Not only a natural kingdom populated with green oak, aromatic Mediterranean shrub, and stands of Aleppo pine trees, the small rumpled mountain chain called the Dentelles de Montmirail is also home to a group of historically and culturally preserved hamlets like Sablet, Gigondas, and this week’s featured wine source, Séguret. Anchored and rising upward from the jagged lace work (dentelles) of limestone outcrops, the tight cluster of Terra Cotta roofed stone houses, shops, and cobbled alleys reveal the town’s medieval history while evoking more distant roots. For over 500 years as of 1274, this large parcel of land and connecting waterways were part of a Papal realm known as the Comtat Venaissin. Ceded to the Catholic church by various minor French rulers, the enclave was a home for a succession of 9 displaced Popes who had fled Rome due to political revolt. It remained in their control up until 1791 when it was reintegrated into France as part of a new order that followed the French revolution. Geographically framed by the Rhône River bank to the west and the modern boundary of Provence to the south, this desirable region that includes Châteauneuf-du-Pape (the Papal Castle) had already benefited from the agricultural influence of Greek settlers who planted Olive groves, and Romans who developed regionally-appropriate grape cultivars, built terraced vineyards and exported their wine via barge down the Rhône and its tributaries!
Winemakers in the Southern Rhône region have been cultivating Grenache Noir and Syrah grapes for at least 14 centuries. Well suited to a regional climate in which daytime heat is tempered by the cooling Mistral breezes, and where the sufficiently long growing season allows the fruit to reach full maturity, these two plump and prolific varieties are the backbone for the Rhône’s signature, blended red wine recipes. In more recent history, Cave Le Gravillas began producing high quality, terroir-specific wines in the mid-1930’s and with multiple generations of practice later, they’ve confidently grown into an internationally recognized brand.
Séguret is one of 18 select villages who are permitted to add their name to the AOC designation of Côtes du Rhône – Villages. Generally, ‘Villages’ suggests that their wines are produced under more stringent requirements of planting density, harvest yields, blending proportions and minimum alcohol levels. Whether or not these factors directly translate into a consistently better grade of wine than the more generic standard is debatable, and variable from year-to-year. What’s less uncertain, is that the terroirs surrounding each village, coupled with localized finishing traditions do produce discernibly distinctive flavour profiles.
For my tastes, as an admitted fan of medium to full-bodied, earthy, berry-forward wine with polished tannins and less oak influence, this Villages – Séguret 2014 is a balanced bottling that’s equally satisfying when served up as apéritif or with dinner fare. Beyond those baseline credentials, note that it earned a Gold Medal at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris in 2015; in a category always packed with notable competition from the Rhôneland vineyards!
LE GRAVILLAS COTES DU RHONE – VILLAGES SEGURET 2014
VINTAGES – LCBO Product #309260 | 750 mL bottle
Price $ 16.95
14% Alcohol/Vol.
Sugar Content Descriptor: D
Made in Rhône, France
By: Le Gravillas
Release Date: March 19, 2016
Tasting Note
As Grenache makes up most of the blend, rich black fruit aromas and flavours dominate this bottling, with the Syrah adding some zippy pepper notes. Try this alongside braised or curried lamb, beef Kefta brochettes or spicy squash tagine.
DéClassé 
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