Rhône: New Releases

This is the second of the domaine’s signature cuvées (the other is Cornas Les Chailles). It comes from, unsurprisingly, the old vines which are planted further up the slopes at altitudes ranging from 250-400m. Small amounts of whole bunch fruit add freshness and silkiness. Superb old vine intensity, this is concentrated but still so accessible.

This wine is only made in the best vintages. The wine’s intensity is dialled up, thanks to the 30% whole bunch fruit used and ageing in 30% new oak. There is so much density here, with abundant but fondant tannins. One for the long-haul.

The Coudoulet vineyard lies right next to Château de Beaucastel’s main block, and is in fact a continuation of the same soil features. That it lies just beyond the limit of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape boundary, and made by one of the southern Rhône’s greatest winemaking families, means it might just be the best Côtes du Rhône money can buy. The 2019 is dark and structured with meaty tannins and a firm, spicy backbone, drenched in blackcurrants and wild herbs. Powerful tension for a Côtes du Rhône with excellent ageing potential.

One of the most celebrated blends of the southern Rhône, notable for its high proportion of Mourvèdre in the blend, which gives cool cassis fruit, structure and length. Grenache adds sweet berry tones and a supple texture, and Syrah a dark, powerful concentration, with liquorice intensity. There are some substantial tannins in the background, setting it up for long ageing, and some impressive freshness, bringing the wine together. Magnificent.

This is a blend of Roussanne (80%), Grenache blanc (15%), and Picardan/Clairette/Bourboulenc (5%) from a 7 hectare plot. It is one of the finest white blends in the Southern Rhone.

Baron Louis, their flagship red, is a testament to Rodolphe’s efforts to preserve local traditions and old rare varieties. The base is a classic 50% Grenache. But the other half is made up of floral Cinsault, powerful Mourvèdre, fresh Counoise, and fruity Carignan. The good value for money here cannot be overemphasized. Juicy, floral, fresh and poised.

This comes from old vines grown on the steep slopes in the north of the appellation, near the domaine. It is dark, hedgerow-scented, slightly wild and completely delicious.

This blend of Greffieux, Méal, and Bessards is one of the finest examples of its type. Some of Bernard’s vines are over 100 years old now, and though he’s not quite that old, he is well into his semi-retirement. He’s given up the rest of his domaine, but he just can’t let go of his Hermitage. It always has a playful floral aroma from barrel, with violets and spiced cassis fruit. It will need a few years in the cellar before approaching, but well worth the wait if you can. Certainly one of his final vintages, if not the very last.

This is classic, old school Châteauneuf from Jean-Paul Versino. It is a blend of 70% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% other varieties which give it spice and backbone. Grainy tannins give it pep and vigour. Its open fruit ensures it will drink well from early on, and should glide into old age with style.

The domaine only makes one wine, and they throw everything they’ve got at it. It is a blend of two parcels from the Côte Blonde and two from the Côte Brune. It is powerful but balanced, with plenty of gusto on the mid-palate. The nose is laden with aromas of violets and tapenade, smoke and spice. Its silky tannins and sappy acidity let the sweet fruit core slowly unfurl. This is a paradigm for Côte-Rôtie’s capacity for purity.

This Gamay is a revelation. It’s made by one of Côte-Rôtie’s most accomplished winemakers, Guillaume Clusel, whose Syrahs are as enthralling as they come. This Gamay comes from the decomposed granitic soils that lie south of Lyon. It is a juicy and delicious red at a great price, with silky tannins and a fresh backbone of acidity couched in ripe, red berry fruit.

This is the most intense and floral wine in the Courbis cellar. It has a wonderful nose brimming with peonies and dried rosemary. The tannins are textured and abundant, finely interlaced with the dark, minty fruit.

This is one of the finest sites of the Côte Blonde, and it produces a wine of huge elegance and subtlety, although you’ll want to tuck it away for a few years before pulling the cork.

Juicy and pure, light-footed and elegant, this Syrah has such a smooth and fresh frame, it will drink well from the off. It comes from vines near Ampuis, planted higher up, just above the Côte Rôtie appellation. It is bursting with fruit, high energy, and joyful in its expression. Another triumph from this young domaine. Stock up.

This comes from one-hundred-year-old Grenache vines planted in the sandy soils near Château Rayas. It has intense minerality and saltiness. There is power there, but it feels smooth and refined, and gives the impression of weightlessness.

This was, until recently, called ‘Signature’, but has been renamed Cuvée Julien Barrot, and is Julien’s flagship wine. It is rich and woven-through with ripe tannin and forest berry flavours. It has a silky body and a long, fruit-driven finish that promised complexity in the years to come.

The classic blend is the priority of the domaine. It comes from the first vineyards planted by Thierry’s father in the 1960s, and in 2019 it has an aromatic intensity that is peppered with the scent of wild strawberries and dried herbs. A rich, sun-drenched palate gives it meaningful weight and length.

The cherry on the cake at the domaine is this cuvée, only made in better years. It comes from the old vines planted on high altitude terraces. With its high proportion of Mourvèdre (30%) in the blend, it is a decadent and delicious Gigondas.

This comes from gnarled 70-year-old vines in neighbouring Gigondas. This is delicious: for a taste of the south, with its juicy red fruit, garrigue herbal lift, and sumptuous tannins, you couldn’t do much better than this.

This is a blend of two parcels and is the hidden gem of Sorrel’s range. 20% comes from Bessards, and 80% from Les Plantiers, just below Le Méal. These vines produce fruit with real power, and this wine has a great presence. But the floral tones and salty fruit make it more accessible than the Gréal, and mean it should start to open up a little earlier.

Le Gréal is a unique and special blend, and the signature wine of the Sorrel domaine. 90% is drawn from the lauded Le Méal parcel, at 10% from Les Gréffieux, on the Hermitage hillside. There is a small amount of Marsanne co-planted amongst the Syrah that makes it into the blend, adding freshness and mollifying the tannins. These Sorrel vines date back to 1928 and produce exquisite concentration. This is an astonishing wine, and consistently one of the hottest tickets in the Northern Rhône. It is fragrant, concentrated, powerful and poised. It demands cellaring, and will reward many times over for those who can wait.

This is a creamy, dark, cassis-drenched Syrah with plenty of focus. There is so much black fruit depth here. It feels tight and coiled in youth, with density on the finish, and dark, silky tannins.

Stéphane Ogier’s reputation is built on his Côte-Rôties. This is powerful and brawny, with some delicious brown spice overlaying the blackcurrant fruit. Mineral, floral, but also so deep and fruit-saturated. Satin-like tannins carry through onto the finish of peppery freshness.

The Rostaings only make Côte Brune in the very best vintages, and 2017 fits the bill. Wonderful nose and palate, so fine and juicy, with silky acidity and excellent purity. There’s an energy here, with guts and depth, so much structure, and also so much classicism, but opulent, too, in its own way. Incredible.

This is only the second ever outing for this cuvée, following the first in 2016. It comes from a half hectare parcel just north of La Landonne which is home to 80-year-old vines planted by Pierre’s grandfather. He decided to isolate the parcel as he says every year these vines make such a pure and quintessential expression of Côte-Rôtie they deserved their own spotlight.

Very floral and expressive. Red and blue fruit, and lifts from the glass with energy and purity. The palate is silky and fresh, so saline on finish, and there’s a different level of texture here. It lasts for minutes.

This is a great site for Grenache, which loves its sandy, pebbly soils. The vines have an average age of 75 years, and the wine is concentrated but poised, with spice, floral notes, and fresh focus. Forget about it for a few years to enjoy at its best.

As the name suggests, this is higher up than the surrounding vineyards, and its elevation affords it a freshness and precision. Alongside the decadent berry fruit and garrigue herbs are notes of baked earth and roasted spices. What a wonderful Châteauneuf.

This is a hugely powerful and impressive Châteauneuf. Old vines (100 years+), low yields, slightly cooler north-facing terraces, and Jaun-Paul's magic touch make for an exquisite wine.

Beautiful fragrance and elegance on this stunning southern white. There’s texture and restraint here, and a finish that just makes you want to have another glass.

This is a new cuvée in 2019, made from 50+ year old vines grown on a south-facing slope. It has a salty grip, and expresses the purity of fruit that Syrah is capable of in the best hands. Elegant and structured for the long-haul.

Pur Noir is only ever a single parcel, and only ever made in the best years. The parcel changes each time, depending on Stéphane’s preference. In 2019 it is drawn from Eygats, and only three barrels were made. Complex and focused, with a tense energy within. Floral and spiced on the finish.

The Plateau du Piedlong is the highest point in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, and has well-draining sandy soils. Its wine is distinctly different from Vieux Télégraphe: finer in frame, and much more obviously Grenache based (this variety makes up 90% of the blend, with the other 10% coming from Mourvèdre). Piedlong can sometimes feel a little earthy and rustic, but this 2019 is pure finesse, with sweet strawberry fruit and silky tannins, and a little lift of paprika spice.

Vieux Télégraphe’s 2019 demonstrates why this estate holds such an important place in Châteauneuf. There is a brilliant balance between dark, spiced fruit and a sustained, fresh finish. Soft silky tannins and the garrigue and tapenade character on the mid-palate add energy and depth. It is both rich and weighty, and long and suave.

Domaine du Clos des Tourelles is owned by the Perrin family of Ch de Beaucastel, and this Gigondas is made by the same brilliant winemaking team as their Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It comes from old Grenache vines planted in the heart of the village. It has gorgeously sweet, poised red fruits on the nose - confit strawberries, cranberries, and wild garrigue hebs. The palate is seamless and silken, A small dash of Syrah in the blend adds a light structural frame. This is a wonderful wine that will drink well from early on.

This comes from a parcel of older vines, aged between 30 and 80 years. It is a textured and fragrant style of Crozes, with amplified fruit on the palate.

The Hermitage La Chapelle from Jaboulet comes from a blend of the best plots on the Hermitage hillside, and takes its name from the chapel that perches on the hill above the town of Tain. 2019 is an elegant, poised, and persuasive iteration of what is rightly regarded as one of the finest wines in the Northern Rhône.

This comes from the vineyards of the Côte Blonde, and is built around a silky, sensuous black fruit character. Mineral, tight, and vibrant in character.

The granitic soils of the right bank of the river extend as far south as Cornas. And whilst the Syrah here is an integral part of the Northern Rhône’s identity, it has a hint of the south’s wilder, garrigue scented style about it.