WTN: Domaine Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Villages ˜Les Champauvins" France.

Domaine Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Villages ˜Les Champauvins" France. 2004 $17.99; Andrea Immer Wine Club, http://www.kysela.com/ , KYSELA PERE ET FILS, LTD., Winchester, VA importer. 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. 14.5% alcohol.

Deep garnet-red color, deep hue, red fruit and spice aroma with hints of mushrooms and earth, complex fruit, spice, pepper and earth tastes, firm tannins that evolved nicely in the glass, medium mouth feel, long, complex finish with mushrooms, fruit and spice. Rich impresssion, and should age quite well as the tannins soften a bit. [Immer suggests 5 to 7 years.] 3*.

Worked surprisingly well with a basil, tomato and green bean salad and lovely Alaskan salmon. Immer's suggestion for a match with this wine:

Roasted Green Bean and Tomato Salad with Pumpkin Seeds Serves 4

1 lb. trimmed fresh green beans
1 pint small cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced crosswise into ribbons
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon Sherry wine vinegar
salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Toss the green beans with the olive oil, season with salt and pepper and spread them out on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 35 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Transfer to a large mixing bowl and toss with the cherry tomatoes, basil and pumpkin seeds. Add the sherry vinegar and additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Regards, Bob

[James Roscoe]

I find that this name on a wine "Kysela" usually means quality. I've always seen Kysela and Son or something like that is Fran Kysela a different importer?

I find that this name on a wine "Kysela" usually means quality. I've always seen Kysela and Son or something like that is Fran Kysela a different importer?

James,
I agree. Probably buy at least a couple cases of his stuff each year. Like his roses, Picpoul and the '04 Segries (sp) is excellent at $12. There is only one Kysela
Walt

[Robin Garr]

Domaine Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Villages ˜Les Champauvins" France

I love this wine ... as you likely know, Bob, it's just across the fence from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and tastes like it. I'm surprised at the 14.5% level in a 2004, though!

No, it's http://www.kysela.com/ , KYSELA PERE ET FILS, LTD., James. I'll edit my WTN for accuracy and to avoid confusion.

Immer wrote: " I had asked the importer Fran Kysela, who is a Master Sommelier colleague (no wonder he has such a great palate) to be sure to hold some for us, and I am so glad I did." I just copied that in without thinking really.

As you know, we've discussed how close and chatty the Andrea/Bob relationship is in the past. :-)

Sorry, and thanks, Bob

Kysela has a very pretty description of Domaine Grand Veneur on their website, Robin, with some very nice pictures. http://www.kysela.com/rhone/grandveneur.htm

It always catchs me up to realize how close CdR and CdP vineyards are. I remember driving down a road east of Beaucastel, with what appeared to be identical vineyards on either side of the road. The owner had a large billboard with arrows pointing to the two different regions. Little physical differences, big money differences. :-)

We were told the Popes drew the CdP lines based on how much wine they would consume, not entirely on quality grounds.

That 14.5% surprised me too. The wine didn't taste particularly hot but the tannins were quite robust in the early going and might well have hidden the alcohol level. Later, as the tannins softened in the glass -- still no impression of hotness.

I see that the label for this wine on the Kysela website claims 13.5% but the label in my refrigerator claims 14.5%.

Regards, Bob

Bob, have you tried the GV Cotes du Rhone Reserve? If so, what's your impression? I assume nowhere as deep or complex, but does it have the same flavor profile? (I can get the CdR Reserve, but not the Champ au vin here).

Sorry, Oliver, I haven't.

[Robin Garr]

Kysela has a very pretty description of Domaine Grand Veneur on their website, Robin, with some very nice pictures. http://www.kysela.com/rhone/grandveneur.htm

Good page indeed, Bob. Actually, I had linked to that page, and to Jaume's Website, when I reported on this wine a couple of months ago:

May 19 <i>30 Second Wine Advisor</i>

Bob,
You should try their rose. It is one of the three I bought this year and very nice for $12. It is listed on the web site you gave.
Walt

Nice write up, Robin. Did you happen to notice the alchol level on the bottle you reviewed?

Thanks for the suggestion, Walt. I'll look for it.

[Robin Garr]

Nice write up, Robin. Did you happen to notice the alchol level on the bottle you reviewed?

Bob, good question. Alas, I can't prove a negative, but inferentially, since my original notebook record does NOT list the alcohol content, I suspect that it was not 14.5%, because I almost always look, and if the level is outside the normal range, I almost invariably note that in my original notes, even if I don't mention it in the TN. (Normally, I would flag it, then mention it in the TN if it seems either notably well or poorly handled).

Thanks for checking, Robin. I'm sure you would have mentioned "hotness" if it was present in your bottle.

Regards, Bob