100% Syrah from the granite soils of the commune of Tournon sur Rhône, 30 hl/ha yield; "Vinified traditionally, in temp–controlled s/s vats, partial de- stemming, daily pumping over & punching down, a final warm maceration, and 4 wk fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Aged in oak barrels for 18 mos (30% new, 30% one-year, & 40% two-year old)."
N: Slightly closed; Ripe berries with some earth? Intensity lurking?
P: LM body; NICE frt met by some astringent pucker which somewhat resolves by the LONG finish with a very, VERY slight bitterness & tangy/swtness to the dusty tannins. [budosyu felt the frt dropped off significantly once it got to the finish.] NEEDS through '20, poss '21, then drinking for 3-4 yrs more. My VG+/EXC-. [This vendor's $30.95 is $4 < wine-searcher's next lowest.]
From vines 30-35 yrs old grown in loess soils; Typically, 95% Syrah & 5% Viognier, aged ~ 18 mos in 1- & 2-yr old barrels;
N: Slightly closed, but seems ripe; [budosyu got an attractive medicinal note]; Intensity lurking?
P: Med body; Very NICE frt met by an astringent PUCKER which fairly seamlessly morphs into a LONG, balanced, tangy/swt finish to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '20, then making its 10th without difficulty. VERY nicely done! My EXC; 4*/5 (cask) drinkrhone.com . [This vendor's $39.95 is $9 < wine-searcher's only currently listed source!]
Frt from Mauves, Tournon, St Jeran-de-Muzols, & Vion; 70% aged in s/s vats, 30% in 1-2-3 yr 228-litre oak casks;
N: Closed; Smoke with berries underneath, poss a bit of herbaceousness? Intensity lurking?
P: Med, poss LM, body; Nice, almost swtish frt off-set by firming acidity which transitions into a LONG finish with a tangy/swtness to the minimal dusty tannins. For now & the next 4 yrs? My EXC-; 91-93 pts Vinous (Raynolds), 91 ea WA & WS, 90 & Silver @ '17 Decanter World Wine Awards, 16.5/20 Bettane et Desseauve, 14.5/20 La Revue du Vin de France, Bronze @ '17 Int'l Wine Challenge, and 3*/5 (casks/vat) drinkrhone.com . [This vendor's $29.95 is a STUNNING $13 < wine-searcher's next lowest!]
35+ year old vines grown in the fast draining, low in clay, gravel soils of the lieu dit ‘Les Picheres’; 100% hand harvested & destemmed; "Aged in older Burgundy barrels (provided by DRC);" Bottled unfined
N: Closed; RIPE berries; Intensity lurking?
P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by astringent pucker which, staying within hailing distance of the frt, transitions into a LONG finish with a swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '20, poss '21, then making its 10th? 13% ABV; My EXC, poss EXC/EXC+. 91-93 pts WA, 90 WS, & 4*/5 drinkrhone.com . [This vendor's $27.95 puts it in the top 1/3 of wine-searcher's listings.]
"From 60-80 yr old vines grown on pebbly terraces that are glacial in origin, with the bedrock close to the topsoil. These small, round pebbles store heat during the day & release it at night, providing optimum & regular maturity. Very low yields of 25 hl/ha; Aged in FR oak (20% new);"
N: budosyu found barnyd init, otherwise closed, though SEEMS ripe; Intensity lurking?
P: Med body; Very NICE frt met by astringent PUCKER which pretty much resolves by the very LONG, balanced, perhaps very, VERY slightly bitterish finish, with a tangy/swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '21, then for __ more? My EXC/EXC+. 94 pts Jeb dunnuck, 92-94 Vinous (Raynolds), 93 WA, 92-93 Suckling, but 15/20 Jancis Robinson. [This vendor's $37.95 puts it in the top 1/3 of wine-searcher's current postings.]
"From a steep, high altitude plot in Saint-Jean de Muzols – the HEART of the original Saint-Joseph; 100% hand harvested & destemmed; Aged in older Burgundy barrels (provided by DRC); Unfined"
N: CLOSED, but seems ripe, poss with some pyrazines? Intensity lurking?
P: LM body; Rndish entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which PRETTY much resolves by the very LONG finish with a tangy/swtness to the dusty tannins. For now, IF one can handle the mid-P, then drinking for 4 yrs more. My EXC, poss EXC/EXC+ -- particularly IF one desires a flavorful wine for... N-O-W. 3*(*)/5 drinkrhone.com ; [This vendor's $31.95 is currently at THE top of wine-searcher's currently VERY short list.]
2013 Domaine Belle St. Joseph Les Rivoires
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph
100% Syrah from the granite soils of the commune of Tournon sur Rhône, 30 hl/ha yield; "Vinified traditionally, in temp–controlled s/s vats, partial de- stemming, daily pumping over & punching down, a final warm maceration, and 4 wk fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Aged in oak barrels for 18 mos (30% new, 30% one-year, & 40% two-year old)."
N: Slightly closed; Ripe berries with some earth? Intensity lurking?
P: LM body; NICE frt met by some astringent pucker which somewhat resolves by the LONG finish with a very, VERY slight bitterness & tangy/swtness to the dusty tannins. [budosyu felt the frt dropped off significantly once it got to the finish.] NEEDS through '20, poss '21, then drinking for 3-4 yrs more. My VG+/EXC-. [This vendor's $30.95 is $4 < wine-searcher's next lowest.]
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2014 Domaine Pichat Côte-Rôtie Löss
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
From vines 30-35 yrs old grown in loess soils; Typically, 95% Syrah & 5% Viognier, aged ~ 18 mos in 1- & 2-yr old barrels;
N: Slightly closed, but seems ripe; [budosyu got an attractive medicinal note]; Intensity lurking?
P: Med body; Very NICE frt met by an astringent PUCKER which fairly seamlessly morphs into a LONG, balanced, tangy/swt finish to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '20, then making its 10th without difficulty. VERY nicely done! My EXC; 4*/5 (cask) drinkrhone.com . [This vendor's $39.95 is $9 < wine-searcher's only currently listed source!]
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2014 Delas Frères St. Joseph Cuvée Francois de Tournon
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph
Frt from Mauves, Tournon, St Jeran-de-Muzols, & Vion; 70% aged in s/s vats, 30% in 1-2-3 yr 228-litre oak casks;
N: Closed; Smoke with berries underneath, poss a bit of herbaceousness? Intensity lurking?
P: Med, poss LM, body; Nice, almost swtish frt off-set by firming acidity which transitions into a LONG finish with a tangy/swtness to the minimal dusty tannins. For now & the next 4 yrs? My EXC-; 91-93 pts Vinous (Raynolds), 91 ea WA & WS, 90 & Silver @ '17 Decanter World Wine Awards, 16.5/20 Bettane et Desseauve, 14.5/20 La Revue du Vin de France, Bronze @ '17 Int'l Wine Challenge, and 3*/5 (casks/vat) drinkrhone.com . [This vendor's $29.95 is a STUNNING $13 < wine-searcher's next lowest!]
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2016 Domaine des Lises Crozes-Hermitage
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage
35+ year old vines grown in the fast draining, low in clay, gravel soils of the lieu dit ‘Les Picheres’; 100% hand harvested & destemmed; "Aged in older Burgundy barrels (provided by DRC);" Bottled unfined
N: Closed; RIPE berries; Intensity lurking?
P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by astringent pucker which, staying within hailing distance of the frt, transitions into a LONG finish with a swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '20, poss '21, then making its 10th? 13% ABV; My EXC, poss EXC/EXC+. 91-93 pts WA, 90 WS, & 4*/5 drinkrhone.com . [This vendor's $27.95 puts it in the top 1/3 of wine-searcher's listings.]
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2016 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage
"From 60-80 yr old vines grown on pebbly terraces that are glacial in origin, with the bedrock close to the topsoil. These small, round pebbles store heat during the day & release it at night, providing optimum & regular maturity. Very low yields of 25 hl/ha; Aged in FR oak (20% new);"
N: budosyu found barnyd init, otherwise closed, though SEEMS ripe; Intensity lurking?
P: Med body; Very NICE frt met by astringent PUCKER which pretty much resolves by the very LONG, balanced, perhaps very, VERY slightly bitterish finish, with a tangy/swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '21, then for __ more? My EXC/EXC+. 94 pts Jeb dunnuck, 92-94 Vinous (Raynolds), 93 WA, 92-93 Suckling, but 15/20 Jancis Robinson. [This vendor's $37.95 puts it in the top 1/3 of wine-searcher's current postings.]
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2016 Equis St. Joseph
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph
"From a steep, high altitude plot in Saint-Jean de Muzols – the HEART of the original Saint-Joseph; 100% hand harvested & destemmed; Aged in older Burgundy barrels (provided by DRC); Unfined"
N: CLOSED, but seems ripe, poss with some pyrazines? Intensity lurking?
P: LM body; Rndish entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which PRETTY much resolves by the very LONG finish with a tangy/swtness to the dusty tannins. For now, IF one can handle the mid-P, then drinking for 4 yrs more. My EXC, poss EXC/EXC+ -- particularly IF one desires a flavorful wine for... N-O-W. 3*(*)/5 drinkrhone.com ; [This vendor's $31.95 is currently at THE top of wine-searcher's currently VERY short list.]
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