Surdyk's Price

 My taste in wine continues to evolve over time, which allows me to continue to explore new regions throughout the world to discover wines that speak to me. One such wine by Domaine de Durban from Beaumes-de-Venise AOC in southeastern France involves the familiar geography of southern Rhone near Avignon and grape blends of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre with the entirely new sub–appellation located near the village of Beaumes-de-Venise.  In 1956 the wines from this village were considered as Cotes-du-Rhone, and in 1978 gained the distinction of being classified Cotes-du-Rhone Villages. Finally in 2005, the distinct red soil and unique taste profile of the wines made near this town garnered a new designation as a Cru Appellation Beaumes-de-Venise Controlee. In French wine, the term cru translates to "growth," and refers to a superior vineyard site or growing area. The term is associated with the French concept of terroir, where factors like soil, climate, altitude, and aspect (the direction the slope of a vineyard faces) combine to create a synergy that's recognized as a cru. So now that all the technical jargon is out of the way, and you know where it is from, I’m sure you want to know what the wine is like and why I liked it. The blend of grapes is 70% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and 5% Mourvèdre which are sustainably farmed amid the dramatic “teeth” of jutting ancient rock formations and shielded by pine forests that block the intense mistral winds from drying out the grapes. Hand-picked fruit, no filtration, and aged in older barriques, the resulting wine shows beautiful aromas of black and red fruits, new leather, earth, and subtle truffle notes. Flavors of cocoa, black currant, raspberry, and earth burst onto your palate and lead to a precise, long finish. The versatile nature of this wine allows it to pair with intense flavors of grilled meats such as steak, lamb, wild boar, and venison, while also complementing lighter fare such as chicken, fish, and cheeses. This wine will continue to evolve over 10-12 years, so I urge you to purchase enough to try the wine throughout the next decade! Salut! 121131