ABOUT: Domaine des Carabiniers is a certified biodynamic family winery near Avignon in the southern Rhone. Operated by Christian Leperchois and his children Fabien and Magali, they produce wines from the Lirac AOC, Tavel AOC, Cotes du Rhone and Chateauneuf du Pape. The word Carabiniers refers to a barn on the property that was turned into a winery in the 1920’s by Christian’s relatives, and still used today. During medieval times though this building was used to station horses overnight for the cavalry soldiers charged with protecting the Pope in Avignon. The Leperchois make much loved white wines but we haven’t had the opportunity to taste them yet; the Chateauneuf du Pape is a (now much loved) red wine made from an earthy mash up of 80% Grenache with some Mourvedre and Syrah added to round things out. A delicious blend that is very satisfying for those who enjoy a Pape with a full body and structured for some serious ageing. TASTE: Chateauneuf du Pape’s growing season in 2015 was outstanding, lots of ripe fruit in the southern Rhone, dangerously ripe in fact, as many wines went over the top on alcohol. Not the Carabiniers though. Their blend is made up of 80% biodynamically grown Grenache with the balance made up of Mourvedre and Syrah. 60% of the grapes are destemmed prior to fermentation, and 40% of the fermented juice is aged in barrel, 60% aged in tank. Deeply colored, ripe, and concentrated aromas and flavors of strawberries, blackberries, black licorice, baking spices, thyme, fennel, and all that wonderful garrigue from the south. A warming, highly complex blend that would benefit from a brief decanting. PAIR:Eggplant mushroom meatballs, soy braised potatoes, hazelnut crusted green beans, black bean chili, Shiitake risotto with black truffle, and fried tofu with spicy ginger-sesame sauce.
