Rhône: New Releases

Alain Graillot has long reigned as Crozes-Hermitage’s most respected grower, and this 2019 is affirmation of that position. This wine has dark smoky fruit on the nose - blackcurrants, black olives, and nutmeg spice. The palate has such an impressive texture, with abundant, ripe, but poised tannins so neatly knitted together. Its long, fresh finish ensures this should age well.

This is one of two signature reds at the domaine (the other is the Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes). It is a fruit-driven style with density and finesse. A long, gentle maceration draws out subtle liquorice and dark cherry notes with a lovely volume.

Alain Voge’s pithy sparkling wine, Les Bulles d’Alain, is unlike anything else we have on our list. It is lively, dry, refreshing, and refined. If you’re in the mood for bubbles, but don’t want the weight of a Champagne, this is the perfect option, and a smart price too. It’s a very good example of why Saint-Péray has built its renown for sparkling wines.

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.

Alongside their impressive reds, the domaine makes wonderful still whites from Marsanne. Saint-Péray Ongrie is a mouth-watering white, with Marsanne’s satisfying and refreshing bitterness matched to fresh, ripe fruit.

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.

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.

These vines enjoy the freshening influence of altitude. They are located between 120-300 metres high, and as a result, this 2019 has such a charming crunchy, vibrant, fresh texture. There are bursting red berries and mineral freshness. A perfect Crozes if you like freshness and vim in your Syrah, and a stand out from the appellation in 2019.

The south-facing schist-terraced Les Picaudières vineyard produces age worthy, expressive, sumptuous wines. It is a triumph in 2019. Focused, and full of energy. It’s just a shame there is so little to go around. Don’t hesitate to snap this up.

Much like the Coudoulet Rouge, this is outstanding value for money. But until the Coudoulet Rouge, it is produced in miniscule quantities, so it’s a pleasure to have some at all. Like a baby Beaucastel Blanc.

The is a legendary white in the Southern Rhône. It comes from a tiny parcel of gnarled old Roussanne vines, and is produced in tiny quantities. In 2019 only 6000 bottles were produced.

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.

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.

Honey-scented, and brimming with blossom and orchard aromas. The palate is dry but rich and nicely weighted. It is a blend of mainly Marsanne and Clairette. The Marsanne is grown on limestone and brings a pretty fruit character. The Clairette meanwhile comes from some extremely old vines, aged 140-150 years old. It brings an amazing freshness to the wine, not built around acidity but around salinity. This is such a characterful white, vibrant and charming.

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.

We’ve watched the 2015 Ventoux Rouge develop in tank ever since just after the 2015 harvest, and it’s fair to say that this has really blossomed. On the nose, notes of wild violets and a core of juicy fruit, while there’s incredibly refined tannins and a very long, mineral finish. This is a beautifully judged red from Even Bakke: an absolute bargain from a benchmark of the Ventoux.

Made from 70+ year old Grenache vines, with splashes of Syrah, Carignan and Cinsault. The 2012 Vieilles Vignes shows intense depth of fruit while maintaining freshness with wonderful acidity and a long, savoury finish.

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.

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.

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.

2019 is the second, and sadly last, vintage of this wine, which comes from a plot of very old (100 years+) vines found just 200m from the appellation boundary of St Joseph. It is a blend of local varieties like Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier, with the striking addition of a Savoyard grape variety: Jacquère. Usually, this variety is found on the Alpine slopes, and makes salty, mineral, vibrantly high-acid wines. The 2019 is lower in alcohol and lighter in body than the 2018, with a distinctly salty twist thanks to the Jacquère. Don’t miss it.

At first it is lightly scented with notes of elderflower, pineapple and rose. With some air and time in the glass it begins to open up and show Viognier’s brilliant flare. It’s luscious, silky, and fresh on the palate, with a scintillating mineralogy woven through the tropical fruits making it irresistible. As ever, this is a benchmark Condrieu from the Perrets.

If André’s straight Condrieu is the benchmark, then this is a wine that transcends its category altogether. The vines here are approaching 70 years old, and the wine has explosive aromatics, bursting with ripe peach and nectarine aromas. There is so much tension and persistence on the palate. A wine of amplitude and indulgence, it remains a remarkably fair price.

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.

This is a special cuvée made from old vines, with a high proportion of Mourvèdre in the blend (30%). In 2018 Jean-Paul couldn’t make this cuvée as volumes were so reduced by mildew, so 2019 sees a happy return. It is very dense and peppery, with some wild garrigue herbs entwined in the kirsch fruit.

This is Clusel Roch’s classic blend. It comes from a range of vineyards across the Côte Brune, including Le Plomb, Montmains, and Bas de Coteau. Spicy and graphite-textured, with floral notes, and some intense black olive and cassis notes beneath. A classic Côte-Rôtie.

This cuvée is always the most powerful in the Clusel Roch stable. It comes from vines planted in 1935 by Guillaume Clusel’s great-grandfather. The parcel sits high up, above La Viallière, and makes a dense, complex, and structured wine. The tannins are compact in their youth, and it will need some time in bottle to unfurl. Magnificent Syrah.

La Viallière is one of the great sites of the Côte Brune. Its mid-slope position and high proportion of gravelly stones aid drainage and produce wines of great finesse. It is savoury, smooth, and long, with silky tannins and peppery freshness.

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 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 comes from fruit grown exclusively on the granitic slopes in the heart of Cornas, and has made a wonderfully floral, fragrant, block-fruited wine in 2019. The finely textured palate has brilliant poise, with excellent, long freshness, and small, spicy tannins. Intense and fragrant.

Domaine Courbis makes three Saint-Joseph cuvées, and this is always our favourite. It comes from a south-facing granite slope in the south of the appellation, and makes a complex, vibrant example. Great value as ever.

This comes from parcels in the south of the appellation, in St Pierre de Boeuf. The east/north-east aspect makes this site cooler than many, and its granite and gneiss soils results in superb mineral tension to the wine.

This comes from a blend of fruit from Chavany - which gives the wine a fruity profile, and fruit from Vérin - which adds minerality and tension. It has a wonderful pineapple and honey nose. The palate has Viognier’s ripe richness, but remains delicate nevertheless, offering finesse on the long, fragrant finish.

This site is in Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône, just south of Château Grillet in the heart of the Condrieu appellation, where the quartzite mica-schist soils make wines of length and finesse. This has an opulent, smoky, peachy character, and opens up with layer upon layer of depth with some time in the glass.

Sybarine comes from vines very close to the Garon cellar on the Côte Blonde. Its granite soils make for an open, refined, and silky Côte-Rôtie, and is the earliest drinking of the four Garon cuvées. In 2019 it is so peppery and vibrant, with a tangy freshness. Very pure and upfront.

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.

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.

This comes from four neighbouring lieux dits on the Côte Blonde: Lancement, La Triote, Le Combard and Le Mollard. They share a high proportion of white schist in their soils, making for an intense, savoury, and long expression. The fruit concentration is impressive here, and the tannins are so well formed: punchy but well executed.

This superb wine from Domaine Giraud comes from 50-80 year old vines grown across the various soil types found in the appellation. There is so much freshness and energy in this 2019, bursting with salty red berries. One of the best examples of its type.

This Lirac is so juicy and vibrant. Marie describes the vineyard they own here as being 45-minutes-by-tractor away from the domaine's cellars on the other side of the Rhône river in Châteauneuf. It's the only form of transport she uses to make the journey, so the only measure she can give. The 60 year old vines grown in sandy soils produce a bright, fresh, aromatic red. It offers many of the qualities you'd look for in a Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and, with its superb value, makes it a brilliant everyday red.

This is another top cuvée from Domaine Giraud, named in honour of François and Marie’s father, made from vines planted in 1901 in the sandy soils next to Château Rayas. It is as good as it sounds, with stunning volume and power.

Les Gallimardes is in the southern part of the appellation, where vines well over 100 years old grow in the iconic pudding stone vineyards. Marie commented that the old vines are coping particularly well with the hot dry summers, with the deep roots still able to access water even in a drought. It wasn’t made in 2018, but is back in style in 2019, so fragrant and plush.

This is perhaps the wine that needs the most explanation in the Bott cellar. The name may sound unfamiliar. Don’t worry, we’d never tried a Seyssuel either. It comes from vines planted just a 10 minute drive from Ampuis. The soils here are made up of schist and gneiss and Julie says they look shiny when the sunlight catches them. There’s no granite here, on the other side of the river, and the Syrah is floral and pinot-esque, with an elegant texture. Kamata is the Maori work for rock or stone, and a nod to Graeme’s Kiwi origins. Light, fragrant, and delectable. More than a curiosity.

2019 is the first release made from the vines Julie and Graeme planted themselves in their garden. Effectively, where their whole adventure began. The vineyard sits between Coteau de Chéry and Château Grillet, behind their house in Vérin. They like to pick their whites early, and here they have captured the freshness of just-ripened Viognier with its silky texture in this stunning debut. There’s a tangy grip here which we love. Just 934 bottles have been made.

This is a poised and energetic Condrieu. The Botts are not looking for richness and ripe alcohols in their whites. To that end they pick fairly early. This is 13.5% abv, and is packed with vibrant fresh fruit flavours - melon and Conference pear with a hint of nutty almond in the background. A superb wine.

This is another wine to get excited about chez Bott. It has that textured, dark-fruited, graphite-lifted, floral character we love in Saint-Joseph. There is a silkiness to the tannins, helped by the gentle vinification. Excellent stuff.

This tiny cuvée is the jewel in the crown at this estate. Whilst it might be easy for a young domaine to buy vineyards in Seyssuel, it is not so easy in Côte-Rôtie. But Graeme and Julie do have two tiny parcels, and this cuvée has already won them much praise as newcomers to get seriously excited about. The 2019 continues their strong form in producing serious and impeccably balanced Côte-Rôtie.

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 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 domaine might have 15 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but a wine you shouldn’t miss is this cuvée, from lesser-known Châteauneuf-de-Gadagne just to the south. The name is a nod to their ability to throw off the constraints of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape regulations in this peppery and fragrant wine. It is mainly Grenache with some Mourvèdre, Carignan and Syrah thrown in for good measure.

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.

Clos des Cazaux’s beautiful old vine white from Vacqueyras is one of the secret weapons on this list. Great value, and packed with peachy, bright flavours, sality and dancing freshness.

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 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.

Grippy and deep with dramatic tension, and a luscious, full body. The fruit is so minty and spiced, with black olive tapenade in the background. Robust tannins and a muscular body. Cracking value.

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 comes from old vines planted in the historic vineyard. It is undeniably powerful, and would benefit from a few years in the cellar.

Rich, waxy, and impressively proportioned. Lots of salty lemons on the nose, with a waxy, almond weight to the palate.

This is grown in kaolinite soils, a clay-limestone soil that only accounts for around 1% of Crozes-Hermitage. These white soils result in highly mineral wines. This is so peppery, juicy, and bright, the vines have clearly enjoyed the vintage. There are deep tapenade notes running underneath the spiced red fruit, and the chalky tannins bring it all together nicely.

Although Domaine Ogier is based in Ampuis in the Northern Rhône, Stéphane has made one very savvy investment in the South. From a site near Cairanne he produces this brilliant value Cotes du Rhône. It delivers fantastically juicy, lightly grippy length, with an abundance of sweet red fruit flavours, thanks to the 60% Grenache in the blend.

These vines grow not far from Ampuis, and make an impressive white from Viognier. It is powerful and spicy, and refreshingly vibrant in 2019.

This is a rounded and aromatic style of Condrieu, with pure, bright aromas and a silky texture.

This is a floral and dark-berried Syrah with grippy freshness. This is a great introduction to Stéphane’s Northern Rhône range. A mini-Côte-Rôtie.

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.

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.

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.

Dark and intense on the nose, it’s mineral with wonderful density. There’s a balance here, with so much berry character and silkiness and wonderful grip on the finish, with a salty tang. Outstanding.

This Condrieu from a granitic south-west facing parcel has gained something of a following at Domaine Rostaing. It is the only white they make from the appellation, and is aged exclusively in stainless steel tanks. In 2019 it is brimming with ripe lemon, pineapple, pear, and almond aromas. The palate is smooth and gliding, with a light gingerbread note. Condrieu in its purest form.

This is an emblematic cuvée that blends 15 lieux dits from around Côte-Rôtie. It showcases the Rostaing style well, with wonderful intensity, fruit purity, and decadent tannins. As ever, this is a wine to buy without hesitation.

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.

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.

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.

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 so much more than your average Côtes du Rhône. It comes from the vines that surround the cellar, sitting just beyond the northern border of Châteauneuf. It is so textured and fresh, with energy, purity, and density. Its juicy red fruits combine with a lovely salty minerality making for a charming, drinkable style.

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 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.

This comes from many parcels dotted around the central and southern part of the appellation. Sylvain intelligently handles his fruit: the young vine bunches are destemmed, while the older vines’ stems are kept intact, combining them to produce a highly juicy, perfumed style. A glossy style bursting with fruit.

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.

This wine is a breath of fresh air: Sylvain blocks the malolactic fermentation to keep the freshness, and the wine has a salty length and a balanced frame. The best Saint-Joseph Blanc we tasted this year.

Always a traditional and age-worthy example which epitomises Gigondas, the 2019 from the Cayron sisters is a classical example. They only make one wine from their well-situated vines which are nurtured through genuine hard work in the vineyard. Neither fined nor filtered, it’s a classic Gigondas.

Always a traditional and age-worthy example which epitomises Gigondas, the 2019 from the Cayron sisters is a classical example. They only make one wine from their well-situated vines which are nurtured through genuine hard work in the vineyard. Neither fined nor filtered, it’s a classic Gigondas.

This is a selection of the family’s favourite tonneaux (the large demi-muid barrels they like to use for ageing) of their larger Crozes-Hermitage Cuvée. Highly fruit-driven. It has a dramatic frame of black, cassis-like fruit, underscored by a touch of tapenade. The tannins are grippy and present. It’s a Crozes with some umph.

This is a selection of the family’s favourite tonneaux (the large demi-muid barrels they like to use for ageing) of their larger Crozes-Hermitage Cuvée. It is 90% Marsanne, and has a rich, nutty aroma, with a nicely spicy lift. Refreshingly balanced.

This is a densely powerful wine, with pronounced apple character on the palate: rich with orchard crunch, with some weighty energy behind. Exuberant and athletic, with a sumptuous energy. Only two demi-muids were produced.

The Colombier Hermitage vines are within the Maison Blanche parcel at the top of the hill. Production is tiny. It is dark, dense, powerful, and salty. Some whole bunch fruit gives structure and punch. Great value.

This is a blend of 15 different parcels around Cornas. It is so stylish and silky-smooth in 2019. This is wonderfully refined Syrah that still retains plenty of personality. Its fine-grained tannins are the mark of its excellent quality of fruit.

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.