Our favorite Tuesday-Night red is back
Rosé -- Sold-Out
Years ago, I coined the phrase “Tuesday Night” wine to describe affordably priced, quality-driven wines. These are wines that you’re not afraid to open and enjoy on a Tuesday night, and they’re great to have around when friends and relatives show up at your door.
My favorite way to find these little Tuesday night gems is through the incredible independent vignerons and co-ops I already work with. In many cases, these producers will have terrific entry-level reds and whites sourced from younger vines or just outside the village borders. These wines are always affordably priced and enjoy the same integrity in production and attention to quality normally reserved for higher-priced bottlings.
Le Petit Martin comes from one of my favorite vignerons and one of the first properties I arranged to source from France many years ago. Most of you will instantly recognize Domaine Martin for their amazing Plan de Dieu Village. Today’s insider deal is the new release of their “Petit Martin” Vaucluse blend — a perfect “Tuesday Night Red” if I’ve ever tasted one. It’s affordable, comes from a quality-oriented independent vigneron, and it’s pure drinking pleasure in the glass!
Oh, and this year, there’s a Rosé as well!
Plan de Dieu
Julien Martin established Domaine Martin in 1905 when he purchased five hectares of vineyards in the Plan de Dieu. In the 1930s, Julien’s son Jules took over the property and started to buy additional vineyard plots in the Plan de Dieu and surrounding villages. By the late 1940s, the family shifted from selling fruit to the local co-op to producing their own wine at the Domaine. In 1960, Jules sons René and Yves continued to acquire more vineyard holdings and expanded the cellar to add bottling production.
Today, the property is owned and managed by Eric and David Martin, great-grandsons of the founder. The estate has grown to more than 70 hectares and includes parcels in the Plan de Dieu, Rasteau, Carianne, and Vaucluse. They grow a classic combination of Rhône varietals, all perfectly suitable for the region’s vineyards — Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Marselan, and Merlot for the reds and Viognier, Bourboulenc and Grenache Blanc for the whites, and Grenache and Cinsault for Rosé.
Eric and David Martin
Eric and David Martin may look like grape growers and winemakers; however, they seem more like magicians. Like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, they have the uncanny ability to coax fresh and lifted wines out of the region’s punishingly hot environment. The real magic is in the glass, where their wines show beautiful balance and brightness at very reasonable alcohol levels.
Petit Martin Rouge is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Merlot sourced from 20-30-year-old vines all located in and around the Plan de Dieu. The sandy limestone soil, blanketed with layers of pebbles, is very similar to Gigondas and Vacqueryas and results in a wine with similar density and structure. The 2019 Petit Martin Rosé is blended from 60% Grenache and 40% Cinsault, sourced from the Domain’s holdings in the Vaucluse.
In your glass, the 2019 Petit Martin is a delightful medium-bodied red that opens with bright aromas of raspberry and cherry, mixed with savory herbs and spice. The palate is super fresh and packed with red berry and savory notes of garigue flowing through the palate. The soft yet ample structure will complement almost any food pairing, and I know it will shine at all of your grill-outs and picnics.
I was delighted to be offered the opportunity to purchase some of the Domain’s terrific 2019 Petit Martin Rosé. We tasted the Rosé last week, and it put an instant smile on all of our faces. The entire staff unanimously declared it an instant favorite.
After a quick swirl of this vivid hot-pink beauty, aromas of red berry, strawberry, and red currant vault out of the glass lead to a smooth and silky palate brimming with bright, spicy red fruit. The lengthy and pleasingly dry finish is lifted and fresh, with a nice touch of salty minerals to balance the terrific fruit.
The first 30 cases arrived, and we hope to have more coming all through the summer. Thanks to a slightly stronger dollar, and bypassing the tariff, the price did not go up at all from last year — if the dollar continues to gain, the price should hold through the summer!
Domaine Martin 2019 Le Petit Martin Rouge and Rosé IGP Vaucluse
Travaillan, France- Can't make it in? Call 828-253-0060 with your credit card number.
We'll hold your purchase in our temperature controlled cellar for pickup at your convenience
or we'll arrange for delivery.