2005 Domaine de La Bouissiere Vacqueyras La Ponche

Domaine la Bouissiere is a 17-acre estate in Gigondas in the Rhone Valley. It is owned and operated by the brothers Gilles and Thierry Faravel, who took over the estate when their father died in 1988. Their flagship wines are the Gigondas. The special cuvee is the Gigondas “Le Font de Tonin” named for their father. It is 70% Grenache and 30% Mourvedre. The brothers also own a few acres in the Vacqueyras appellation and they produce two Grenache-based Vacqueyras wines.

Vacqueyras AOC is in the Southern Rhone Valley and runs along the banks of the Ouvèze River. It received its appellation status 1990, having been part of the AOC Côtes du Rhone appellation since 1937. Some 97 percent of the wine made in Vacqueyras is red, and like its neighbor to the north, Gigondas, Vacqueyras is known for its powerful wines. There are 3,200 vineyard acres planted to Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Muscardin, Counoise, Clairette and Bourbolenc. Vacqueyras reds are dark, spicy, tannic and considered good for aging.