La Tarasque Wines
2010 Côtes du Rhône
Red Blend
France: Rhône
Mission Briefing
Winemaker of the Year
We are honored, today, to be showcasing a very exciting wine from 2012 Winemaker of the Year, Aaron Pott. His made-in-France La Tarasque 2010 Côtes du Rhône is a stellar blend that reflects Aaron’s life-long love affair with the Rhône.
Named for an ancient mythical creature that plagued farmers and ate rural peasants, today’s very highly recommended offering is one sexy beast of a wine. La Tarasque is an elegant and beautiful wine that straddles new world style and old world sensibilities. This exceptional wine is neither overly fruit-driven nor overly austere. Rather, it strikes a harmonious balance.
Aaron Pott is a Napa Valley legend who has made wines for Quintessa, Blackbird Vineyards, Quixote, Seven Stones Winery, St. Helena Winery, Fisher Vineyards, Stagecoach Vineyard, Bello Family Vineyards, Jericho Canyon Vineyard and his own Pott Wine - to name just a few.
When not honing his craft in America, Aaron spent ample time working in France, developing his love for French wine while learning the winemaking skills of the country.
His delicious and balanced La Tarasque wine, a blend of Grenache and Syrah, is made from vines that are as old as 30 years old. This food friendly (and very highly recommended) wine can be paired with nearly anything, but if you are an ancient Gallic peasant… RUN!
(Don’t worry, no peasants were harmed in the making of this wine)
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Beautiful translucent crimson with bright ruby edges. Dark garnet hues through the heart of the wine. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Wild strawberry, black currant, dark chocolate, black cherry cordial, and dark French roast coffee all combine to give the wine a layered and complex nose. Underneath these, the wine shows off a soft toastiness. |
| Taste: | Perfectly balanced with concentrated black fruits of braised plum, black currant and black cherry. Caramel, ground French roast coffee beans, and a hint of toasty vanilla round out the flavors. |
| Finish: | Very lush and very persistent, with red fruit and earthy flavors dwindling in even proportion. Integrated tannins don’t rip the moisture from your mouth. Instead, the tannins provide a lovely texture that leads to a wonderful mouthwatering sensation. |
| Pairing: | We’d love to enjoy this French beauty with a traditional ratatouille or a rich beef Bourguignon. |
What the Winery Says
A sensual, old-vine Grenache-dominated blend of elegance and structure, named for the notorious beast that ravaged the medieval countryside of the Côtes du Rhône. According to legend, the dragon was a reluctant tyrant, gladly saved by the soothing hymns and prayers of Saint Martha.
I’ve crafted this wine inspired by the creature coaxed by St. Martha’s hand; unmasking the beast for a spirited wine of complexity and suppleness.
- Winemaker
- Aaron Pott
- Appellation
- Côtes du Rhône, France
- Vineyard Designation
- Hand selected from 10 different vineyards within the Southern Rhône
- Varietal Composition
- 70% Grenache, 30% Syrah
- ABV
- 13.5%
About the Winery
My love affair with Rhône wine and thus the story behind La Tarasque begins with my first trip to France when I was 9 years old. That first night I was in Paris with my father and I ordered a glass of milk at a bistro, the waiter looked at me and said, “milk is for babies” and instead brought me a glass of wine mixed with water. This sort of odyssey of mine with wine started at that very moment.