Situated at the foothills of Dentelles de Montmirail, Sablet is revered for its sand and clay soils that produce generous, precocious, mouth-filling wines. Domaine la Roubine’s cuvee of Grenache (70%), Syrah (25%), and Cinsault shines in the fresh, energetic, but very low yield 2018 vintage. Roubine’s Sable casts a saturated rusty plum robe followed by classic aromas of black cherries, cassis, garrigue, and smoke. Juicy and fleshy on the attack, appetizing tannins appear mid-palate to amplify the wine’s dense core of cherry, plum, and black raspberry fruit. The Sablet finishes long, chewy, and mouth-coating, adding firm, gripping tannins and further accents of blackberries, cassis, herbs, tar, leather, and tobacco. This is a terrific, savory, old-school Cotes-du-Rhone rouge to enjoy now or over the coming five years with herb-crusted lamb, grilled burgers, ratatouille, rosemary-scented chicken, and hearty stews.
