Wine of the Month - February 2022
Think of February, think of Valentine's Day. So, with this in mind, our Wine of the Month is a rosé - the perfect colour for Valentine's. We're still in February though so we've gone for one with a bit of weight and body that's perfect even when the weather's still on the chilly side.
Tavel is a famous, rosé only, Rhône Valley appellation and the wines from here generally have a bit more substance and complexity than their counterparts from nearby Provence making them a great choice for year-round drinking. This delicious biodynamic example is made by go ahead vigneron Guillaume Gonnet and his Australian wife Kelly.
You can find out more about Tavel here!
Throughout February, you can get Tavel 'La Nymphe' for the standard reduced price of just £18.00 and you will get 100 bonus loyalty points with each bottle purchased!
The Wine
Tavel 'La Nymphe', Guillaume Gonnet 2019
In a nutshell:
A wonderful dry, rich and complex rosé from the southern Rhône Valley.
The lowdown:
Tavel is unique among the villages of the Southern Rhône as it is the only one where only rosé is permitted to be made, and some of the world's best it is too. Whereas with many rosés around the would consumers opt for the latest, youngest vintage available, with Tavel you have a serious wine with proper ageing potential. Working biodynamically this delicious Tavel from Guillaume Gonnet Vigneron is a classic Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault blend made from 25 year old vines. Pronounced fresh red fruit aromas lead onto a dry weighty and rounded palate with those strawberry, red cherry, nectarine, peach and watermelon fruit flavours coming through. Great, balanced acidity and a really long finish. This is a really moreish rosé that will absolutely put a smile on your face!
When to drink:
Although has the ability to age and mature a few years it really is too good right now, so drink up! A versatile wine with food, try with salads and barbecues, pasta, goats cheese or simply with freshly cut melon or just on its own.
The Producer
Guillaume Gonnet Vigernon
The energetic and charismatic Guillaume Gonnet is not your average Rhône winemaker. Extremely open in his attitude, his curious, boundary challenging approach extends beyond wine. He travelled to the far ends of the earth, revelling in the opportunity to surf some of the best waves in the world while learning his craft in various Australian and New Zealand regions. Returning to the Rhône, now with his Australian wife Kelly, Guillaume has shown similar energy for his family estate and for his own nascent project. This landlocked surfer may be miles from the ocean but is happily riding the wave of a newfound enthusiasm for Grenache-based wines. Pursuing biodynamics wherever possible, allowing his fruit to express itself freely through hands-off winemaking and displaying his fascination for the varying soils of the Rhône through his diverse range of wines, he's just the sort of restless creative always on the lookout for improvement.
