“Cotes de Ventoux is not an easy appellation to make a living from. It’s large, amorphous, well down the Rhone Valley pecking order. I’ve tasted attractive wines from there over the years (not least the Perrin family’s La Vielle Ferme) but the quality which James King is now getting from his Chateau Unang vineyards amazes me. A magnum of the La Croix 2006 red was superb: finely woven aromas of freshly cut flowers and garrigue herbs, with a palate in which the poise and energy of altitude was jointed to the grip and width that can only come from low yields and finely judged extraction. Few southern Rhone red combine refreshment and satisfaction like this.”
Comments taken form Andrew Jefford Decanter December 2011
The grape varieties used are classic Rhone: Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault. Super low yields of 30 hectolitre per hectacre coupled with hand-picking produce a wine with an intense spicy note. Deep ruby coloured with cassis and balsamic notes. Soft tannins support the powerful, but not heavy, black fruit presence underpinned with graphite and ink tones.
The wine is grown on the uppermost terraces over 300 metres high and is only produced in the best years. The clay and limestone soil at this altitude gives the wine great complexity. The vineyards face south, fanned by the Mistral winds giving a ripe and clean fruit. The cuvee is predominately Grenache supported with Syrah and smaller quantities of Cinsault.
Serve at room temperature. Ready to drink from 2012 and will continue to improve for 5 or more years.
