Southern Rhône

2022 Lirac, Domaine Giraud Dry | Red | Still

Made from 60 year old vines grown in the sandy soils of Lirac across the river from the domaine, this Lirac is full of vibrant, bright fruit with nice savoury chewy tannins. The ripe cherry fruit keeps it fresh and approachable, adding to the gourmand feel of this wine. Excellent value.

Young: 2025 - 2030

2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine Giraud Dry | Red | Still

This comes from 50 to 80-year-old vines, from parcels across Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Here you’ll find the innate power of Châteauneuf fruit and the restraint and delicacy that can be achieved by careful élevage. It's fragrant, with a silky feel and soft tannins. There's plenty of garrigue character and a bright freshness on the finish.

Young: 2025 - 2035

2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine Bois de Boursan Dry | Red | Still

This classic, old-school Châteauneuf from Jean-Paul Versino is one of the bargains of the list. It comes from a blend of 27 plots, making for a balanced, complete, and inviting Grenache-based Châteauneuf. It is dry and savoury, with the gorgeous combination of red berry fruit, dried herbs, spice and just a hint of licorice. It will drink well from early on, and evolve into an earthy, complex wine in the cellar.

Young: 2025 - 2032

2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Cuvée Julien Barrot, Domaine La Barroche Dry | Red | Still

This is the Barrot family’s flagship wine. It is rich and woven-through with ripe tannin and forest fruit flavours. It has a muscular body and a bright, red-fruit-driven finish.

Young: 2025 - 2034

2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Clos des Papes Dry | White | Still | 15%

Much like Vincent’s red blend, his white is one of the most respected and age-worthy in the appellation. Fruity and floral in youth, the Clos des Papes whites take on a nutty, savoury dimension with age, and are well worth cellaring.

Ready: 2024 - 2036

2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Clos des Papes Dry | Red | Still | 15.5%

Vincent Avril's wines are some of the most sought-after and genuinely exciting in the southern Rhône. Yields are always low, vinification is done in parcels - often with different varieties blended. He slowly builds up one of the most complex and nuanced Châteauneuf-du-Papes you can find. The wine is ripe and velvety, with a lithe, fresh feel. With time it will show leathery, earthy, licorice spice along with dark plum and cherry fruit.

Young: 2025 - 2038

2015 Vieilles Vignes Rouge, Clos de Trias, Côtes du Ventoux Dry | Red | Still | 14.5%

This beautiful old vine red from the Mont Ventoux is made predominantly from Grenache (90%), with some grippy back bone added by a small splash of Syrah and Cinsault. It is made by intrepid winemaker Even Bakke, who likes to practise extended ageing before bottling, only doing so when the wines are at the perfect point to start drinking. This 2015 has a wonderful tannic impact, with a long peppery finish. Having been given plenty of time to mature, the tannins and fruit are now perfectly matched, and what’s more, there are delicious tertiary flavours of spice and forest floor on full display.

Ready: 2024 - 2034

2019 Ventoux, Clos de Trias, Côtes du Ventoux Dry | Red | Still

This Grenache-based red shows notes of nutmeg spice and wild berries on the nose, with a palate rich in soft tannins wrapped around dark fruit. It’s a bit of a bargain from this seriously exciting winemaker.

Ready: 2024 - 2032