You may have noticed that I have been posting “story” entries labeled “From My Cellar” and certainly not for bragging rights, though there are a couple of interesting wines that I have acquired over the years. It has been an aid to remind me what I have down there and what should be drank first, because I am not that organized. And everyone recommends different apps that they use, but then it starts feeling like a business. Since the forced sequestering of about five years ago, I have been quite fortunate, as I have been trying to keep abreast of the situation, as we only lost about nine bottles from neglect, which is not bad at all.

I am kind of picking and choosing, thinking which wines may not age as well. I will start with Chateau Paradis Casseuil Bordeaux 2003 from the Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). The Chateau is located in the Entre-Deux-Mers (between two seas) where the Dordogne and Garonne Rivers meet. The “Vines of Paradise” derives its name from the terroir, a distinctive geological formation of sandstone, limestone, marls , claystone with lime nodules and multi-colored magnesium sandstone as well as being rich in calcium. The porous structure of the terroir is what allows the vines to stay cool during the hot summer season. The DBR Lafite family purchased the fourteen-hectare property in 1984, and in 1989 the estate grew by nine hectares, and in 2013 they acquired another thirty hectares. In 2024 they acquired another twenty hectares and its own winery and cellar. The original name of the vineyard is lost in lore, but they are pleased with the name. Using modern technology, fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled Stainless-Steel tanks for the gentle extraction of tannins. The berries are small, and the skins are concentrated with tannins and the fruit has a short maceration period. A small percentage of the wine is aged in oak, and the wine is predominately Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Cabernet Franc. The wine was deep purple with no foxing and offered notes of black fruit, cassis, oak and terroir. On the palate the fruit and the tannins had blended, but I was impressed that there was still some solid fruit for its age and a good medium count of terroir in the finish.

Another wine that we had one night at the house was Domaine Sainte-Anne Cotes du Rhone 2001. This is a low-key winery that is considered special in the southern Rhone. The Stenmaiers, originally from Burgundy were considered pioneers for introducing both Syrah and Mourvèdre to the area which was already famed for Grenache, which seems odd now, as The Rhone Rangers of California have made GSM almost a household blend. The winery also makes a Cotes du Rhone Blanc and their vines average about forty years in age. The wines are made in Stainless-Steel tanks as they use no oak. The color of this wine was still a deep purple with no foxing, but I am glad that we opened it up as the nose was starting to soften the notes of blueberry, raspberry and plums. On the palate the aging of the wine had softened the tannins and fruit, both were still present, but not a full-flavored and full-bodied for this higher proof wine.

The last of the wines that I will mention today is also from the southern Rhone from a well respected house. We had opened an E Guigal Cotes du Rhone 2000. E. Guigal is one of the more popular and important producers in the Rhone Valley. Etienne Guigal founded the company in 1946 in town of Ampuis near the fabled slopes of Cote Rotie. The main focus has been on wines featuring Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, Roussanne and Syrah. The company has holdings in Saint-Joseph, Hermitage, Gigondas, Condrieu, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, as well as a couple of Cote du Rhone wines. The company also has four notable wines from Cote Rotie, the latest acquisition being Chateau d’Ampuis in 1995. While the bottle of wine did not list the varietals, I don’t think that I would be going out much on a limb to say that it is the classic GSM blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, the classic trio of the Southern Rhone wines. I am happy to say that the color, nose and taste would have reminded one of perhaps a five-year-old and not a twenty-four-year-old, so the others are still safe and totally drinkable. The deep purple wine offered notes of blackberry, raspberry, pepper, smoke and sous-bois. On the palate nice tones of blackberry and raspberry, roasted peppers, and smoky spices.