There 233 products in this category
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Domaine Danjou-Banessy
Natural, Organic, Biodynamic Macabeu, fermented and aged in barrels, racy and minerally with soft texture and generous fruit.
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Domaine Vendome
100% Viognier from Les Méjeans next to the winery on mix of kaolin white clay, argile calcaire and also decayed granite just above where the northern boundary of Crozes-Hermitage dips southward on the map, but the elevation remains high at 350m in between Gervans and Larnage, just a little to the north. Hand harvested in early morning, steel vat fermented at 18°C, raised 9 months, malo blocked. What a lovely wine from a unique, interesting terroir. A quite serious but relaxed and lovely, aromatic, floral, juicy but bright drinking Viognier with a gentle, gorgeous creaminess on the finish. Delicious as an apero or with semi hard goats cheese, peaches and charcuterie. A classy drop indeed.
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Chateau de Beaucastel
The 30 hectares of Coudoulet are located just east of the vineyard of Beaucastel on the other side of the A7 motorway. For reasons that have now become obvious, Coudoulet is often considered the baby Beaucastel. The Coudoulet soil has many similarities to that of Beaucastel. It is made out of Molasse seabed covered by diluvial alpine deposits. These pebbles called 'Galets Roulés' play a big role: They take in the heat during the day and let it if off slowly at night which gives a good start to the vines in the Spring.
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La Loyane
Chocolate with pretty notes of cherry and blackberry jam! Very round in the mouth, the length develops intensely. A wine with an assertive, gourmet and round character, centered on red fruits and spices, supported by a beautiful tannic frame. Domaine La Lôyane was voted Winemaker of the Year in 2018 by the Guide Hachette, France's wine bible. La Lôyane refers to the place where the estate is built, a place formerly occupied by wolves! The estate, founded in 1994, is located in the south of the Rhône Valley, near Avignon in the Lirac cru. The Dubois family has been cultivating its 20 hectares of vines there for 4 generations! And the last, with Romain Dubois, has cnverted the estate to organic farming. An extremely precise estate, which is constantly moving upmarket and producing wines from vines that are sometimes more than a century old!
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Antech
Sixth generation Francoise Antech has taken this excellent producer to even greater heights, championing the Limoux region and Mauzac grape variety around the globe. The UK is the family's largest market , now looked after by seventh generation Baptiste. This is the first priced wine in a range of their Blanquettes and Cremants that we recommend. Blanquette de Limoux has a claim to being one of the world's oldest sparkling wines, with legend dating its creation to 1531.
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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% Roussanne planted (only 0.3ha) on the very special and unique white Kaolin soils of Chateau de Larnage. This is phenomenal wine from such a young vine (planted in 2018). When looking at the 2022 vintage of this wine our senior buyer Stewart Travers thought the vines need to come on a little to show the terroir a little more to stand up in the market. We were literally knocked straight off of our feet on tasting the 2023 vintage, the vines and the fruit from this wonderful terroir have come on LEEPS and BOUNDS. Deep golden yellow colour, full, rich nose of flowers, quince and a touch of warm spice. Juicy and impressively deep on the palate with the fine acid brilliantly and elegantly holding everything finely in tune on the utterly delightful finish. What a wine, and simply another reason why we so look forward to following Dom. Delhome. Young Romain is a star!
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Domaine Gayda
A limited edition wine from Gayda that changes with every vintage. And the 2023 is an exciting new take indeed! Beautiful Rolle (Vermentino) and Viognier from the Minervois are picked when perfectly ripe then pressed slowly in whole bunches, with very gentle racking and seeing careful vinification without sulphur, at low temperature - ageing on lees - the Rolle in stainless steel vats, and the Viognier in a mixture of concrete eggs and stainless steel tanks. This is SPARKLY BRIGHT and DAZZLING with good richness also. The pale yellow colour is elegant and brilliant. On the nose, a discreet subtlety reveals notes of Granny Smith apple, lime and fresh almonds, characteristic of the blend of Rolle and Viognier grapes. On the palate, the wine is full and generous, supported by a lovely acidity and a slight, attractive bitterness on the finish. A mineral touch adds fascinating depth also. The flavours of fresh pear, acacia flower, almond and white peach unfold harmoniously, offering you a refined, beautifully balanced treat of a wine. Unique and utterly, utterly marvellous. A LOT of wine for the money.
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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 A brilliant, fresh and invigorating Crozes Hermitage Rouge from young Romain. 100% Syrah grown on soils composed mainly of loess and some granite scree mixed with loess at elevation at Gervans and Larnage in the northern sector. Average age of vines is 35 years old. The grapes are gravity fed into the winery after destemming. The grapes are then crushed and left to macerate at a very low temperature for a few days before fermentation takes place in the truncated temperature controlled stainless steel vats. The must macerates for twenty days with very gentle spray overs (like a pump over, but gentler). The juice is then left on its own in tank for seven months. A nose full of red/black fruits. flowers and peppery notes. The palate is fresh, direct and red-fruited. Vibrant and joyful. The finish continues with finesse, with a lovely pepper note. Great tension and balance. It's a natural tasting Crozes full of life and energy. We feel it's one to drink younger and with a slight chill. It's tremedously tasty stuff for Syrah lovers.
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Ridge Vineyards
Petite Sirah is most frequently a complementary variety to Zinfandel in traditional field blends. At Lytton Estate, since 1992, we have made it as a standalone wine. Here, in the loamy-clay soils, it thrives, producing compact clusters of very small, concentrated berries. True to the nature of this grape, the 2023 is deeply coloured, concentrated and capable of ageing for at least ten years.
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La Croix Gratiot
Bright yellow in colour with vibrant citrus, pear and spice notes on the nose. The palate is full but extremely well balanced, with fresh Picpoul acidity and pure fruit flavours.
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Chateau Rives-Blanques
This domaine's showpiece wine is made using the best Chardonnay grapes, fermented and matured in French oak. Burgundian and silky in style, "Lemon zest and lemon juice to the fore here, a bright, zesty expression, with pear and apple too, lightly on its feet....it has lovely freshness". Natalie Earl, Decanter Magazine From jancisrobinson.com Certified organic. From four plots of 26 to 46-year old vines grown amongst oak trees at 350m and on rolled pebbles and limestone. Hand-picked and hand-sorted, low-pressure pressing, free-run juice only. Malolactic fermentation is in 225-litre oak barrels, which is where the wines are aged. Gentle lees stirring for the first four months. Unfined. Château Rive-Blanques now belongs to Pierre Bories’ Artisans & Partisans group of estates. "Rich, nutty (even a little caramelised) and streaked with fresh garrigue. As with their Dédicace Chenin, the acidity feels softer and more muted than I’ve come to expect with R-B wines, but there is a firm hazelnut and walnut framework around the fruit, so the texture and structure is there. Touch of liquorice on the finish gives it a nice twist". 16.5/20
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Domaine Odyssee
Natural, organic Syrah from a beautiful vineyard in Baixas, Roussillon. Grown with great care and wildly fermented and aged in old oak barrels for 12 months. Lifted, expressive Syrah with pretty floral notes and minerally fresh red and black fruits with some spicy, meaty notes and soft texture but with some matter and with a welcome, silky fruit character. Charming Syrah. The name 'Chimichurri' is a nod to Vincent's beloved Argentina (see below) because of the wines spicy, meaty character. Vincent Carreras has been working in wine industry for 13 years. For nine years he worked for a winery in the south of the Roussillon, Andy Cook’s Mas Cristine and Coume del Mas. Working in the vineyard, cellar and commercial activities - the whole shebang! For four years now he has been employed by a family winery based in Maury - Clos des Vins d'Amour. Who work 25 hectares organically in the west of Roussillon. Mostly in commercial activities, but also working in the cellar. Alongside this, in 2016, Vincent started a new project - Domaine Odyssée. The 3.5ha of vineyards are in Calce and Baixas, in a heart of Roussillon. The sites are small, but unquestionably some of the most beautiful we have seen. Vincent draws on the experiences mentioned above and his time in New Zealand (2011), Argentina (2012) and Bordeaux 2011 to help fully realise what he has there in his exceptional terroir. Vincent works organically, using no weedkillers, no chemical products. He works by hand and with organic fertilizer (he is in conversion right now). He harvests his parcels by himself with friends and family. In the cellar, Vincent’s philosophy is a minimum of intervention "To keep the fruit and the terroir.". The wines are extracted gently with just a little pump over. No filtration, no fining. The only preservative is a little dose of sulphites in very low quantities at bottling "It is important for me the stabilise the wine in respect of the future customers".
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Rivetto
Barbaresco DOCG Nervo is 100% Nebbiolo grown 350 meters in Treiso, with exposure to the south (three-fourths of the vineyard is surrounded by the Mazzalupo forest, providing great biodiversity). The soils are Lequio (the oldest type of soil found in Piedmont), comprised of layers of marl and sand, cultivated organically. The plot of Nervo appears in the municipal maps dated 1906, as evidence of presence of vineyard in this area in past times. The hill, in even more ancient times, was "protected" by anthropomorphic stones, depicting human faces, found among the rows of vines. After the stalk and grape seeds removal and pressing, the natural fermentation takes place at controlled temperatures of 28-30° C in steel tanks. Maceration for 20 days, malolactic is completed. The wine is then bred in large Slavonian/Hungarian/Swiss oak barrels for 30 months. Pale ruby red with orange tones - it appears stunningly clear and utterly beautiful to the eye. Clean and clear aromas of gorgeous forest fruits with high floral notes. Beautiful structure and finesse, with gently kicking tannins typical of the area. An absolutely gorgeous Barbaresco that seems ready now, but we're sure can be enjoyed for at least 10++ years. "Treiso. Just mid ruby. Lifted, aromatic raspberry fruit on the nose. Fresh acidity and ripe red fruit on the palate with supple tannins. A hedonistic whole but with real zip and style". 17+/20 Walter Speller on jancisrobinson.com "This wine opens with a medley of warmed fruits - boysenberries, wild strawberries, and raspberries - in a luscious compote. Notes of herbs, dried leaves, and flowers quickly add a juxtaposition to the lush fruit aromas. The palate is delightful, with juicy cherry-jam and mulberry-pie flavors, accented by nutmeg and clove. A touch of fennel leads to a finish adorned with light floral hints that lift the finish of the wine. Drink from 2026" 91/100 Jeff Porter in Wine Enthusiast
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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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Azelia
A great value offer. A superb 'Classico' Barolo wine in the superb 2019 vintgage that is still under £40. A LOT of wine for the money. You really cannot go wrong here. "The 2019 Barolo has a pretty bouquet that is laced with light fruit, licorice and lots of blue flower. On the palate, the wine is mid-weight and lively. This is a nice expression of classic Nebbiolo that shows depth and elegance. It ferments with ambient yeasts and sees 40 days of extended maceration with submerged cap. This 29,400-bottle production represents a blend of fruit from seven sites: Altenasso and Solanotto in Castiglione Falletto, a part of Cerretta, the younger part of Bricco Voghera where the vines are from 55 to 60 years old, part of San Rocco, and Cerrati and Broglio in Serralunga d'Alba". Wine Advocate 93/100 "From 5.5 hectares in Castiglione Falletto, including a selection from Bricco Voghera - from which Luigi and Lorenzo Scavino usually pick the grapes for their Riserva. Here is a Barolo full of details: intense sweet violet and cinnamon aromas with smoky minerality, pomegranate and red currants. The freshness on the nose is allied to a lot of sucrosity on the palate, with lifted acidity and firm, dusty and even slightly rustic tannins. Good concentration for a village Barolo, and one of the greatest price-quality ratios". Decanter 92/100
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Chateau Bastor Lamontagne
55% Sauvignon Blanc 45% Semillon Certified Organic.Tropical nose with some smoke. Good weight and viscosity with a lightness of touch too. Sweet but not cloying.
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Domaine Odyssee
Natural, organic Grenache from a beautiful vineyard in Baixas, Roussillon blended 50/50 with Fer Servadou from Aveyron in central France! The Fer Servadou is from Vincent's friends at Coultades du Coustoubi. The '78' moniker comes from both postcodes being added together - 66 for Roussillon and 12 for Aveyron. The blend makes for a beautifully aromatic wine with deep fruit, delicious, savoury and wholesome tannins in a really interesting, delightful wine. Vincent Carreras has been working in wine industry for 13 years. For nine years he worked for a winery in the south of the Roussillon, Andy Cook’s Mas Cristine and Coume del Mas. Working in the vineyard, cellar and commercial activities - the whole shebang! For four years now he has been employed by a family winery based in Maury - Clos des Vins d'Amour. Who work 25 hectares organically in the west of Roussillon. Mostly in commercial activities, but also working in the cellar. Alongside this, in 2016, Vincent started a new project - Domaine Odyssée. The 3.5ha of vineyards are in Calce and Baixas, in a heart of Roussillon. The sites are small, but unquestionably some of the most beautiful we have seen. Vincent draws on the experiences mentioned above and his time in New Zealand (2011), Argentina (2012) and Bordeaux 2011 to help fully realise what he has there in his exceptional terroir. Vincent works organically, using no weedkillers, no chemical products. He works by hand and with organic fertilizer (he is in conversion right now). He harvests his parcels by himself with friends and family. In the cellar, Vincent’s philosophy is a minimum of intervention "To keep the fruit and the terroir.". The wines are extracted gently with just a little pump over. No filtration, no fining. The only preservative is a little dose of sulphites in very low quantities at bottling "It is important for me the stabilise the wine in respect of the future customers".
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Azienda Agricola Vicentini Agostino
Vicentini is a family business where Agostino works with his wife, Teressa, and their children Emanuele and Francesca. Based in San Zeno, a village at the mouth of the Val d‘Illarsi which resides inside both the Soave and Valpolicella DOCs, but is outside of their respective Classico zones. But don't let this last point cloud your vision to their outstanding wines produced in two distinct and great terroirs. The first terroir is on volcanic rock within the Valle dei Ciliegi, here the land is largely responsible for their "Valpolicella" and "Soave Casale". The second terroir is on limestone in the commune of Terrelunghe, where Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave are grown for the 'Terrelunghe' Soave. Organically farmed 30++ year old vines of Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave trained using the traditional pergola system deliver beautiful stone fruit with a lemon lift along with a touch of sweet almond and gorgeous aromatic, leafy herbs. Absolutely spot-on Soave! SO DELICIOUS.
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Domaine Delhome
"Of all our vineyards, the kaolin on Château de Larnage is the top site - it’s a unique terroir, maybe 20 hectares of it, giving wines with real style, breeding, powerful and good finesse for both red and white, the whites there more recently planted. Our neighbours there are Desmeure (Remizières), Belle, Olivier Dumaine, Dard & Ribo, Sorrel, the Cave de Tain". 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". 100% Syrah (1950s) from kaolin, white clay soils on Château de Larnage at Larnage, hand harvested, destemmed, 25 day steel vat vinification at 24°-28°C, pre-fermentation cold maceration at 8°-10°C "to seek red fruits", 20-25 day steel vat vinification at 24°-28°C, pumping overs, part vat emptying/refilling, raised 5% new, 95% 3-10 year 228-litre oak casks 11-12 months, wide bottle, 4,700 bottles produced". John Livingstone-Learmonth, Drink Rhone Outstanding Crozes Hermitage from a wonderful site on kaolin (bright white clay) at 330m elevation on Château de Larnage at Larnage. A beautiful, elegant nose but with plenty of concentration - quite a dark style with a gorgeous floral lift. The fruit is pure and direct, and the balsamic note gives the wine real character which is quite unexpected in a wine so young. This 2022 shall do really well a few years down the line, but it is undoubtedly utterly delightful right now. Again, outstanding.
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Domaine des Trinités
Dom. des Trinités Le Pioch Rosé 2024 Faugères AOP is brilliant effort in 2024 - the wine not made since 2020 vintage. This harvest was helped along by our very own Kit Ruscombe-King who went out to help with the first grapes into the winery. This 2024 is a very interesting take as the team chose to use half juice that was directly pressed and half juice that was bled. This has given the wine quite a unique texture in rosé terms. A fantastic note below on jancisrobinson.com by Tamlyn Currin really gets the pleasure to be had with this wine. Full bottle 1,139 g. Clear-glass bottle. 40% Cinsault, 40% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre. Non-certified organic. "Peaches and watermelon with a brightness and clarity that seems to sparkle like cut glass in sunlight. Pellucid. And yum! You know when you eat watermelon and it's sweet and dripping down your chin and you know you're not being graceful as you gulp chin-dripping mouthfuls and then you bite deeper into the peel than you should and get this watery shock of green that makes you feel thirsty and thirst-quenched all at once, and then you bite into a shiny brown pip and it's bitter and almondy and crunchy and you're supposed to spit it out but actually you swallow it because. That's this rosé". 16.5/20 jancisrobinson.com
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La Reserve Saint Dominique - Eric Bonnet
Outstanding value Ventoux that is grown on soils of hard cretaceous limestone, limestone scree and alluvium at an average altitude of 450 meters, at the foot of Ventoux, the southern slope. 90% Grenache, 10 % Syrah. A brilliant ruby colour with pretty purple highlights. Intense and expressive nose of cherries and raspberries, fresh floral notes with a touch of thyme and white pepper. On the palate it has lovely weight and complexity and a lovely balance of flavours with a brilliant stony minerality on the wonderful finish. Serve at 17°C and to be enjoyed however you want. Another outstanding value wine from the ridiculously good Dominique. From the Guide Hachette 2026 edition: "A pure, vibrant, unadorned Grenache, born from a hand-picked harvest and aged for twelve months in vats. The vibrant color with blue highlights announces the richness of the bouquet, clean and intense: blackcurrant jelly, clove, and smoky notes. The freshness immediately carves its way into an enveloping, creamy mouthfeel, supported by finely sculpted tannins and a pulpy fruitiness tinged with a languorous note of dark chocolate on the finish. Voluptuous, it can be opened today or cellared for a few years". The 2023 La Réserve Saint-Dominique Ventoux Rouge received a two star rating in the Guide, which makes it a "remarkable wine". The jury awarded it a Coup de Coeur. This wine was rated in the 2026 edition of the Hachette Vins Guide. This is a remarkable achievement in the guide, normally reserved for wines twice the price (plus) of the Dominique Ventoux. Again, outstanding value wine.
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Terres Falmet
"Stellar old vine Carignan that is supple, savoury and deeply gorgeous. Yves Falmet's varietal selections from his extraordinary single bank of vines in Creissan, Saint-Chinian go from strength to strength. Make sure you check them all out". Stewart Travers, Senior Buyer
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Terres Falmet
From Yves Falmet: My ‘Aramon’ label is made entirely from this grape variety. Among my Carignan vines, the oldest in my vineyard at over 80 years old, there are still a few Aramon vines. This is because the custom at the time was to mix a few grape varieties within the same plot. Aramon used to be one of the most ubiquitous grape varieties in Languedoc, but it has been almost eradicated in recent decades. Like Cinsault, is has been completely discarded in favour of other grape varieties regionally. However, in a quality site such as the Terres Falmet vineyard, when carefully grown, harvested at the peak of ripeness and skilfully vinted, it produces a beautiful, subtly tannic red wine that is fresh and fruity.
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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. A 100% Viognier from a south-facing granite hillside sheltered from the north wind, in the commune of Larnage to the north of the Crozes-Hermitage AOC. Grown organically, picked by hand, grapes directedly pressed in whole bunches. A slow and low temperature fermentation takes place at 14c. Afterwards, the wine is left to age on fine lees in stainless steel for 6 months. Malolactic fermentation is blocked. In the glass the wine shows a pale yellow colour with sparkly, pearly highlights. On the nose, we find fresh and bright stone fruit, citrus hints and fresh white flowers. The palate is fleshy, round, with a nice acidity, making for a delicious and true Viognier. A fresh style, but a serious one. A lovely wine.
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Charles Heidsieck
An opulent Champagne with the perfect balance of freshness and generosity, from the smallest and arguably the best of the Grande Marques. The Brut Réserve NV is a radiant pale gold colour with fine, persistent bubbles. The nose is characterised by complex pastry aromas, with an opulent combination of ripe apricot, mango, greengages, dried fruits, pistachio and almond. The palate begins with a silky-smooth sensation, developing into ripe fleshy apricot, melon and enticing plum pastry notes and delicate spice. There is perfect balance of freshness and generosity.
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Charles Heidsieck
An opulent Champagne with the perfect balance of freshness and generosity, from the smallest and arguably the best of the Grande Marques. The Brut Réserve NV is a radiant pale gold colour with fine, persistent bubbles. The nose is characterised by complex pastry aromas, with an opulent combination of ripe apricot, mango, greengages, dried fruits, pistachio and almond. The palate begins with a silky-smooth sensation, developing into ripe fleshy apricot, melon and enticing plum pastry notes and delicate spice. There is perfect balance of freshness and generosity.
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Esporao
Wine produced exclusively from grapes of the Herdade do Esporão, under organic production. In the search for greater freshness, a selection of the first grape varieties to be harvested is made. The fermentation and aging in concrete tulip-shaped tanks (porous/neutral aromas) respect the freshness and purity of the fruit, resulting in a direct, fresh, and vibrant wine. A red blend composed of Trincadeira, Touriga Franca, Aragonez, Touriga Nacional, Alicante Bouschet, and Tinta Miúda grapes, not aged in wood, but briefly aged in concrete vats. Full of ripe red and black fruits, accompanied by floral, herbal, and spicy notes, which resonate on the palate.. Pleasant to drink, fluid and juicy, with a finish with hints of plum, blackberry, licorice, balsamic, and earthy notes.
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Domaine Delhome
"Of all our vineyards, the kaolin on Château de Larnage is the top site - it’s a unique terroir, maybe 20 hectares of it, giving wines with real style, breeding, powerful and good finesse for both red and white, the whites there more recently planted. Our neighbours there are Desmeure (Remizières), Belle, Olivier Dumaine, Dard & Ribo, Sorrel, the Cave de Tain". 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". 100% Syrah (1950s) from kaolin, white clay soils on Château de Larnage at Larnage, hand harvested, destemmed, 25 day steel vat vinification at 24°-28°C, pre-fermentation cold maceration at 8°-10°C "to seek red fruits", 20-25 day steel vat vinification at 24°-28°C, pumping overs, part vat emptying/refilling, raised 5% new, 95% 3-10 year 228-litre oak casks 11-12 months, wide bottle, 4,700 bottles produced". John Livingstone-Learmonth, Drink Rhone Outstanding Crozes Hermitage from a wonderful site on kaolin (bright white clay) at 330m elevation on Château de Larnage at Larnage. A beautiful, elegant nose but with plenty of concentration - quite a dark style with a gorgeous floral lift. The fruit is pure and direct, and the balsamic note gives the wine real character which is quite unexpected in a wine so young. This 2022 shall do really well a few years down the line, but it is undoubtedly utterly delightful right now. Again, outstanding.
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Domaine des Soulanes
The second release of this cuvee from the brilliant Daniel and Cathy Laffite based in Tautavel. These guys have some of the most beautiful vineyards we have ever seen, and they are worked with utmost care and respect in an organic way. Glorious Grenache and Carignan deliver so much pleasure with beautiful fruit, great minerality and supple, savoury tannins. DELICIOUS.
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Herdade do Esporao
Forward apricot and orange blossom notes on a generous palate balanced by brisk acidity, with a marmalade finish and gentle spicing from french and US oak.
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Domaine La Loyane
A blend of Clairette 70% and Grenache 30%. 80 year old vines are planted in mixed soils of red sand, clay and round pebbles. Grapes are hand-harvested and vinification takes place in 100% old wooden casks. The wine is matured in large ‘demi-muid’ barrels for 6 months on the lees. Domaine La Lôyane was voted Winemaker of the Year in 2018 by the Guide Hachette, France's wine bible. La Lôyane refers to the place where the estate is built, a place formerly occupied by wolves! The estate, founded in 1994, is located in the south of the Rhône Valley, near Avignon in the Lirac cru. The Dubois family has been cultivating its 20 hectares of vines there for 4 generations! And the last, with Romain Dubois, has cnverted the estate to organic farming. An extremely precise estate, which is constantly moving upmarket and producing wines from vines that are sometimes more than a century old!
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Domaine Danjou-Banessy
A blend of Genache Blanc, Gris and Noir, from ancient 90 year old vines in the ancient and quite amazing 'C|os des Escounils' that the brothers are developing and working on re-establishing it's other potential vineyard areas. This is beautiful, racy, elegant wine that is softly textured and very ‘modern’ in its freshness and balance.
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Domaine Danjou-Banessy
100% Carignan Gris that was raised in older barrels. It offers that classic cold steel-like character I always find in Carignan Gris, as well as plenty of citrus blossom, bright apple fruit - steely and penetrating. A real one-off. Utterly beautiful wine. This 2022 is simply thrilling, honey. Simply ELECTRIC! Buy now. That's the only advice you need.
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Bodegas Altolandon
A deep cherry colour with violet tints. Nose is intense with aromas of ripe red seasonal fruit, subtle hints of violets, rosemary and a touch of black pepper. This Bobal shows distinctive power, vibrant fruit, freshness with soft and ripe tannin. Bobal, ancient and native to the parched plains inland from Valencia grows in gnarled bush-vines like the Shiraz of Barossa. Yields are small and concentration epic. This slinky number is dark and dense but wonderfully juicy, with a coconut spice from oak barrels. A forgotten corner of the wine world, but gosh what a bargain. Certified Organic. Bobal is Spain's second most widely planted red grape but is far less familiar to most wine lovers than the most widely planted, Tempranillo. This good-value, unoaked example is grown at high altitude on north- and south-facing slopes by the Altolandon estate, 90 minutes north of Valencia. Deeply coloured, it has some of the rusticity that is associated with the grape, with attractive, slightly spicy blue- and blackberry fruit. Fairly simple, with lightly grippy tannins and good acidity - try it with lamb chops.
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Domaine des Trinités
Possibly the last Rosé to be produced at Trinités? The wine has always been produced for the home market, for the restaurants and bars, in all the major cities. But since the market for such in the last few years has dried up/been somewhat difficult, vigneron Simon Coulshaw has decided to take a break for a while. This 2020 is unlike any previous effort, mostly explained below in Tamlyn Currin's note for jancisrobinson.com. It really is truly wonderful Rosé with real minerality, precision and class. an absolute stunner. 40% Cinsault, 40% Grenache Noir, 20% Mourvèdre. Hand-picked, organically and biodynamically farmed grapes. 100% saignée ie no pressing, just bleeding from the tanks. Winemaker Simon Coulshaw points out that the distinct difference in colour between the 2019 and 2020 (the latter being distinctly lighter in colour) is purely down to the maturity of the anthocynanins in the grapes. In 2019 he left the grapes for an hour and the colour was already dark; in 2020 it spent three or four hours and still didn't throw much colour. Bone dry (less than 0.5 g RS). "This is an outstanding rosé. If only Languedoc producers would sit up and take notice – this is what you can do with rosé. Real wine. Real depth, real texture, acidity so full and exciting and ripe that it made me want to helter skelter, go boogie on Brighton Pier, lick seashells dipped in raspberry sherbet, make cherry bombs filled with lime sorbet and eat them sitting fully clothed in the sea with salt on my tongue and fingers and toes. All of which sounds like fun fun fun, but don't be deceived. This is a serious wine, framed in spice and pink-grapefruit-peel bitterness. Very Good Value (TC)". Score 17/20 jancisrobinson.com When to drink 2021 - 2023 Published on 29 Nov 2021 Date tasted 29 Nov 2021
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Fontanassa
A fascinating interpretation of Gavi. Hand picked and fermented in amphorae creating a textural, intense and concentrated style. A touch of skin-contact, but not quite full orange wine! Tasting note from the winery: Straw yellow colour, aromas of citrus fruits and grapefruit, white melon, peach, almonds and white flowers, full body, intense flavour and long persistence. One for explorers and/or lovers of something a little different. Impressive and intriguing.
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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 Rolly-Gassmann
Rolly-Gassmann is a domaine like no other and has a unique style. It is located at Rorschwihr, a sleepy village on the northern rim of Haut-Rhin. The vineyards are located in Rorschwihr and the neighbouring Rodern and Bergheim. The wines are small masterpieces with very good definition. The colour is vibrant red and the aroma is full of ripe red forest berries. The taste is concentrated and nicely full-bodied with nuances of pepper, raspberry and blueberry.
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Terres Falmet
Cinsault is one of Languedoc’s ancient grape varieties, on the verge of extinction and which, wrongly, has been much maligned. When grown in a quality vineyard site and deftly crafted in the winery, it produces very compelling, refined red wines. This is a crisp, fresh, silky wine, underscored by very fine tannins.
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Domaine des Soulanes
An absolute classic Roussillon 'house' blend from the master Daniel Laffite (the hardest working man with the hands to prove it!). The classic Soulanes recipe of richness, purity of beautiful fruit, freshness and seamlessness. Delicious and underpriced. This wine never lets you down.