John Gilman's View from the Cellar

John Gilman is one of America's most respected wine commentators, focussing on authentic and artisanal wines, rather than more famous brands, through his View From The Cellar website and newsletter.

We're really honoured to read his first views on our wines, now imported and distributed in the USA by Vintage 59.

2019 Côtes du Roussillon “le Ciel Vide”- Domaine Treloar Jonathan Hesford was walking on his way to the Merrill Lynch offices in the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001, when the plane hit the first tower. He decided a career change was in his immediate future and he and his wife, Rachel, decamped for her native New Zealand, where Jonathan studied enology and viticulture. In 2006 they purchased their domaine in Roussillon. Their bottling of le Ciel Vide (translation: the sky is empty) pays respect to that earth-shattering day in 2001. The wine in 2019 is composed from a blend of forty- five percent each of grenache and syrah, coupled with ten percent of mourvèdre. It is raised in stainless steel tank and tips the scales at 14.5 percent octane in this hot summer. It offers up a lovely, black fruity nose of cassis, pepper, bonfire, hung game, a fine base of soil and a topnote of garrigue. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and nicely plush on the attack, with a good core of fruit, fine soil signature, ripe tannins and a long, complex finish that shows a touch of backend heat. This is a very good bottle. 2022-2035. 89 pts, John Gilman, View From the Cellar, July-Aug. 2022

2018 Côtes du Roussillon Villages “Three Peaks”- Domaine Treloar Jonathan and Rachel Hesford’s Three Peaks bottling is composed from a blend of eighty percent syrah, twelve percent grenache and eight percent mourvèdre, which is a bit higher percentage of syrah than is typical for this cuvée. The wine is raised mostly in stainless steel tank, with a percentage in older barrels and the 2018 comes in at fourteen percent octane. It offers up a deep and pure nose of cassis, pepper, grilled meats, black olive, a fine base of soil, woodsmoke and a bit of garrigue in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a fine core of fruit, ripe, seamless tannins and a long, vibrant and beautifully balanced finish. This is outstanding wine in the making and an absolute steal! 2027-2050. 92+ pts, John Gilman, View From the Cellar, July-Aug. 2022 2017 Côtes du Roussillon Villages “Motus”- Domaine Treloar The 2017 Côtes du Roussillon Villages “Motus” bottling from Domaine Treloar is mostly comprised of old vine mourvèdre, with eighty percent of the cuvée made from this grape in 2017. This is augmented by fifteen percent syrah and five percent grenache, with the wine raised entirely in barrel, with twenty percent of the casks renewed each year. The wine is excellent in 2017, offering up a pure and complex nose of cassis, dark berries, smoked meats, chalky soil tones, a bit of tree bark, lovely spice tones and a topnote of bonfire. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a fine core of fruit, lovely mineral drive, ripe tannins and a long, tangy and very well-balanced finish. This comes in listed at fourteen percent alcohol in this vintage and has plenty of depth, but the overall impression is one of refinement. Fine, fine juice that needs a handful of years in the cellar to further soften up its tannins and start to drink with generosity. 2027-2050. 93 pts, John Gilman, View From the Cellar, July-Aug. 2022