Last night I did something I don't normally do. I opened a bottle at home, and drank it. The whole bottle. Maybe it's the Coronavirus. Maybe it was the evening at home. Maybe it was just the fact that the wine was so darn good. But I'm thinking it was the fact that the wine was a 13 percent, at the most, low alcohol wine. As someone who prefers Grenache and Syrah, both of which are usually higher in alcohol, the Rhone red known as Tire Bouchon (the Corkscrew) from Domaine d'Ourea in Vacqueyras was about as opposite of any expectation.
I've had this wine a few times before, the first time in Seattle, then another few bottles locally with friends, but last night after about 30 minutes of being opened and out of the wine fridge, the Tire Bouchon turned magical. I honestly wasn't expecting it to be so off the hook as I was looking for a simple red that I could enjoy with some paleo past and diced tomatoes. Nothing fancy. Nothing bold. Just a nice red to sit back and enjoy. So as someone who has spent many a day and night traversing the Rhone Valley, and driving through Vacqueyras. occasionally stopping in various wineries, this wine was a thrill ride that isn't expensive. Possessing a gorgeous purple and red color, the bright fruit flavors all blended nicely together in such a way that it would be a show stopper wine. The stats show the wine is a blend of 30% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 30% de Carignan, 10% Aramon, 10% Counoise. Given the percentages of Carginan, Grenache and Syrah, one would expect the wine to big, brooding and bold. But this wine wasn't. It was graceful. Elegant and delish.
Here was a totally and delightfully elegant, easy to drink, fruit forward wine that was sippable, drinkable, gulpable and fulfilling. It was loaded with fresh fruit flavors of berries-blackberry, strawberry, raspberry and black cherries. At age five, the wine is certainly at a point where letting them sit around isn't the right move. Having drunk this wine over the past year now four times, I have to say it's really at a point of sheer drinking enjoyment. It's also a testament to excellence in the winery, to the winemaker and to the entire team at Domaine d'Ourea so if you find this wine on your local store shelf, don't hesitate to buy it. I know I'll be hunting for more of it.