Domaine du Terme Côtes du Rhône Sablet 2019

Alcohol: 14.5%

Grape(s): 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah

Localization: Gigondas, Rhône Valley, France

Tasting Notes: Wild berries and currants meld with spices on a bright, clean palate.

Food Pairing: Perfect with chicken, veal, or a variety of grilled meats.

The Domain: Located in the foothills of the Montmirail Mountains, Domaine du Terme is managed by Anne-Marie Gaudin and her father Rolland, who purchased their first vines in Sablet some forty years ago. Anne-Marie began making the wines in 1987 after earning her oenology degree in Mâcon. Her father, Rolland, who has also been the mayor of Gigondas for over a decade, still consults in the vinification and viticulture process. Anne-Marie believes one must be “flexible, pragmatic, and intuitive” to make quality wine, and have a good connection to the earth. Gaudin does not use any pesticides or herbicides as a matter of course, but not necessarily because she wants to be identified with the organic movement. She simply believes that the best grapes come from the best management of the vineyard. For all her wines, Anne-Marie only adds SO2 at fermentation, then not again, not even during bottling. As a result her wines are rich, textured, and exceptionally pure.