Two Gorgeously Overdelivering Wines from Domaine la Cabotte!
Three years ago while visiting the Southern Rhône, we fell under the spell of a seriously small family producer that crafts joyous, sumptuous and immediate reds for ridiculously affordable prices.
Ever since, we've been one of the very few American retailers to bring the wines of Marie-Pierre and Eric Plumet's Domaine la Cabotte to our customers. It looks, however, like our cover may be blown, as late last year Decanter Magazine blew our secret, revealing them as one of the "hidden gems" of the region!
"There is however a tactic you can employ to further maximise bang for buck if you’re in search of a bargain… ...choose one of the best producers within the appellation. You can be confident they’ll be producing cru-level wine, but with considerably lower prices. A good example of this is Domaine La Cabotte."
- Decanter Magazine, November 2024
Today, we bring you our latest shipment from Marie-Pierre and Eric: A reload on their A+ value "Colline" Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge ($13.79) and, for the first time, their "Sauvageonne" amphorae aged Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Blanc ($17.99). For wines from a fastidious, biodynamic producer like Cabotte, these wines are both major overachievers.
Read on for the details, then click quick on the Big Green Button while our supply lasts!
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2022 Domaine la Cabotte “Colline"
Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge
Southern Rhône, France
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Featuring a good percentage of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan to back-up the inherent sexiness of Grenache, this fan-fave Côtes-du-Rhône is a charming knockout.
Unadorned with oak or sweetness, it is a pure, simple, soul-satisfying spicy red to guiltlessly enjoy anytime.
With the trademark freshness we love from Cabotte, this nicely balanced 13.5% ABV red boasts yummy notes of ripe plum, grilled rosemary, steeped cherry, lavender pastilles and ultra dark chocolate. Substantive and broadly appealing, it is a standout in a category which is famous for delivering some of the greatest and most broadly beloved reds for the money in the entire world of wine!
"Good depth of colour with purple hints. Violet-scented, medium-bodied, fresh, balanced and easy-drinking style. Should offer very good value. Drinking Window: 2024 - 2026."
- 91 Points, Decanter (2/5/2024)
Luckily, the recent attention from Decanter hasn't blown up our supply. In fact, we visited the estate last month and hope to have even more of their wines on the water shortly. At $13.79, the value of this pure, delightful red is absolutely fantastic!
Vin Chicago Price: 13.79
2023 Domaine la Cabotte "Sauvageonne"
Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Blanc
Southern Rhône, France
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As charming and traditional Cabotte's red wines are, we weren’t prepared for the “wild” and contemplative nature of this special amphorae-aged bottling of white wine from their prized vineyards in the village of Massif d'Uchaux.
Crafted entirely from the Clairette grape, this is a seriously contemplative wine, the likes of which would easily sell for twice the price at a boutique natural wine shop if it came from a hip California producer. We have this rarity priced at an extraordinary $18.99, which beats even most of the listings in France!
Don’t take this special wine lightly, however, and don’t pour it for just anyone. A tiny, 250-case production, the "Sauvageonne" is a subdued, textural marvel. Ethereal, it leads with savory, floral and earth-bound elements long before fruit. While some grapes have intense personalities and shout their answers at you, Clairette seems to ask you questions. Its beguiling notes include chamomile, dried florals, dried pear, quince, toasted almond, saffron, white tea and white pepper.
This serious, medium-to-full bodied white (14% ABV), is deserving of service in big glassware at not a degree cooler than 55 Fahrenheit. It has an inner vitality and enlivening mouthfeel, despite not having sizzling acidity. Pairing this with simple preparations of seared scallops or pork chops feels right. Offering it as a patio aperitif to a more casual wine audience, less so!
While this 2023 bottling has yet to be rated, Decanter gave the previous vintage a 93-point score, describing it as "A wine that's very much about texture and energy rather than overt aromatics." We agree whole-heartedly, and give today's wine a 90+ point assessment on our understated scale.
Looking online we found not a single listing anywhere on the planet for this new 2023 release. As it's not your "regular" Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc, we went a bit more thin with our margin than usual. Unlike the red, this is not a wine for everyone. Those who love it, however, will find it to be a thrilling value!
Vin Chicago Price: 18.99
