Domaine Brusset - Cairanne Hommage à André Brusset 2016

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Engaging nose of blackcurrant and violet. Silky mouthfeel, slightly supple middle, nice return to fruit. Well-made, appetizing wine with a promising future.

About the domain :

Laurent, André's grandson, is now at the head of the estate, developing a wide range of wines from nearly 70 parcels, including terraced vineyards in the spectacular Dentelles de Montmirail. This fragmentation is an advantage when it comes to blending. The 2017 vintage was somewhat troubled.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the domain :

Seventy-eight south-facing terraces make up this 70-hectare vineyard beneath the Dentelles de Montmirail. Created in 1947 by André Brusset, then managed by his son Daniel, it is now run by his grandson Laurent. The estate is present in 5 AOCs and produces a total of 14 different cuvées. A sure bet for Gigondas and Cairanne.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Made only in exceptional vintages, the 2016 Cairanne Hommage à Andre Brusset is a 50-50 blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre, made without destemming. It's rich and velvety without being overly alcoholic, reaching only 14% alcohol, according to Brusset (it's labeled at 13.5%). Black fruit flavors abound, picking up delicate spice notes on the long, silky finish.

About the domain :

Laurent Brusset's domaine now covers 70 hectares, based in the village of Cairanne but stretching as far as the Ventoux and into the Dentelles above Gigondas. Founded by his grandfather in 1947, vinification here is modern yet balanced, with a mix of vats, demi-muids and barrels used, depending on the cuvée. Similarly, some wines are entirely destemmed or entirely clustered, with a blend used for others. "When you have great maturity," Brusset explained, "it's better to keep the stems." In entry-level wines, Brusset aims for drinkability, but in top-level cuvées, he looks for complexity and the ability to age. "Sixteen is a very fine vintage," said Brusset. "It has good balance, great acidity." In 2017, there's about half a degree more alcohol and lower acidity. His yields at Cairanne averaged just 20 hectoliters per hectare, the smallest he'd ever seen. So he adjusted his extraction accordingly, doing no punch-downs and only very delicate pumping, to avoid extracting hard tannins.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

A fan of powerful wines, he has opted for an infused style. Based in Cairanne, Domaine Brusset cultivates 70 hectares of vines in five appellations. For a long time, Laurent Brusset produced powerful wines, seeking density in winemaking by means of thorough extractions. Today, he works more with infusion to obtain finer wines. His organic conversion over the past two years has required considerable manpower on the slopes he farms, which are difficult to mechanize. But for him, the crucial point remains the optimal ripeness of the grapes at harvest time. So it's hardly surprising that we were seduced by his beautiful wines, bursting with generous fruit.

James Suckling

About the wine:

Very impressive in every respect. Abundant notes of crushed flowers, dark minerals, dry-roasted spices, dark fruits and dark chocolate to start. The palate has energetic, elegant and super-fine tannins, carrying concentrated fruit flavors in long, suave waves. Superb wine. Drink from 2020.