IGP Vin de Pays de la Drôme: Domaine Lombard 'La Re-Nommée' 2018
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This 'mini-Côte Rôtie' blend of Syrah (90%) and Viognier (10%) is an absolute steal in terms of Northern Rhône Syrah. It has an intensely rich purple robe, and juicy, peppery palate with a slight spritz initially. Certified organic and biodynamic from the 2018 vintage, it has minimal intervention winemaking at its heart, with very little added suphur, minimal filtering and chill stabilization.
Note this wine has changed name - it was launched in 2012 as 'La Côte', but that was deemed too similar to 'Côte Rôtie' by French customs officials, hence 'La Re-Nommée' - the re-named.
Tasting Notes
In 2011, two young Rhodanienne wine-makers, Julien and Emmanuelle Montagnon, who had been plying their trade in the Roussillon, took over the nine hectare vine holdings of (retired) Jean-Marie and Sylvette Lombard. Two of these hectares are outside of the Brézème appellation, therefore are classified as Vin de Pays de la Drôme. Now farmed organically and biodynamically, this very ‘natural’ Syrah and Viognier blend follows a ‘Côte-Rôtie’ style, but with a low-intervention approach to winemaking.
"With an appealing bouquet of crushed blackberries and a supple palate of hedgerow berries with pleasant, peppery undertones, this precocious Vin de Pays is built for off-the-bat drinking. It is an ideal accompaniment to small game or grilled onglet steak and should cellar well for 2-3+ years." - Jason Yapp.
| Style | Red Wine, Medium-bodied, Non Sparkling |
|---|---|
| Wine Region | Rhône, Brézème |
| Grape Variety (Cépage) | Syrah, Viognier |
| Food & Wine Matching | Beef, Cheese |
| Viticulture | Organic |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Cellarage | Drink 2020 to 2023. |
| Vinification | Whole bunches of grapes are crushed and then vinified in cement tanks. |
| Alcohol By Volume (%) | 12.5 |
Producer
In 1972, Jean-Marie Lombard took over family vineyards outside Livron-sur-Drôme and was rewarded when Brézème Côtes-du-Rhône was granted AOC status two years later. It was only in the early 1980s, with the encouragement of winemakers such as Gérard Chave, that Jean-Maire elected to strike out on his own and bottle his own wine, but the results thoroughly justified his decision.
In 2011, on the retirement of Jean-Marie and Sylvette Lombard, two young Rhodanienne wine-makers, Julien and Emmanuelle Montagnon, who had been plying their trade in the Roussillon, took over the nine hectare vine holdings. Two of these hectares are outside of the Brézème appellation, therefore are classified as Vin de Pays de la Drôme. They constructed a state-of-the-art winery in 2014 and the whole Domaine was certified organic and biodynamic from the 2018 vintage.
View more wines from this producer..."Brézème is a little-known appellation at the Southern end of the Northern Rhône, 10km south of Valence. Here Domaine Lombard, under the new ownership of Julien Montagnon who took over the estate in 2011, reigns supreme with a portfolio of wines to make your spine tingle... All in all you must taste the Lombard wines – they are thrilling, accurate and also unique." Matthew Jukes - Moneyweek, July 2015.
