Cercius Côtes-du-Rhône Vieilles Vignes
Cercius er en helt speciel vin som er et samarbejde mellem den berømte ønolog Philippe Cambie, kendt fra bl.a. Château Vaudieu i Châteauneuf - Du-Pape, vinproducenten Michel Gassier samt den amerikanske importør Eric Solomon. Vinen er opkaldt efter de vinde der blæser ned over Rhônedalen fra Nord og Nordvest, Cercius kaldte romerne disse vinde og de er en afgørende faktor for at klimaet i den sydlige del af Rhônedalen er så ideelt for vindyrkning. Druerne til denne vin kommer fra over 80 år gamle Grenache vinstokke på Plateau de Domazan lige syd for Châteauneuf -Du-Pape samt 40 år gamle Syrah vinstokke fra Cairanne området.

Vinen lagrer 6 måneder i store cementtanke og har en dybrød farve, stor friskhed, masser af røde bær i den store bouquet som også indeholder antydning af lakrids og Provencekrydderier. Smagen minder meget om en Châteaunuef-du-Pape, både kraftig og perfekt afrundet på samme tid med masser af sort frugt i den lange afslutning.

• 5 stjerner i Ekstra Bladet d. 15.03.13: "En moderne Rhone vin i udtrykket. Vanilje i duften og en koncentreret fyldig vin med blommer, mørk chokolade og tobak i smagen. Lidt bidende alkohol men til prisen får man meget."
• 92 pts - The Rhône Report 2012: "Absolutely brilliant and a ridiculous value, the 2010 Michel Gassier Côtes du Rhône Cercius is a custom made cuvee that's put together by Michel Gassier, Philippe Cambie, and importer Eric Solomon. A blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah that comes from older vines, it boasts knockout, savory aromas of blackberries, plum sauce, licorice, dusty earth, and garrigue on the nose. Opening up over the evening (and just as good on the second day), this beautifully put together Côtes du Rhône is medium to full- bodied, has solid concentration through the mid-palate, notable freshness, and a chewy, broad finish. This can be found at less than 15 bucks a bottle, and the amount of wine you get for the money is something! Buy this by the case (or two), and consume it over the coming 3-5 years."
• Robert Parker giver 93 point og skriver: "Wow, is this an exciting wine! A custom cuvee put together by importer Eric Solomon along with the brilliant oenologist Philippe Cambie and Costieres de Nimes' up-and-coming superstar, Michel Gassier, this blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah comes from the 70- to 80-year-old Grenache vines on the plateau of Domazan to the south of Chateauneuf du Pape. This sensational wine tastes more like Chateauneuf du Pape than just about any Cotes du Rhone one is likely to find. It is also another example of what looks to be another great vintage emerging from the southern Rhone - 2010. This is one of the greatest Cotes du Rhones I have ever tasted - wonderfully intense, deep ruby with some purple tinges, with a stunning nose of black raspberry liqueur intermixed with sweet cherries, licorice, pepper and Provencal lavender. Round, generous, opulent and heady, this fabulously intense, hedonistic wine should be drunk over the next 3-4 years. Bravo!"
• Lagring: 6 mdr. på cementtanke