2019 Bésoleil
Southern Rhône-Styled Blend
Regular price $96.00The name “Bésoleil” is a marriage of a Spanish word and a French word meaning “kissed by the sun,” Beso and Soleil! It speaks to our long-held conviction that a profound expression of Grenache (and its Southern Rhône brethren) can emerge from Washington’s precise marriage of sun and soil. Modeled after Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the classic French Grenache-based gem, it is immediately enticing, richly scented, and seductively textured.
90 - 92 Pts. - Jeb Dunnuck (barrel score)
The 2019 Bésoleil is elegant from the start, a brilliant ruby hue in the glass, full of vivid, precise aromatics. Strawberry compote, fresh cherries and raspberries and the characteristic floral perfume of Bésoleil are lifted and full at the same time. The palate is medium-bodied and mouth-coating with white pepper, sandalwood and dried herbs adding additional dimension to the fruit. The finish is focused and lengthy, with fresh herbs and noticeable minerality supported by a well-integrated tannic structure. A gem now, the 2019 Bésoleil will flourish over the next 10-14 years.Wine Specifications
- Vintage: 2019
- Varietal: 60% Grenache 21% Mourvèdre 15% Counoise 4% Syrah
- Appellation: Columbia Valley
- Bottling date: April 2021
- Alcohol: 13.9%
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Acclaim
The 2019 Bésoleil checks in as 60% Grenache, 21% Mourvèdre, 15 % Counoise, and 4% Syrah that was two-thirds destemmed and brought up in neutral barrels. Mulled strawberries, cherries, sandalwood, and herbes de Provence define the nose, and this puppy is medium-bodied, textured, and silky on the palate. It's never a blockbuster yet always shines for its complexity and balance.
92 Pts. - Jeb Dunnuck
