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News
New Rhône tips a hat to the middle ages
Chêne Bleu of Provence has announced the release of a new red wine named Astralabe, after the son of medieval lovers Héloïse and Abélard, the Romeo and Juliet of France.
The 2009 Astralabe is a Grenache-Syrah blend (70% Grenache, 30% Syrah) sourced from a vineyard in the Southern Rhône and is intended to be an easy drinking yet complex addition to their existing range.
The Astralabe comes in beneath Chêne Bleu’s benchmark Héloïse and Abélard reds in price at £18 and in addition to two whites and an award winning rosé.
Described as “Peppery, with hints of kirsch on the nose, ripe red fruits, smooth tannins and bright acidity”, the Astralabe is sourced from Chêne Bleu’s 80-acre vineyard, La Verrière, situated in the UNESCO biosphere of Mont Ventoux above Gigondas in the Southern Rhône.
At an elevation of over 500 metres (1,500ft), the domaine is one of the highest in the South of France.
How much: £18.00, Hedonism, Huntsworth Wine and WaitroseCellar.com.