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2009 LA REMISE Rouge Domaine de la Mordorée
Vin de France France
Full bodied ripe fruit with a note of sweet spice, this will make a great accompaniment to barbequed and grilled food.
Vin de France France
Full bodied ripe fruit with a note of sweet spice, this will make a great accompaniment to barbequed and grilled food.
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2011 CÔTES DU RHÔNE Rouge Cuvée Mistral Domaine Coulange
Southern Rhône France
Domaine Coulange's 'Cuvée Mistral' is 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. The ripe Grenache dominates the nose again in this fabulous 2011 and is followed on the palate by an abundance of sweet, spicy fruit. Forward and delicious. Such wonderful consistency from Christelle another great drinker.
Southern Rhône France
Domaine Coulange's 'Cuvée Mistral' is 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. The ripe Grenache dominates the nose again in this fabulous 2011 and is followed on the palate by an abundance of sweet, spicy fruit. Forward and delicious. Such wonderful consistency from Christelle another great drinker.
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LE PETIT ROY 11eme année Domaine Jean Royer
Vin de France France
I made this simple Vin de France wine of the week after glugging almost an entire bottle of it on my own one evening this week! One of Charles’ new finds in the Rhône valley, from a relatively unknown and very small producer in Châteaneuf (although they do make it into Bob Parker’s Wine Advocate), ’Le Petit Roy’ is simply a Vin de France because it is made up of eveything that does not make it into the Châteaneuf cuvées, and as such carries no... (more info)
Vin de France France
I made this simple Vin de France wine of the week after glugging almost an entire bottle of it on my own one evening this week! One of Charles’ new finds in the Rhône valley, from a relatively unknown and very small producer in Châteaneuf (although they do make it into Bob Parker’s Wine Advocate), ’Le Petit Roy’ is simply a Vin de France because it is made up of eveything that does not make it into the Châteaneuf cuvées, and as such carries no... (more info)
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2009 LIRAC La Dame Rousse Domaine de la Mordorée
Southern Rhône France
Christophe Delorme's Syrah and Grenache blend tops the charts among the village Liracs by some way. Rich and packed with fruit this has the telltale 2009 fine tannins and lush silky feel.
Southern Rhône France
Christophe Delorme's Syrah and Grenache blend tops the charts among the village Liracs by some way. Rich and packed with fruit this has the telltale 2009 fine tannins and lush silky feel.
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2010 CROZES HERMITAGE Cuvée Papillon Domaine Gilles Robin
Northern Rhône France
From the young Syrah vines that are eventually destined to make the cuvée Albéric Buvet, Papillon is a more juicy and spicy version for drinking on its youthful crunchy fruit.
Northern Rhône France
From the young Syrah vines that are eventually destined to make the cuvée Albéric Buvet, Papillon is a more juicy and spicy version for drinking on its youthful crunchy fruit.
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2009 CROZES HERMITAGE Cuvée Albéric Bouvet Domaine Gilles Robin
Northern Rhône France
Gilles' top cuvée of Crozes is a wine capable of ageing ten years or more, although drinkable on release. The trademark silky tannins of the vintage combined with full ripeness, very full without ever becoming burly. Lots of spice and depth and length.
Northern Rhône France
Gilles' top cuvée of Crozes is a wine capable of ageing ten years or more, although drinkable on release. The trademark silky tannins of the vintage combined with full ripeness, very full without ever becoming burly. Lots of spice and depth and length.
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2008 LIRAC Rouge Cuvée de la Reine des Bois Domaine de la Mordorée
Southern Rhône France
An equal blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre from forty year old vines, aged in a combination of oak barrels, wooden tuns and stainless steel this is Christophe Delorme's super cuvée of Lirac which is vastly superior to any other in the appellation. Red/black in colour with a massive fruit structure and rich tannins, nevertheless beautifully balanced and with a great future.
Southern Rhône France
An equal blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre from forty year old vines, aged in a combination of oak barrels, wooden tuns and stainless steel this is Christophe Delorme's super cuvée of Lirac which is vastly superior to any other in the appellation. Red/black in colour with a massive fruit structure and rich tannins, nevertheless beautifully balanced and with a great future.
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2009 GIGONDAS Domaine la Bouïssière
Southern Rhône France
Classic, but without any of the soupy richness of so many of the 2009s. Smoky-rich, cedarwood , slightly spicy, voluptuously full, silky-fine tannins. Lovely balance of this fine-grained tannin and suppleness with the expressive dried herbs and ripe hedgerow fruit, all combining to give a finely dry feel. Drink over next five of six years, (but may well last ten).
Southern Rhône France
Classic, but without any of the soupy richness of so many of the 2009s. Smoky-rich, cedarwood , slightly spicy, voluptuously full, silky-fine tannins. Lovely balance of this fine-grained tannin and suppleness with the expressive dried herbs and ripe hedgerow fruit, all combining to give a finely dry feel. Drink over next five of six years, (but may well last ten).
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2010 SAINT JOSEPH Domaine de Monteillet
Northern Rhône France
From 5 to 35 year-old vines. A 'délice', fat but fine, a real wine from the rock with mineral-filled lifted fruit.
Northern Rhône France
From 5 to 35 year-old vines. A 'délice', fat but fine, a real wine from the rock with mineral-filled lifted fruit.
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2009 LIRAC Rouge Cuvée de la Reine des Bois Domaine de la Mordorée
Southern Rhône France
An equal blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre from forty year old vines, aged in a combination of oak barrels, wooden tuns and stainless steel this is Christophe Delorme's super cuvée of Lirac which is vastly superior to any other in the appellation. Red/black in colour with a massive fruit structure and rich tannins, nevertheless beautifully balanced and with a great future.
Southern Rhône France
An equal blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre from forty year old vines, aged in a combination of oak barrels, wooden tuns and stainless steel this is Christophe Delorme's super cuvée of Lirac which is vastly superior to any other in the appellation. Red/black in colour with a massive fruit structure and rich tannins, nevertheless beautifully balanced and with a great future.
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2009 SAINT JOSEPH Clos de la Cuminaille Domaine Pierre Gaillard
Northern Rhône France
Planted in 1981 the east facing Clos de Cuminaille (3ha) is on granitic, fast draining soil, and gives Syrah of great freshness as well as ageing potential. Aged for eighteen months in 'barriques', of which 40% new.
Northern Rhône France
Planted in 1981 the east facing Clos de Cuminaille (3ha) is on granitic, fast draining soil, and gives Syrah of great freshness as well as ageing potential. Aged for eighteen months in 'barriques', of which 40% new.