There 43 products in this category
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Domaine Vendome
There are many delightul Northern Rhone whites from 2021 and this is very much one of them. Performing very well in Crozes-Hermitage tastings in both Terres des Vins and La Revue du vin de France, well up amongst the big boys and girls of the appellation. 70% Marsanne, 30% Roussanne - half from loess soils on l'Homme at Larnage, half from loess soils on Les Pinets at Crozes-Hermitage. 90% steel vat, 10% new 600-litre oak cask fermented, raised 9 months, assembled just before bottling, malo completed. John Livingstone Learnmouth on Drink Rhone - "Fine yellow robe; the nose is neat, offers lime cordial, peach airs, hints of salt and spring flowers, a note of varnish. This drinks with direct purpose, has a restrained, firm content, gathers depth and tannin into the solid, slightly pushy finish. There is more weight than at first appears, turning it towards a table wine, up for pork dishes, vegetarian pasta, courgettes, Brie de Meaux, cheddar. Decant it. From mid 2023 until 2029-31" Rated 3.5/5 stars.
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Domaine des Escaravailles
Rasteau aged in Amphora by this great Southern Rhone estate. Silky smooth, with a touch more restraint. Classy stuff.
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La Barroche
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Famille Perrin
Domaine du Clos des Tourelles is located below the village of Gigondas. This historic 3 hectare vineyard of very old Grenache on limestone soils with a marly-sandy matrix is the last Clos still existing in Gigondas. Leading the wines of Gigondas to new heights, Dom. de Clos des Tourelles is made in tiny quantities in a boutique winery in the centre of the village. Ruby red in colour. A meaty nose at first, then cassis, dusty cocoa, and floral potpourri. The oak is well held. The palate is quite tight at first, with fresh acidity, slightly sour cherry flavours, and a herbal backbone. Then all becomes warm and fruity, with dusty tannin, and a long savoury finish. Layered and complex.
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Famille Perrin
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Chateau Fargueirol
Chateau Fargueirol is on great form and offers traditional Chateauneuf du Pape at a superb price. Ripe and garriguey nose with impressive concnetration but a nice easy going texture and ripe tannins that means it can be enjoyed young or after 3-10 years of cellaring.
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Chateau Fargueirol
The Fargueirol estate is named after the area of land called Fargueirol in the northern sector of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, which is known to have some of the best terroir. The Revoltier family have 15ha of vines in this lieu dit and a further 15ha in other plots. They have just 1 hectare of white grape vines planted to Clairette, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc. The grapes are pressed and fermented in stainless steel vats at 15% without malolactic fermentation to retain freshness. The wine is bottled young and can be enjoyed in its youth or up to 5 years of age. Its pale yellow color opens with a bouquet of honey and acacia flowers, notes of apricot with aromas of peaches, anise and sweet spices. On the palate, flavors of gingerbread and a perfectly round and fresh palate take over.
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Domaine Fayolle
Wonderful Crozes from a brilliant small producer who is making a real name for himself in the region. Pure, elegant, peppery Syrah with freshness and depth. Great value.
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Clos des Papes
Paul Vincent Avril at Domaine du Clos des Papes makes one of the most sought-after wines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This Southern Rhône estate has been in the Avril family for three generations, gaining in reputation from wine critics and drinkers alike. Ripe and velvety, with a lithe, fresh feel. Leathery, earthy, licorice spice along with dark plum and cherry fruit. Red berry acidity and a garrigue note on the finish. "Leather and spiced notes, pure with good fresh vivacity on the nose. The palate is ripe and seductive, layered with forest fruits, dark spiced figs. Attractive refreshing acidity, red fruits and a wild garrigue savoury Mourvèdre note – the tannins are supple and silky – dark forest-fruits finish which is broad, ample and opulent but always with a finesse of tannins and a savoury liquorice mineral note." 2027-2042 18 Pts Alistair Cooper MW, JancisRobinson.com, September 2022 "While production was down 40% due to the frost, Vincent was able to make a beautiful 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape that readers will love to have in the cellar. All about finesse and elegance, it reveals a classic Clos des Papes nose of both red and black fruits as well as tons of floral, pepper, and spicy notes. These carry to a medium-bodied 2021 that has good ripeness (the alcohol is 15%), a supple, silky mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's not far off the style of the 2020, and while it doesn't have the density of a top vintage, it nevertheless has balance, complexity, and elegance, and will have 15+ years of longevity." 93/95 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, November 2022
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Yves Cuilleron
A rather unusual 100% Marsanne from a small appellation in the Northern Rhone. Textural, concentrated, impressive. Terrific wine. From the website of UK agent Thorman Hunt: A top star domaine. Yves Cuilleron took over the reins as the 4th generation vigneron in 1987. He is based in Chavanay, just south of Condrieu and has built up a formidable reputation in recent years. Always developing new ideas and cuvées, our tasting here each year is mightily impressive. We are lucky to have the allocation we do. Having started with Yves’ stunning Vin de France, we now have access to his amazing range of Grands Vins. He now owns and leases over 75 hectares. We think they are all great wines and they are all in the style of Yves Cuilleron – lingering, rich white wines and big rich minerally reds.
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Moulin de la Gardette
The Gigondas Tradition is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Cinsault and 10% Mourvèdre. 10% is raised in used Burgundian barrels but the majority of the wine has been both fermented and matured in concrete, traditionally in other words. Jean-Baptiste Meunier took over this ancient family estate (dating from 1670) in 1988 and has quietly brought it to its current size of 9 hectares, with some of the Grenache vines now having achieved centurion status. Organic by inclination and with the occasional biodynamic impulse, Jean-Baptiste makes some of the best Gigondas that is available today.
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Piedlong
The Brunier family, owners of Domaine de Vieux Telepraphe in Chateauneuf du Pape, also makes 'Piedlong'. The 2020 Piedlong is utterly gorgeous. Crunchy on the nose, with rose petal and loads of wild strawberries, there's a lacy textured, and just a hint of citrus, too. This is delicate, elegant Grenache. It comes very highly recommended. Soft and attractive, very silky with lovely juicy red fruits and touches of spice. Elegant yet rich. From the Piedlong plateau which has lighter, sandier soils compared to La Crau.
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E. Guigal
Clear pale lemon in colour with pronounced intensity and notes of jasmine tea, blossom, peach, apricot, grapefruit, nectarine, and cream. This wine is dry with low acidity, high alcohol, full body, and medium plus finish
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Domaine Raspail-Ay
Made from a majority of Grenache, this most impressive wine is powerful and truly mouth watering. Red fruit notes with a long palate and lingering mature tannins. An absolute must for Rhone wine experts, from a true flagship wine grower.
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Xavier Gerard
The Le Mollard leu-dit produces elegant, refined wines which are Burgundian in style. Very fine wine indeed. For those that love lifted Syrah with real class and elegance. Bravo Xavier!
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Domaine Gerard
Xavier Gerard is one of the most exciting young winemakers working in the Northern Rhône. He is a young grower who took over his family's small domaine in earnest in 2012 and in no time has turned out incredibly elegant and traditionally made Syrahs and Viogniers.
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Domaine Gerard
Xavier Gerard is one of the most exciting young winemakers working in the Northern Rhône. He is a young grower who took over his family's small domaine in earnest in 2012 and in no time has turned out incredibly elegant and traditionally made Syrahs and Viogniers.
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Domaine Gerard
Made from two lieu dits, high up on the slopes overlooking the majestic Rhone. The wine has classic Viognier nose of peach, apricot, toasted spice and honey. Medium-bodied with good fruit and texture and shows a more mineral character than the richer Le Chatillon Condrieu cuvee.
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Dom. Gramiller
Domaine Gramiller's Les Marcels is from a single vineyard (Les Marcels) planted to 85% Grenache (1.9 ha, planed in 1901 and 1960), 15% Mourvèdre (0.3 ha, 2011) from south west facing yellow marl soils on Les Marcels behind Les Girasols. The bunches are 70% destemmed and see a 3-4 week vinification at 25°-26°C. Both varieties are vinified separately. The wine sees small daily pump overs and no press wine added. The wine is then bred in concrete vat for six months. Bottled unfined and filtered. Certified organic. Only 2,000 bottles produced. A wonderful mix of rich ripe fruit that is so pure along with garrigue herbs, spices and fine dark chocolate, but with more freshness than one may expect. The wine still carries good matter and shall age very well, but Gramiller are top tier Rasteau that drink from the off.
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Domaine Gerard
The Le Mollard leu-dit produces elegant, refined and Burgundian style wines. Very fine wine indeed. For those that love lifted Syrah with real class and elegance. Bravo Xavier! This 2021 Le Mollard was a standout in the whole of this difficult vintage after our extensive tastings in January 2024. Outsclassing Xavier's La Landonne and many other producers top wines of the vintage also. A sleeper. With the 2019 and 2020 vintages we have started to build an enthusiatic following. A tiny allocation as always. A couple of magnums also, if you are quick. The very best vigneron make beautiful wines, whatever the vintage. One of our favourite bottles from Xavier. An outsatnding wine.
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Domaine Gerard
From a beautiful northern site of Saint-Joseph on beaitiful granitic soil. This wine is the geeks secret. We have a little more allocation in 2022, so grab it now before it gets snapped up soonest.
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Domaine Gerard
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Famille Perrin
The Dentelles de Montmirail (from the Latin mons mirabilis, ‘extraordinary mountain’) is a small, jagged mountain chain that forms a natural amphitheatre around the sandstone village of Gigondas and its surrounding vineyards. Roman legionaries chose this beautiful, protected site to plant their grapevines. Located mid-slope at 300-400 metres above sea level, the Famille Perrin vineyard is amongst the most historical vineyards in Gigondas. It benefits from a flow of cold air which blows through the valley situated to the west of the village. The vines grow on limestone, calcareous marl and sandy soils, giving the Grenache immense finesse and elegance with unique aromas. Some old plots of Grenache planted on sand have pre-phylloxera vines.
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Domaine Vendome
From a breathtaking 0.5 hectare site on Chaban at 400+ metres altitude that was passed on to the Roudier family by the retiring Jean-Marie Teysseire, a legendary figure in Cornas and Saint-Peray. The Syrah vines are 80++ yrs of age on granitic soils including a portion of the mineral baryte, a clear crystal/quartz looking mark that gives the wine its mysterious sounding name. The vines are deeply established on this steep hillside, cut into terraces and oriented East/South-East. An utterly beautiful, natural granite amphitheatre that protects the vines from the cold winds. Beautiful Syrah expresses all its power and finesse on this wonderful Cornas terroir. The debut vintage of this full-bodied terroir wine - which doesn't initially appear to be representative of the "Northern Rhone 2021" vintage - spring frost, harvest rain affected. But from what we have tasted, Cornas in general appears little affected, likely due to the elevation of the vineyards and the gradients of the slopes. So watch out for sleeping Cornas bargains like this from 2021. The wine has a fairly classic Cornas nose, on the palate it is voluminous, lush and suave but fresh and balanced with real tension and energy. The wine is pure and very long. All the fruit destemmed, no oak breeding (all in stainless steel) with a four week maceration. A true terroir wine from a great Cornas site. This 2021 is very impressive now and shall reveal its elegance and finesse over the coming years. What a wine!
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Bosquet des Papes
JANCISROBINSON.COM 17/20 "Dense, thick, rich, chocolatey. Sweet fruit on the palate, but it lies beneath layers of savoury spice and leathery complexity. Full body, as it should be, with high alcohol on the finish. Basso profundo"
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Domaine Lafond
"Deep red colour. Marmite combines with a suave air of black cherries on the nose, also licorice and southern takes such as black olives. The palate is immediately tasty, bears pinpoint black fruits with supple tannins, giving an enjoyable flavour. The length is sound, a little spot of aromatic tannin as it closes. The quality of the juice is high. Drink 2020-2030" Drink Rhone
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Coursodon
A rare opporunity to taste mature Northern Rhone Syrah. Pierre and son Jerome are part of a long-established family domaine in the prime southern Saint-Joseph village of Mauves. An important address. The vineyards are spread across good sites. The red wines are very consistent.
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Coursodon
A rare opporunity to taste mature Northern Rhone Syrah. Pierre and son Jerome are part of a long-established family domaine in the prime southern Saint-Joseph village of Mauves. An important address. The vineyards are spread across good sites. The red wines are very consistent.
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Domaine Gerard
Xavier Gerard's baby Condrieu made from Viognier from Vérin, above Condrieu. 80% steel vat, 20% 300-litre & 600-litre oak cask fermented at 15°C, raised 6-8 months away from its lees in 22 hl large barrel & steel vat, malo usually blocked, first wine 2006 (600-litre cask, the oaked part of it, malo not completed) yellow colour; pear, apricot feature in a bouquet that is nicely funnelled. There’s a good run of spiced fruits along the palate. That carries a nice bit of weight, nice detail.
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Domaine Gerard
100% Gamay (mid-1980s) from galet stone on red-brown clay soils at 350 metres at Givors, 50-100% destemmed, 15-16 day vinification, a little pumping over, then cap punching, aged 1-6 year 228-litre casks 12 months, unfined. A real charmer. Wine to enjoy with friends. Dark red, purple tints; has a strawberry jam aroma. This has a good, firm attack, holds dark red, mulberry fruit with life in it, and a late saline note. There’s crunch in the tannins (this is 50% whole bunch) and it’s very drinkable, shows a touch of late power, is good for la table. Its length sustains on red fruit, raspberry, is good and upbeat.
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Domaine Raspail-Ay
Made from a majority of Grenache, this most impressive wine is powerful and truly mouth watering. Red fruit notes with a long palate and lingering mature tannins. An absolute must for Rhone wine experts, from a true flagship wine grower.
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Domaine les Pallieres
Not only is the magnificent Gigondas estate 500 years old, it's owned by Daniel and Frédéric Brunier. Know the name? They are behind Châteauneuf's leading estate, Vieux Télégraphe. Meting out the same care, they produce this rich, old-vine Gigondas. And Daniel reckons that 2019 is his best vintage to date. A perfectly balanced wine, finely poised and with great length.
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Dom. d'Ourea
Wow. A literal "Wow". We were completely knocked out with this cuvee upon discovery back in January, at an organic wine fair in Southern France. Across from d'Ourea's stand was the stand of one of our longest standing and most successful producers who also makes a similar style of lifted, elegant Grenache. I passed him a glass of d'Ourea's Vacqueyras 2021 to which the winemaker put under his nose, "Wow". He continued "This is beautiful, the perfect balance in the aromatics of Grenache, a lovely use of wholebunch". "The stems (of the grape bunches) are the most beautiful part of the grape - they bring freshness and aromas of garrigue, herbs, and complexity to the wine". Adrien Roustan, Vigneron at d'Ourea The selection in 2021 is 85% Grenache Noir, 5% Cinsault, 5% Carignan Noir and 5% Mourvèdre. An outstanding Vacqueyras from a selection of Adrien's finest terroir. Being a blend of "Hautes Garrigues" (a red clay gravel) and "Pendants" (a blue and yellow marl). Each terroir brings its original personality. The "Garrigues" finesse and minerality. The "Pendants" the power and depth. Vineyards planted in 1950. "The Grenache here is at the northern end of its ripening range, and that means its wines have finesse and elegance". We could not agree more. A truly charming wine and a real "Wow". John Livingstone-Learnmouth of Drink Rhone on the 2022: 4/5 stars "Red robe, pale top; the bouquet has a herbal tone, smoke and red cherries, almost a cordite aspect. The palate gives red cherry, redcurrant fruit, stands out of the loop with its quiet, pure fruiting and lightweight presence. The finish brings in some Grenache floral notes with a green pepper manner on the aftertaste. It’s a hands-off, spiced Vacqueyras, drinks fluidly now, carries a little late tannic depth, has subtle appeal. Drink until 2027-28". (Feb 2023) "There is marked promise here, a name to note".
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Domaine Delhome
"I like wines that are direct, with tension, a vertebral column, for both the reds and the whites". Romain Delhome "This is an interesting newcomer to the ranks in the northern sector of Crozes-Hermitage, with vineyards in the communes of Crozes itself, Larnage, Gervans and Erôme. There are almost 11.5 hectares of Crozes across 20 plots, Romain is the fifth generation; his great-grandfather Flavien Delhome had vineyards, while, on his mother’s side there were vineyards under her family in the shape of Severin Habrard, so there are two old roots at play here. Father Gérald took over the domaine in 1993, and concentrated on apricots and vines, the grape harvest sent to the Cave de Tain. Son Romain came on to the domaine in 2018; he had worked locally at Gigondas and in the Ventoux at Chêne Bleu, as well as in Virginia in the USA. The cellar was built in 2019. The domaine is HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) registered, a green credential, and the 2022 harvest will be officially organic. 100% Syrah (average age 40 years) from south-facing sanded granite soils on Les Sourdets at 300 metres at Larnage next to the cellars, granite fragments on flat ground at bottom of Le Caire at Gervans, hand harvested, destemmed, pre-fermentation cold maceration at 8°-10°C "to seek red fruits, especially from Gervans", 20-25 day steel vat vinification at 24°-28°C, pumping overs, part vat emptying/refilling, raised 75% 3-10 year 228-litre & 600-litre oak casks (85% 228-litres, 15% 600-litres), 25% steel vat 11-12 months". This is excellent Crozes Hermitage with good structure with what feels like perfect extraction - wonderful texture and depth. But the Boreal is ultimately all about the fruit, though, which is charmingly wild in character and quite dark. Blackberry, the beginnings of mulberry and a bit of liquorice in there too. A wonderful offering.
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Domaine Delhome
"I knew our terroirs very well, and knew that we could exploit them to the full. With Romain’s experience of vinifications all around the world, I was happy to launch the domaine". Gérald Delhome "This is an interesting newcomer to the ranks in the northern sector of Crozes-Hermitage, with vineyards in the communes of Crozes itself, Larnage, Gervans and Erôme. There are almost 11.5 hectares of Crozes across 20 plots, Romain is the fifth generation; his great-grandfather Flavien Delhome had vineyards, while, on his mother’s side there were vineyards under her family in the shape of Severin Habrard, so there are two old roots at play here. Father Gérald took over the domaine in 1993, and concentrated on apricots and vines, the grape harvest sent to the Cave de Tain. Son Romain came on to the domaine in 2018; he had worked locally at Gigondas and in the Ventoux at Chêne Bleu, as well as in Virginia in the USA. The cellar was built in 2019. The domaine is HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) registered, a green credential, and the 2022 harvest will be officially organic. 100% Marsanne (1950s-late-1990s) from sandy-loess soils on Les Védias at Erôme & Gervans, hand harvested, whole bunch pressing, 3-4 day pre-fermentation maceration at 6°-8°C, vinification in steel vat until 1060-1050 specific gravity, then transferred to 3-10 year 228-litre oak casks, lees stirred at the end of fermentation, raised 9-10 months. 5,500 bottles produced". Wonderfully idiosyncratic. A lovely delicacy and intricacy, one is almost unsure the varietal is Marsanne, such is its elegance. The aftertaste is really delicious and where the wine really comes into its own - savoury, saline, nutty with a note of marzipan and, oddly, a touch of aromatic hops. Brilliant from the young star Romain!
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Chateau Fargueirol
Chateau Fargueirol is on great form and offers traditional Chateauneuf du Pape at a superb price. Ripe and garriguey nose with impressive concnetration but a nice easy going texture and ripe tannins that means it can be enjoyed young or after 3-10 years of cellaring.
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Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe
Lovely soft fruit with spice, plums, herbs and a touch of leather behind. Quite forward in the mouth with soft, ripe tannins, great length and a luscious finish. This is the second wine of Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe.
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Roger Sabon
92 Points - Wine Spectator - A favourite Châteauneuf-du-Pape producer of Robert Parker, Domaine Roger Sabon, established in 1952 produces a modern style of wine, with the Cuvée Les Olivets a stunning fruit forward Cuvée from vines over 50 years of age. A bright ruby colour. Toasted, furry, brothy and undergrowth nose. Ripe tannins are assorted with ripe black cherry on the palate. With previous vintages rated as high as 99 points by Robert Parker - it shows the remarkable consistency of Roger Sabon's wines - Just exceptional and on par with the most expensive Châteauneuf du Pape - a must try !
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Domaine Gerard
Viognier (1984-85) from 1.1 hectare on Côte Châtillon at Condrieu, raised 50-60% 22 hl large oak barrel and 40-50% steel vat, malo completed. "fine yellow robe; the nose is very elegant, composed of peach, aniseed, white plum, has an excellent floating style, grace. This is top tack! It has much suavity of texture, with very assured persistence, is refined and gliding throughout. It’s real good Châtillon, bang on the money as it should be. It bears neat iron touches, has a pear-buttery flavour, and butter-floral late moments, a dab of petrol also. Much refinement here." Jonathan Livingstone-Learmonth
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Dom. d'Ourea
From the Grand Montmirail, high altitude vineyards (400 to 520 meters). The foot of the vineyards consist of a red marl that brings the muscle and virility. In middle and higher slopes limestone bedrock is increasingly present, this transmits the wines tension and raciness. Direct, pure wines. 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault in 2022. Grapes destemmed, crushed and a short infusion follows. Wildly fermented and only matured in concrete tank to expose the complexity and natural tension of the wine. This is a full, broad wine, but elegant and still vibrating. The originality and beauty of the site is transmitted with energy. This Gigondas shows you this character, this minerality - water of rock, wine of rock. 4/5 stars from John Livingstone-Learnmouth on Drink Rhone: "Mild red robe; the bouquet shows a mild sweetness, an air of red berry jam, is a relaxed opening, bears a hint of rosemary that adds interest. The palate is suave and smooth from the off, streams along with pleasing, lightly scented red fruit, has been made with a light touch, capturing purity of expression. The finish brings in a note of mineral and leafy freshness. This is refined Gigondas, is in the money thanks to that, gives an enjoyable glass. It can be decanted to open it out a little more. It’s close to where it wants to be now". Drink until 2034-36 (Feb 2024)