Domaine Roche Cairanne Cotes du Rhone Villages 2011

Opaque black dark red colour with dark red hue. Nosing reveals intense aromas of ripe black cherry, black raspberry and liquorice followed by some meatiness and spice. Full bodied and lush the palate boasts new world opulence and richness with mouthfilling flavours of black cherry, black raspberry, ripe blackberry and liquorice which overlay some meaty earth like qualities and spice.

Marcel Roche owns 50 hectares of vineyards in Cairanne and made his living by delivering his grapes to the local cooperative, even representing it as their president until 2005. His son, Romain, grew up around the business and, no surprise, became interested in winemaking. First, he received a certificate from the wine school in Beaune, then attended business school and finished with a full oenological education from the university in Toulouse. To supplement his extensive education, he traveled to wineries in the US and Australia to learn firsthand winemaking techniques.