Wine makes people friends. For many years I have been a fan of the wines of the Ventoux. Chateau Pesquie was the first Ventoux wine I ever tasted back in the 90s, and then via my friendship with Nicole Rolet of Chene Bleu, the many visits to her family winery, and then our joint work with the Grenache Association has led to my getting closer to the Ventoux region and some of the fine wine makers you find there.
Like so many regions that are part of the Winescene around the world, lesser known fine wines come from amazing winemakers, and some in the Ventoux have become personal friends including Even Bakke of Clos de Trias, James Wood of Domaine Vintur and Martnelle's Corinna Faravel, who ironically apprenticed under my best friend in wine, Sylvain Fadat of Domaine d'Aupilhac in the Languedoc. Yes, the wine world is very small once you become an insider.
Last night I opened two bottles of a newcomer to the Ventoux scene, who another former Philadelphian, Greg Moore (he poured me well chosen wines when he was the sommelier at Le Bec Fin, one of the USA's pioneering French restaurants now closed.)
Greg's three state Moore Bros. Wine operation, in NY, NJ and DE , brings in wines of a bunch of winemakers I have personally gotten to know, and appreciate. He's become like Kermit Lynch has been for me for many years, a trusted go to source for wines I can buy without ever having tasted them when new producers pop up.
The newcomer is Domaine du Colibri made by Olivier Legranger, a newcomer to the Ventoux and an understudy of Xavier Vignon. The 2016 Ventoux Rouge is a blend of 60% Carignan, 20% Syrah, and 20% Grenache, and unlike Languedoc Carignan, the wine is very early drinking, with loads of bight berry flavor. With grilled burgers the wine was firm yet the fruit was gentle. It showed black raspberry, blueberry and strawberries and for $12.00 a bottle, a perfect wine that drinks like twice the price.
Before that we drank the Colibri Rose, the 2016 Petite Tour Ventoux. Here the blend of Grenache and Cinsault shows once again how an easy to drink, yet complex Rose wines can hail from somewhere other than Tavel or Bandol. The bright strawberry flavors of the Grenache dominate the wine, while the more aromatic aspects of the Cinsault and its cherry blossom scents give the wine a delicate spring day feel.
Like the Languedoc was for me back in the 90s, the Ventoux has become for me in the 10's. It's a region full of upcoming, creative, and dynamic winemakers, many of whom are organic and bio-dynamique. This energy, vision and dedication drives me to discover more wines from their every chance I get. You should too.