Domaine de l’Ameillaud
Southern Rhone, Cairanne
http://www.ameillaud.com
Wine Maker: Nick Thompson

Nick Thompson moved from his native England twenty years ago to study oenology in France where he met his wife Sabine (who is also an oenologist).

He has been making wine in the region since 1983 and since then has turned Domaine de l’Ameillaud into one of the stars of the region consistently bottling value blends of luscious concentration.

The fruit is from 40-60 year old Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre vines and the natural fermentations are done in massive concrete tanks where the wines also go through malolactic fermentation; there’s not an oak barrel to be found on the estate, but then again, the wines don’t need it.

Wine Available

Cairanne, Côtes du Rhône Villages
‘The Cairanne, Côtes du Rhône Villages is a destemmed blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Carignan, and 5% Mourvedre that comes from vines averaging 45-years in age. Inky in color (a trait of the vintage), with classy aromas of creamy raspberry, cassis, flowers, wet stone
like minerality, and leafy herbs on the nose, this medium to full-bodied Cairanne has a rich, layered feel in the mouth. Balanced, with a concentrated mid-palate, excellent acidity, and ripe chewy tannin on the finish, this outstanding wine benefits from a decant and should deliver loads of pleasure over the next 7-8 years. (91 pts.)’ Jeb Dunnuck of ‘The Rhone Report’

“And from the Domaine de l’Ameillaud, McKay also imports the exceptionally good-value un-wooded reds of English winemaker Nick Thompson. The Cairanne, shows all the purple fruit and spice and juiciness I expect from this old favourite.” Max Allen, The Australian Magazine

Nick Thompson (pic. Euan McKay)