BLIND TASTED by Andreas Larsson
Château de Rhodes –Gaillac-Sud-Ouest-2019 (Red)
Dense purple core and a slightly lighter rim. Generous nose offering red berries, plum, pepper and bouquet garni notes. Good density with rounded extract, a fresh backbone, a pepper/clove spiciness with ripe red fruit flavours leading to a long and digest finish.
Note 91/100
Chevalier de Rhodes-Gaillac-Sud-Ouest-2020 (Red)
Dark garnet core and hue. The nose offers crushed berries, pepper, clove and some meaty notes medium weight on the palate, digest and fresh with rounded tannin and a vigorous spiciness, fine length and good drinkability.
Note 89/100
La Revue du vins de France
Prunelart 2017: A deep wine with a very intense color. The initially closed nose opens up with aeration, revealing vibrant and blood-red fruit notes. The palate showcases a beautiful liveliness, with a lively attack followed by a mid-palate marked by gripping tannins that linger through the finish. Decanting is recommended.
Guide Hachette 2022
Ancestral Method: Pale gold with fine bubbles, this 2020 wine evokes honey and baked apple. Its balance on the palate is based on a distinct fruity character, reminiscent of cider and perry, with delicate bubbles and a tangy finish. It is a truly typical Gaillac Ancestral Method wine, perfect for pairing with a frangipane King’s cake or a lemon meringue tart.
Dry White 2020: Still youthful, showcasing citrus fruits, fresh exotic fruits, and minerality on the nose, the palate remains lively and indulgent. It is carried through the finish by a touch of salinity and abundant freshness. Truly delightful!
Guide des vins – Bettane + Desseauve 2020
This organic estate has once again presented us with a wide range of wines that are highly representative of their expertise. All of the wines are commendable. The reds exhibit a beautiful structure and can benefit from a few years of aging. The late harvest wine stands out as one of the highlights of this vintage in its category.
Guide Hachette 2020
Red 2017: 1 star – This red wine is crafted from no less than five grape varieties (Braucol, Syrah, Duras, with a touch of Merlot and Cabernet Franc). The nose requires a bit of aeration before releasing complex aromas of red and black fruits, complemented by hints of undergrowth. On the palate, it is delicious, round, and generous, supported by a well-structured tannic framework, with good persistence.
Ancestral Method: Fresh and long, this sparkling wine is distinctive in its aromatic expression. The apple aromas of Mauzac take on nuances of cider, honey, and mead. It would pair nicely with an apple tart or vanilla and caramel ice cream.
Tasted 100% Blind
Score 90/100 : Inky dark purple colour. Floral dark fruit, violet, pepper and blackberry with mild oak. Rather full palate with high but polished tannin, a nice peppery spiciness paired with inky dark fruit, still youthful but nuanced with good length and finish.
Le Guide Hachette – 2019
Dry White 2017: This 100% Loin de l’Œil wine presents an intense and complex nose, blending notes of lemon, apple, tarragon, and anise. On the palate, it starts with liveliness and maintains it all the way to the finish, echoing the aromas perceived on the nose. An energetic and well-typed Gaillac wine. Two stars.
La Revue du Vins de France – Août 2018
Special Gaillac Wines
Gaillac Prunelart 2016: The first vintage of pure Prunelard at the estate. Well-crafted and technically sound, this wine exudes typical blackberry notes. It is an enjoyable and round wine that benefits from one year of cellar aging or a good decanting.
Le Point – Juin 2017
Special Summer Wines
Dry White: Nose of grapefruit, citrus, and dried fruits. Lively and spicy on the palate with hints of hazelnut. Good length. Perfect with red mullet or tapenade. Rating: 15.5
La RVF – Mai 2017
Special Vintage 2016 – The Finest Wines of the Year
Dry White: This well-balanced Loin de l’Œil showcases richness and distinct flavors. It is a delightful and fruity wine, making it an excellent value for the price.
Régal – décembre 2016
Ancestral Method, Brut, Fleeting bubbles with nuances of fresh green grape and tarragon. A delicate white wine that exudes naturalness and lightness, with a subtle smoky note that beautifully concludes the ensemble. Organic.
RVF – juin 2016
Red 2015 selected among the 3 best Gaillac red wines of the year – “A slight tannic rusticity gives it character. Great value for the price.”
Guide Hachette 2016/2017
Rosé 2015 – “No Prunelart here, but 60% Duras and Syrah. In the glass, a rosé with a deep color, aromas of grenadine and almond, smooth and round on the palate.”
Guide Hachette 2016
Ancestral Method – “A light and creamy foam adorns the robe of this Mauzac cuvée. The nose is honest and characteristic, reminiscent of ripe apple. These aromas are found in a fresh palate with lively effervescence. A very elegant ensemble, delicate and fruity.”
La Revue du vin de France – Février 2015 -n°588
Organic Wines: The 64 revelations of the Millésime Bio salon in Montpellier.
Château de Rhodes: Gaillac red 2011, Organic Sud-Ouest.
“A blend of Duras, Braucol, and Prunelard, typically Gaillac, gives a frank and highly digestible wine. Suitable for all types of dishes! 28,500 bottles/year. €7.50.”
Le Guide des Bonnes Affaires du Vin – Revue des Vins de France 2015
Château de Rhodes red 2011: “For their red wine, they blend Duras, Braucol, and Prunelard. The result is a spicy, floral bouquet with a rustic touch. It delivers a pure and balanced juice on the palate with crunchy tannins. Although structured, it is easy to drink, making it an all-rounder for grilled dishes, charcuterie boards, or pigeon with peas.”
Méthode Ancestrale Brut 2013: “Its golden robe is complemented by a nose that exudes a refreshing acidity reminiscent of Mauzac. The 14 grams of residual sugars are perfectly integrated to lighten it up. A well-typed Gaillac sparkling wine for aperitifs, best served at 8-9 degrees Celsius this year.”
La Revue des Vins de France – octobre 2014
Eric Lépine has been practicing organic farming in his vineyard since 2008 and produces wines (sparkling, dry and sweet whites, and reds) of very good quality and value. This Gaillac 2011 (made from Duras, Prunelard, and Braucol) is quite floral, with a rustic touch. It is moderately structured but very pleasing, especially when paired with pigeon and peas.
Autres parutions: Méthode ancestrale
Cuisine et vins de France Hors-Série September 2014: Wine Fair
La revue du vin de France September 2014: Monoprix – The store spoils Burgundy and Loire Valley wine lovers
La revue du vin de France October 2014: Gibecière wines for the opening of the hunting season.
Blog de David Cobbold juin 2014
After the aperitif wine, an excellent Gaillac méthode ancestrale from Château de Rhodes, richly golden in color and equally delightful on the palate.
source: http://les5duvin.wordpress.com/2014/06/02/accords-et-desaccords-les-impasses-de-la-gastronomie/
Guide Hachette 2014
The 2011 Red Wine: “Intense red color with violet hues. The aromas are initially reserved, but then some slightly spicy black fruit notes emerge. The fruity attack reveals a fresh, even lively, structure that brings vitality and length to the finish. A wine suited for light meals or grilled dishes.”
La Revue des Vins de France février 2014
The Sparkling Wine = Reliable choices: “Eric Lépine had a first career in finance before settling in this region he loved in 2002. He bought 30 hectares, obtained a vocational agricultural diploma, and got to work. The 22 hectares currently in production were converted to organic farming in 2008, and the entire range of wines will be certified by 2013. The méthode ancestrale is a lively brut, highly characteristic of green apple and fresh grape, with a straight profile and a touch of salinity on the finish.”
Guide Gault et Millau sept/oct 2013
The Sparkling Wine: “A very pale color, a subtle nose. The palate is straight and supple, very fresh, balancing the sweet notes of apple and pear that weave through the persistent bubbles.”
Zeste sept/oct 2013
The Sparkling Wine: “An irresistibly slightly sweet bubble with the tenderness of its mousse, the delicacy of its pear and peach notes, the balance of its palate, and the beautiful freshness of its finish. Good for all occasions, and even for festive days, paired with foie gras bites.”
Capital supplément septembre 2013
The Red 2009: “This Gaillac will seduce connoisseurs with its nose of candied cherries. Smooth, with beautiful tannins, it reminds of wines from the Douro region (Portugal). Pair it with red meat.”
Guide Dussert-Gerber 2013
“Try the Gaillac red oak barrel 2007 once again, with a majority of Syrah. It has a smooth palate and a deep ruby-purple color, with notes of Morello cherry. It is full-bodied, flavorful, and a wine that combines power and suppleness, with nuances of black fruits and spices on the palate. The enticing Method Ancestrale, 100% Mauzac (harvested in 2011), won a Silver Medal at the Concours des Vins du Sud-Ouest Toulouse 2012. It is a delicate, floral wine, perfect for an aperitif. Hesitating would be a mistake.”
Guide Hachette des Vins 2012
Prunelard, an old local grape variety, contributes to the blend of this 2009 red wine with a deep, almost black color. The intense and fresh nose is both floral, fruity, spicy, and minty, foreshadowing a well-structured palate: volume, richness, a strong framework, a pleasant aromatic return (blackcurrant), and sufficient sweetness to envelop the solid tannic structure.
As for the sweet wine, the 2010 sweet white is praised for its sweetness and long finish with exotic fruit notes.
Guide Dussert-Gerber 2012
Let’s taste this 2009 sweet Gaillac white wine from 60-year-old vines, with its pale gold color and generous nose of apple, citrus, and toasted bread. We also have an excellent 2007 Gaillac Red aged in oak barrels, predominantly made from Syrah. It has a smooth palate, a ruby-purple robe, with notes of Morello cherry, a fleshy and flavorful wine that combines power and suppleness, with hints of black fruits and spices on the palate. Don’t miss the Gaillac method, made using the ancestral method, a delicate, refined, and floral wine that is perfect for an aperitif.
Gilbert et Gaillard 2012
Concerning our Chevalier de Rhodes Tradition 2007, rated 87/100: “It has a deep violet color. The nose is pleasant with slightly tangy black fruit aromas. The palate shows a beautiful youthful character, it is full-bodied, concentrated, and offers clear and persistent fruit flavors. A very well-crafted vintage.”
Regarding our Chevalier de Rhodes Tradition 2009, rated 84/100: “It has a deep violet color. The nose is still young and somewhat closed, revealing black fruit notes with hints of earthiness and spices. On the palate, the wine is dense and compact, still in its youth. It will be appreciated with a beef rib steak.”
Guide Hachette des Vins 2011
Doux 2009, 2 stars: “This sweet wine, a blend of Muscadelle and Loin de L’Œil, has garnered warm support from the jury of favorites, just like the 2008 vintage did last year. Since establishing himself in 2002, Eric Lepine has emerged as a talented winemaker. He has crafted a remarkable cuvée here, with a brilliant and golden appearance that initially holds back but opens up with subtle and sweet notes of baked apple upon agitation. The palate is a superb combination of liveliness and sweetness, beautifully layered with ripe fruits and dried fruits. Whether enjoyed as an aperitif, paired with foie gras, or served with dessert, this Gaillac wine will shine.”
Cuisine et Vins de France, novembre 2010, n°136
Selection of our Gaillac Méthode Ancestrale: “The effervescence is well pronounced, gentle, and sparkling, essential for carrying delightful aromas of fresh grapes. On the finish, a touch of refreshing sweetness whets the appetite.”
La revue du Vin de France, juillet/août 2010, n°543
COUP DE CŒUR selection in the South West, our Château de Rhodes Rouge 2005 is rated 15/20.
“.. this red wine blends local varieties braucol and duras with a small proportion of syrah and cabernet. It is a delicious and tender wine, offering good flavorful fruit and smooth tannins; no shadow over the pleasure at this price.”
La revue du Vin de France, juin 2010, n°542
Among the noteworthy wines from the South West region to discover, our Doux 2009 showcases an intense nose and a wine with a rich and powerful sweetness. It presents a somewhat confit and opulent character, but of good quality, and it is expected to mellow with time.
The Tasting Panel, april 01, 2010
Château de Rhodes, Red 2006: “This wine presents complex aromas of black fruit and bay leaf, leading to a midpalate of dark cherry and black pepper. It features lean, well-structured tannins and concludes with an earthy, mineral-driven finish.”
Chevalier de Rhodes, Red 2006: “The nose of this wine reveals a complex blend of black licorice and bay leaf, followed by dark cherry on the palate and notes of black pepper and licorice on the finish.”
Château de Rhodes, Red Fût 2006: “Agathe Catinat’s blend, dominated by Syrah, spends 12 months in oak barrels, resulting in a wine with red fruit notes, silky and ripe tannins, and hints of vanilla and coconut. This wine is leaner compared to her other two reds and exhibits graphite and earthy minerality on a lengthy finish.”
Guide Hachette des Vins 2010
The “Coup de Cœur” is not far away. Eric Lépine, a winemaker since 2002, has crafted a beautiful sweet wine. Adorned in a stunning golden robe, this 2008 vintage reveals an exquisitely delicate nose with hints of candied quince, poached pear, dried fruits, and caramel. The palate is a model of balance, being both generous and fresh. The candied and caramelized notes persist throughout, leading to a long finish. One word to remember: harmony.
Guide Dussert-Gerber 2010
“This 2008 Gaillac dry white wine, made exclusively from local grape varieties, displays nuances of flowers, peach, and hazelnut. It has a powerful and refined palate, offering density and subtle nuances on the finish.
The 2007 Gaillac sweet white wine, produced from 60-year-old vines, is delicate on both the nose and the palate. It has a beautiful shiny robe and exhibits complexity of aromas, with hints of pear and almond lingering on the finish. It remains perfect for an aperitif.
The lovely 2008 rosé, with its pale pink hue and strawberry nose, delivers freshness and fruity notes on the palate, making it an ideal pairing for herb-grilled dishes.
Also, don’t miss out on the 2006 Gaillac red wine aged in oak barrels, with one-third being new barrels to achieve a perfectly integrated woody character. It is a perfumed wine with a dominant aroma of ripe fruits and spices. Structured and harmonious.
Their 2005 Gaillac red wine is delicately spiced, displaying a combination of strength and finesse. It exudes intense flavors of fully ripened fruits and offers a rich and complex palate. It has aged remarkably well. No hesitation necessary.”
Magazine Saveur, février 2010, n°173
“A newcomer to the Terres de Gaillac association, Eric Lépine has successfully transitioned from being a Parisian to becoming a winemaker in Gaillac, on a domain of around twenty hectares. Notably, the Château de Rhodes 2006 red wine is worth a taste. It is concentrated, silky, and the result of a blend of Syrah, Merlot, Braucol, and Cabernet Franc.”
Publications plus anciennes
Gilbert et Gaillard 2009
About our 2005 Red wine: “Lovely bright red color. A delightful nose of ripe red berries with a balsamic and mineral undertone. On the palate, it offers pleasing suppleness, fine and polished tannins, showcasing freshness and aromatic flavors. A highly successful vintage.”
Revue du Vin de France Mai 2007
Red 2004, oak-aged 15/20: “Very nice fruity expression on the nose and palate, with a hint of minerality. Elegant tannins, good balance, long and fresh finish. A beautiful Gaillac that showcases finesse.”
Guide Hachette 2007
Red 2004, oak-aged: “Serious work in the vineyard and significant modernization efforts have allowed this estate, taken over in 2002, to achieve beautiful cuvées, exemplified by this deep red 2004 with purple reflections. With warm aromas of kirsch and spices as an invitation, it reveals a round flesh full of ripe fruits that a well-measured, fresh and vanilla-infused oakiness underlines. The tannins appear melted, providing further evidence of harmony.”
Dussert – Gerber 2007
Beautiful Gaillac red 2004, a wine that particularly impressed me, with a deep purple color, powerful and an intense nose of ripe blackcurrant. It is rich, shows excellent evolution, and is very affordable. The Gaillac red aged in oak barrels 2003 is aromatic, with hints of spices and licorice. It is rich, full-bodied, concentrated, with firm and round tannins, very persistent, and suitable for aging. The remarkable Gaillac sweet wine 2005, with notes of candied orange in the mouth, is very refined, dense, and luscious, perfect as an aperitif. The Gaillac rosé has a beautiful color and is full of aromas, perfect with grilled shrimp, a very charming wine, just like the Gaillac dry wine 2005, with persistent nuances of dried fruits, a lively and enjoyable palate. Why hesitate?
1000 Vins du monde – Nouvelle sélection Aux éditions Hachette 2006
Red 2002: Simplicity and finesse are the main qualities of this pleasant garnet wine. After swirling, beautiful tears glide down the glass. The delicate nose reveals notes of blackcurrant, blackberry, and cherry, with hints of bell pepper and peony. The palate is rich, round, and generous, with a predominant red fruit character, accompanied by mature tannins and a subtle liveliness. The finish unfolds with lingering fruit flavors.
Guide Hachette 2006
Rosé 2004: A pale rosé with violet reflections that glisten in the glass. The aromas of fruits unfold pleasantly and bounce on the palate. A well-balanced and refreshing wine.
White Sec 2004: Highly lively and vibrant, it is mentioned.
Dussert – Gerber 2005 .
Gaillac Rouge 2002: An intense wine with notes of ripe blackcurrant and spices, harmonious with firm yet silky tannins, and a subtle and persistent palate.
Remarkable Gaillac Doux 2002: Smooth, floral, and perfect for an aperitif.
Gaillac Mousseux Demi Sec: Persistent bubbles, smooth and very fruity, perfect for dessert. Don’t hesitate, naturally.
Guide des Vinalies nationales
Mousseux Demi Sec: Behind its golden robe, delicate bubbles meander, releasing a complex and intense nose of honey, nougat, candied fruits, and dried fruits elegantly combined with sweet spices. This cuvée expresses itself on the palate with tenderness, roundness, and freshness, and lingers with a very pleasant toasted flavor. Best enjoyed with Crêpes Suzette.
Guide des vins 2004 des Œnologues de France
Rouge 2001: The powerful and distinctive nose of this Gaillac wine combines hints of menthol and blackcurrant leaves, which define its style, with fresh and airy tannins. The deep ruby robe, adorned with purple reflections, is certainly captivating. This wine showcases beautiful simplicity and good flexibility, making it a great match for a leek quiche.
Aux éditions du Petit Futé Les 1001 meilleurs vins de France 2004
Blanc Doux 2001: This elegant cuvée exhibits pronounced sweetness with notes of toasted bread, honey, and beeswax.
