Deep purple color; plum, blackberry, blueberry, black olives, pepper, meat-bacon, garrigue (scent of wild, aromatic scrubland), spice on the nose and palate.
Dry; very soft tannins and acidity (3.7 pH; 3.85 g/L TA). Full body. Exceptionally smooth. Blend of 70% syrah, 30% grenache, all organically grown (ECOCERT 2013). Some sourness and grip from the syrah. Bunches fully de-stemmed and brought to tank with light crushing. Fermented in cement tanks with soft, slow pump-overs several times a day with fruit-structure balance the objective. Aged 10 months in cement tanks. Basile and Nicolas Ricome were the winemakers. Although not tannic, gets more integrated and even smoother with time in glass/air. Consider decanting. 13.5% ABV
Château de Valcombe vineyard encompass almost 70 acres at an altitude of 1,000 feet in the shadows of Mont Ventoux, 18 miles north-northeast of Avignon. Many of the vines are 70 years old; some of the grenache vines were planted in 1936—making them 86 years old at the time of this harvest. The soils are primarily limestone covered with the famous “galets”—large, round rocks worn smooth by the movement of the Rhône River. The rocks reflect sunlight and hold warmth. The area also has low-growing, aromatic vegetation around oak and other trees, a source of the “garrigue” notes on the nose.
The winery history stretches over almost three centuries. The Ricome de Surville family acquired the estate in 1740 as raw land and used it as a hunting lodge. Vineyards and winemaking occurred gradually over succeeding generations. The first vintage was produced in 1755. The main cellar was built in 1784. The Château was completed in 1860, and the winery’s reputation increased throughout the 19th century.
The estate underwent a critical transformation after World War II. Charles Ricome, nephew of Louis de Surville, replanted many vineyards and became the first to plant syrah in the Costières de Nîmes appellation around 1950. This pioneering decision has shaped the estate’s character ever since. Charles Ricome’s commitment to quality over quantity has been a guiding principal of the Ricome family. Charles’s son, Dominique Ricome took over the estate management in 1979. He was joined by his sons Basile and Nicolas in the early 2000s. In 2012, the son officially succeeded his parents at the helm of the estate.
Château de Valcombe Costières de Nîmes Rouge 2022 brings ten generations of winemaking excellence and innovation to this effort. Exceptionally smooth and becomes even more approachable with some air time. Excellent balance. Fruit-forward. Rich, full, engaging. $20-26
Pairing—red meats; roast leg of lamb, braised rib steak and other braised beef dishes. Pork ribs, pork chops. Charcuterie board with cured meats. Roast chicken, a classic pairing; duck; wild game, venison, wild boar, game birds. Grilled vegetables, especially eggplant-based dishes. Cheese—aged cheddar, gruyère, comté, aged gouda, manchego; camembert, brie; works with cheese board progression from mild to stronger such as young gouda to gruyère.
