups.com:

Chris, We just returned from a trip in that area and would 2nd both Mark and Joseph's recommendations. There is a loop you can do that takes you through Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Vaison de la Romanie and Beumes de Venise to the east of CdP. In CdP, we visited Chateau de Vaudieu, they have some lovely wines and are not sold in the states. Their website is

Tom AZ

Hi Chris,

Just back from a week in the area. Also not a wine-o-centric tour, spent most of it swimming in the Ouveze and Toulerenc. But can tell you that it is very easy to pick out a few favorites and spend an day, stop in Rasteau (Soumade), Cairanne (Richaud), Vacqueyras (Clos des Cazeaux), Beames-de-Venise (Durban), CdP (Beaucastel if you like).

I was unaware that an appt was necessary at Beaucastel, didn't used to be the case. In any case you can just give them a call to arrange, or Mike's idea is good.

My trip report is minimal as I didn't take notes. We went to Roger Perrin to place a big order, quality was as usual very high and the prices good. I thought more of the white than usual. Also ordered from Clos des Cazaux, Vaqueyras and Gigondas. I consider this to be one of the best Vacqueyrases, and they did not disappoint. (Also they gain big points by not charging for shipping from 36 bottles; and the nice mag of 04 Gigondas they gifted us didn't hurt!) Of note at CdC are 2 unusual wines (the names of which I won't remember 'til later, sorry): first, a bizarre red made from botrytis infected grenache [!], really interesting and spicey but frankly not to my taste; and an amazing botrytis grenache blanche, of which only one barrel is made, one of the most complex and interesting stickies I've had in some time.

We visited Rieu Frais at Ste Jalle, to see what their Baronnies wines are doing. The cuvée Alexandre (merlot syrah with some oak) is interesting and still a deal, but shipping is dear. May order, not sure.

Our hosts gave us a few bottles, from the coops at Puymeras (now a villages level wine) and at Seguret. Both were correct without more -- though I believe Seguret is a good coop -- for low end bottles. We decided to visit the Puymeras folks as we were very close, it was frankly a bit depressing: the wines were undistinguished and we were told that 90% of the production is shipped off in tankers to who-knows-what destination, maybe negoce, maybe alcohol. The folks there were not seemingly interested. When you look at a coop like this, which produces well in excess of a half million hectoliters, it is easy to see the crisis in the industry. Really too bad as there are many very well kept and old vines among the fields.

The revelation of the trip was a property which, although it's not currently distributed in the US, would I think do really really well there. Potential importers, take note! Called le Faucon Doré (located in Faucon near Buis) the wines are made from all organic grapes. Average vine age is up around

Chris if you're there at the right time the market at Vaison is on tuesday, excellent and very large.

cheers,

-E

Question about Cote de Cazoux:

Are those bottles of botrytis grenache and grenache blanc available for purchase, and if so, how much? I think you've talked us in to trying to visit this location. Gosh, 36 bottles shipped back? I can't imagine we'll do that, but more power to you.

Regarding Beaucastel, you do need an appointment now, and I'm happy to say that we've managed to make on. I'm looking forward to it, as I've heard nothing but good things.

Thanks for the great advice,

Chris

My trip report is minimal as I didn't take notes. We went to Roger Perrin to place a big order, quality was as usual very high and the prices good. I thought more of the white than usual. Also ordered from Clos des Cazaux, Vaqueyras and Gigondas. I consider this to be one of the best Vacqueyrases, and they did not disappoint. (Also they gain big points by not charging for shipping from 36 bottles; and the nice mag of 04 Gigondas they gifted us didn't hurt!) Of note at CdC are 2 unusual wines (the names of which I won't remember 'til later, sorry): first, a bizarre red made from botrytis infected grenache [!], really interesting and spicey but frankly not to my taste; and an amazing botrytis grenache blanche, of which only one barrel is made, one of the most complex and interesting stickies I've had in some time.

Hi Chris,

The Beaucastel tour was good, at least long ago. :) Sorry to hear appts required now though, doesn't seem right, especially given the size of the operations.

Regarding Clos des Cazaux, the wines are indeed available for sale assuming there is stock left. I don't remember the price of the botrytis red, maybe 12 or 15 EU. The sticky is 25 EU for 50 CL, expensive but not for the quality and of course only 900 bottles made. I doubt this is part of most tastings, (we're long time clients) so you may need to ask. Extraordinary complexity.

As for the shipping, we live in France, but 9 hours away by car. I doubt shipping to the US would be free! :) Sorry to be unclear.

If you do go to Vacqueyras and are adventuresome you might consider taking the little dirt road between Gigondas and Beaumes, which takes the high pass through the Dentelles de Montmirail. A lovely (and bumpy) drive that shows where some of the best Gigondas get their typicity.

One other point I forgot in the other post, you will be very close to the AOC Nyons for Olive Oil (which overlaps the CdR). This is IMHO some of the best OO in the world, made from the subtle Tanche variety. (As you climb the Ouveze valley from Vaison polyculture becomes the rule, most properties produce wine, apricot nectar (fantastic), olive oil. In fact we bought a liter of OO from Clos des Cazaux, though I doubt it was Nyonsais that far down, and being pressed in the mill at Beaumes.)

Have a great trip,

-E