Valentin Valles
2022 AVEC
Where Vallabrix, France
Grape Grenache
Ag Organic
SO2 None added
Price N\A
Valentin Valles spent seven years working in Tavel with Eric Pfifferling and now works about a half hour away in the Gard section of the Rhône. The wines he makes has that Pfifferling beauty but are no imitations. He made this wine with grapes from his friend, David Teyssier of La Ferme du Cade, hence he gave him credit in the wine’s name, Avec (with). I loved this wine so much I had to rush down on a train and visit. This is on the lighter side of maceration but has plenty of grit and tannin, there’s cola and blood orange. There is vibrant energy. At 13.6% ABV, it’s a beautiful cloudy drink that will only be better in about three more years when the fruit recedes to savory. The rodent which I first suspected, turned out to be perfectly well behaved and even after being open a week, it never squeaked. I would drink more grenache if there were more like this. Not yet imported into the USA.