One of the most consistently excellent wines in the Southern Rhone, in 2020 this soars to new heights. The balanced, soft, feel makes this too easy to drink now, but it will improve for 15 years with ease.
Organic/Bio From vines averaging 50 years of age grown organically in the very heart of Chateauneuf du Pape, all whole cluster and with 3 weeks on the skins before aging in large, old, cask: this is pretty much the essence of... Read More
Organic/BioLower ABV In Provance, Clairette is often called little salty (le salé) for the white specks that appear on the berries as they are ready for harvest. Here it also refers to the salty minerality you'll... Read More
France’s Rhone Valley is sunny and hot and tends to give really big, fleshy, mouthfilling Grenache wines that don’t want or need a lot of oak. Here the cold night flowing down Mt Ventoux and more Syrah than Grenache... Read More
In a cooler vintage, this Chateauneuf classic still packs in plendy of rich, generous, red and black fruit to go with the savory garigue accents. Hard to resist now but improving for 10 years easily.
Thierry Sabon makes old-school wines, ones that emphasize the earthier, meatier, side of the Southern Rhone. Here his Grenache (65%), Syrah, Mouvedre and Cinsault red from the sandy soils of Lirac pumps out plenty of rich black... Read More
Organic/Bio Sisters Caroline and Veronique Maret keep their family Chateauneuf du Pape estate anchored firmly in tradition while bringing the quality of farming and winemaking up the best modern standards. This is stylish, made... Read More
The Southern Rhone's most famous sweet wine comes from hills looking down at the vines south of Chateaueneuf du Pape. Muscat is picked in multiple passes to bring in fruit perfectly balanced in sugar and acidity, allowed to... Read More
Organic/BioLower ABV Domaine de la Bastide’s vineyards are near the village of Visan in the far northern reaches of the Cotes du Rhone appellation and within sight of the hills that define the eastern edge of the Rhone... Read More
Organic/Bio The little village of Visan in the middle of the Cotes du Rhone always seems to give wines with a sleek black fruit and a hint of something we might call “ink” (but in a good way – really!). The blend... Read More
Organic/Bio From organic 25 year-old vines, this cheery blend of Grenache (50%), Syrah (30%) and Carignan (20%) vines, and the wine shows the best of all three varietals. Grenache gives robust body and some dark raspberry fruit,... Read More
Rich raspberry and blueberry fruit with a touch of spice from judicious use of whole clusters and just a wee bit of French oak (15% of the cuvee aged in 2nd use barrels; the rest in concrete and steel). With air, a bit of tapenade... Read More
Just a terrific value Cotes du Rhone from this small producer in Sablet. It’s a field blend with Grenache dominant and then Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Carignan. Organic farming brings ripeness without excess and a gentle... Read More
I guess there could be a better introduction to Northern Rhone Syrah – or a better value! – but I’m struggling to imagine it. It’s from 20-30 year-old Syrah vines on a range of Crozes Hermitage soils including... Read More
Frank Faugier is number 1 on my, Winemakers I wish I could get into the shop for you to meet list. He's a little charismatic, definitely funny, and not terribly serious about anything other than making truly terrific Syrah... Read More
There was a time when it was common to sell Gigondas as “like Chateauneuf du Pape, but less expensive.” The second part remains true, but on its perch on the steep slopes of the western Dentelles de Montmirail foothills... Read More
A big, almost burly, Hermitage that's loaded with dark fruit, hung meat, and sweet spice aromas and flavors and finishes with excellent thrust and grip. Decant now and enjoy for 15+ years.
Organic/Bio Just a really good, all-purpose, house red here with an easy-access screwtop closure and easy on the wallet savings price. The quality here is unsurprising, because the Jaume family consistently puts their name on... Read More
Organic/Bio From a terrific Rhone vineyard unjustly left out of the Chateauneuf du Pape AOC, this is a wine Robert Parker has called a baby Chateauneuf du Pape, a poor person's Chateauneuf, and a serious effort that could... Read More
Lower ABV The family behind Chateauneuf du Pape’s Beaucastel crafts a terrific value white Cotes du Rhone here from Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier all fermented cool in stainless steel. The blend of rich... Read More
A healthy dose of freshening Clairette to the richness of Grenache Blanc gives this excellent cut and lemon curd fruit to match the creamy, round, texture. Hints of wild flower and fennel and the big dusty stone finish add interest.... Read More
The newest bottling from this up-and-coming Northern Rhone estate that has bootstrapped itself to prominence by finding abandoned vineyards and bringing them back to life. There's plenty of Cornas intensity and inky power... Read More
Superb Cornas from a blend of vines high on the hill and 40 year-old plantings on the lower down, fully destemmed and aged in 2-4 year-old barrique. Concentrated fruit balanced by even more intense minerality with perfume that... Read More
Organic/BioLower ABV Like Pet Nat Moscato d’Asti, but more precise, refreshing and addictively drinkable. It’s a blend of 75% Muscat a Petits Grains and 25% Clairette that starts fermentation naturally in tank and... Read More
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