wUst Fine Wine Imports
wines U should try!
Domaine la Colliière
Georges Perrot, the founder and vigneron of Domaine la Collière, is a self-taught winemaker. His original inspiration for farming grapes started with helping his grandmother with her garden and seeing the wonderful things that can be grown with careful attention to detail. Another chance encounter with his now wife Delphine where they shared a bottle of wine led to him realizing that they both also had a passion for wine.
Georges then started assembling vineyard parcels in 2002 and he and Delphine now meticulously farm 60 acres of vineyards in the Rasteau area. You can definitely recognize the high quality fruit in the wines but Georges’ inspiration and precision in the wine making also produces an extra dimension in the wines. Along with the exceptional fruit grown in the vineyards, Georges has also built a pristinely clean and highly functional winery with state of the art equipment.
Something that I have also learned from a lot of my other suppliers is that their familiarity with their vineyards and the expressiveness of the fruit grown in each vineyard parcel results in also having the insight and understanding that specific types of fermentation and maturation tanks are required for a full expression of the great fruit that my suppliers grow every year. And so Georges also has a range of stainless steel and concrete tanks and concrete eggs that are optimal for each vineyard parcel.
Part of the expressiveness of the fruit is from the Rasteau area itself which has a wide range of very minerally clays in the vineyards. The Rasteau appellation is one of the Southern Rhone "Crus", which is on the same level as other appellation classified crus such as Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beames de Venise, and Lirac. Rasteau is located about six miles north of Gigondas and around 15 miles northeast of Chateauneuf du Pape. What is a also fascinating to me as I look to select very expressive and terroir-driven wines is that each of the Crus do have their own unique expressiveness and Rasteau is notable for exquisite aromatics along with deep fruit expression.
Looking east towards the Alps
Looking south towards Gigondas
Georges in the winery
Very modern state of the art equipment
A very happy looking rabbit in the organic vineyards
The Wines
“Clairmentino” 2024 IGP Vaucluse (OC, NF)
This is from Georges Perrot’s vineyards near his winery in Rasteau. The blend in 2024 was 70% Vermentino, 25% Clairette, and 5% Grenache Blanc. Aromas include white flowers, camellia, honeysuckle, jasmine, white peaches, starfruit, and Meyer Lemon. Flavors include honeydew melon, white peaches, pear, and yellow apples. There is a medium to full body, good balance and acidity, and a long and refreshing medium to full finish.
Food pairings would include shrimp, crab, branzino, red snapper, sea bass, tuna, clams, mussels, seafood pasta, risotto, and salads, veal, pork, chicken, white meat dishes and pasta with creamy sauces, grilled sausages, vegetable casseroles, sauteed mushrooms, Asian pork, chicken, seafood, noodle, and vegetable dishes, creamy yellow curries, Mexican pork, chicken, and seafood dishes, enchiladas, pork verde, chile relleno, tostadas, green salads, and mild to medium cheeses.
Côtes du Rhône “Les Bergeronnettes” 2022 (OF, NF)
The blend for the 2022 Les Bergeronnettes is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Carignan, and 20% Syrah. Aromas include blackberries, boysenberries, blueberries, nectarines, and hints of apricots. Flavors include blackberries, boysenberries, blueberries, and apricots. There is a medium to full body, perfect balance and acidity, and a long medium to full finish.
Food pairings would include Filet Mignon, New York Steak, Rib Eye, short ribs, beef stew, lamb chops, veal chops, pork chops and tenderloin, grilled chicken, duck, cassoulet, coq au vin, salmon, shrimp, tuna, clams, mussels, paella, Asian and Mexican beef, pork, and chicken dishes, lamb curries and Tandoori dishes, beef and pork enchiladas, tamales, tacos, tapas, charcuterie, and mild, medium, and hard cheeses.
Rasteau “Les Touillères” 2023 (OF, NF)
The 2023 Les Touillères is a blend of 82% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Carignan, and 3% Mourvèdre. Aromas include dark plums, dark cherries, boysenberries, blueberries, red peaches, and nectarines. Flavors include dark cherries, boysenberries, blueberries, and nectarines. There is a medium to full body, perfect balance and acidity, and a really long medium to full finish.
Food pairings would include Filet Mignon, New York Steak, Rib Eye, Roast Beef, short ribs, beef stew, lamb chops, veal chops and roast veal, pork chops and tenderloin, grilled chicken, duck, duck confit, cassoulet, grilled sausages, salmon, shrimp, swordfish, tuna, clams, mussels, paella, Asian and Mexican beef, pork, and chicken dishes, lamb curries, Middle Eastern food, tamales, tacos, tapas, charcuterie, and mild, medium, and creamy cheeses.
