Domaine Brusset Laurent B. Côtes du Rhône

Domaine Brusset was established in 1947 by André Brusset and is currently run by his son and grandson.  They produce a number of different wines from the Côtes du Rhône region, and in particular they have a number of wines from Cairanne which is one of the best regarded areas with the Côtes du Rhône Villages designation.  They also produce a couple wines from Gigondas, a Côtes du Ventoux and this Côtes du Rhône.

Laurent B. is named after the winemaker Laurent Brusset, grandson of founder André Brusset.  It is fitting that this young, drink now wine is named after the youngest winemaker in the Brusset family.

The make up of this wine is 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Carignan and 10% Mourvèdre. 20% of the wine was matured in barrels and the rest in vats.

Black cherry, blackberry, oak and some poopy barnyard aromas make up the bouquet.  Yes, I just said “poopy” as a part of the bouquet.  But don’t let that scare you.  You’ll find a barnyard characteristic in a lot of French wines and while some people are turned off by it, it can add an interesting complexity.  This aroma is typically from a yeast called Brettanomyces, commonly referred to as “Brett.” It is often found in Côtes du Rhône wines at low levels to add character, but if not controlled it can spoil a wine. In this case, it’s a little strong but I don’t think it’s overdone.

The palate is much more bright and acidic than I anticipated from the nose.  Strong cherry flavors dominate the palate.  It also shows some blackberry and a black pepper spice. It’s a decent and enjoyable wine, but it won’t knock your socks off.

Wine: Domaine Brusset Laurent B.
Variety: Côtes du Rhône
Vintage: 2006
Alcohol: 13%
Rating: 84
Price Paid: $14.99

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