A few weeks ago I shared a review of Cuvée Sommelongue from Domaine André Brunel and it was a so-so bottle of wine.  But I wanted to share another wine from André Brunel with you that impressed me quite a bit.  Indeed, it’s a tasty bottle of wine.

But first, let’s get to know André Brunel.  The Brunel family started producing wine in France in 1919.  Like many vintners in the Rhone valley region, the Brunel estate, Les Cailloux at Chemin du Bois de la Ville, is most famous for its Châteauneuf du Pape wines.  I kind of feel like a broken record mentioning that a producer in the Rhone valley is known for their Châteauneuf du Pape.  (By the way, for you 20-something readers… back in the old days we played music on things called records which sometimes would get stuck and repeat a line over and over, hence the expression “broken record.”)  Nonetheless, the Les Cailloux Châteauneuf du Pape is renowned.

André joined the family wine business in 1971 and progressively worked toward improving the quality of the wines from the estate.  For the past 20 years, the name André Brunel has been one that’s recognized as a dependable, high-quality producer.

The wine I’m sharing with you today is the 2005 André Brunel Cuvée Sabrine, which is a Côtes du Rhône Villages.  As I’ve mentioned in the past, the Côtes du Rhône Villages designation is considered a step up in quality and value from Côtes du Rhône.  And this proves to be the case with this bottle, as it was the same price as the Cuvée Sommelongue but significantly better.

This wine is a simple blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah.  The nose is a bit tight at first, but is very nice once it opens up.  Cedar is the dominant characteristic on the nose.  There is also cherry, vanilla and a little bit of barnyard.  The palate is full but not too fruity.  There is some cherry and some strawberry with a super silky mouth feel.  The finish is phenomenal.  It starts out with an acidic, spicy bite and mellows out to a lingering dark chocolate aftertaste.

This is a very good wine, especially for the price… if you can find it.  The one thing I don’t like about sharing this review is that I purchased the last bottle at one of my local wine shops.  I’m sure there’s more of it out there somewhere.  If you’re lucky enough to come across it, snag it.

Wine: Domaine André Brunel Cuvée Sabrine
Variety: Côtes du Rhône Villages
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 90
Price Paid: $14.99

Find Domaine André Brunel Cuvée Sabrine on Snooth