Chêne Bleu, Abélard 2017
Chêne Bleu, Abélard 2017 is a dry, full-bodied red from Grenache, Mourvèdre (Rhône, France), in the rich, smooth reds style. Tannins are moderate and acidity gentle; oak influence is little. Good with lamb, roast vegetables, venison, beef stew. Cheapest offer £78.00 at Honest Grapes.
| Wine | Sweet | Body | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chateauneuf du Pape Vieux Telegraphe 2004 Vieux Telegraphe · Rhône | £80.00 | |||
| Gigondas St Cosme 2005 Chateau de Saint Cosme · Rhône | £80.00 | |||
| Clio 2007 El Nido · Bordeaux | £75.00 | |||
| The Devil is a Liar Weathereye Vineyard 2021 Upsidedown · Washington | £82.46 |
Chêne Bleu is one of the most serious estates in the southern Rhône valley — an ancient priory set high in the Ventoux foothills, making wines that belong to no easy category. Abelard is their flagship red, a Syrah-led blend with Grenache and Mourvèdre that carries the altitude and the wild garrigue of its mountain vineyards. The 2017 is a beautifully composed vintage here: the warm, dry summer concentrated the fruit without cooking it, and nine years on there is real poise between the dark berry richness and the stony, almost graphitic spine that runs through everything Chêne Bleu does at this level. This is not a wine that needs food to justify it, though it will reward a serious table. The tannins are firm and fine-grained, the finish is long and mineral, and there is still enough primary energy to suggest it has a good decade ahead of it.