Alsace, Rhône & Rest of France

Our delicious 2020 Reserve Rosé is especially Provençal in style this year due to the addition of 20% Cinsault to the blend. This lends a gorgeous finesse and herbal refreshment to the wine. It is a delicate and subtle dry rosé with a pebble stone purity and a delectably saline finish.

{***}
{region}Rhône{region}
{color}Rose{color}

{vintage}2020{vintage}

{maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text} {***}

We are delighted to once again partner with the esteemed Ch. la Mascaronne for this fresh and delectable rosé. The initial sensation of biting into a fresh red plum is followed by vivid notes of wild strawberries, raspberries and redcurrants. Above all, this is an energetic, pure and mineral wine with delicious freshness and a long, creamy finish.

{***}
{region}Provence, France{region}
{color}Rose{color}
{maturity}drink-now{maturity}
{maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{***}

Very pure, round and flavorful supported by beautiful acidity adding body and volume. there is a fine and elegant aromatic framework enhancing length. Beautiful, sharp structure.

{***}{region} Côtes de Provence{region}
{color} Rose {color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2019{vintage}{***}

Very pure, round and flavorful supported by beautiful acidity adding body and volume. there is a fine and elegant aromatic framework enhancing length. Beautiful, sharp structure.

{***}{region} Côtes de Provence{region}
{color} Rose {color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2020{vintage}{***}

The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de Mon Aieul is just now starting to shed a tiny amount of its abundant baby fat that's been front and center since release. Still, it pulls no punches in its thrilling aromas and flavors of kirsch liqueur, roasted garrigue, black raspberries, incense, cured meats and licorice, and it is about as quintessential Grenache as you can find. Thrillingly concentrated, intense, perfumed and layered with incredible balance, this full-bodied beauty should hit its peak in another 2-3 years and keep for at least a decade after that.

{***}{region} Rhône{region}
{color} Red {color}                   {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2007{vintage}

{ratings}
 [] The Wine Advocate:: 99/100        
{ratings} 

{***}

Deep ruby. Expressive aromas of ripe blackberry, boysenberry, licorice and olive paste show very good clarity and pick up a smoky nuance as the wine stretches out. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering concentrated black and blue fruit flavors complemented by a building floral pastille note. Shows noticeable weight on the broad, gently tannic finish, which echoes the dark berry and licorice notes. 93pts Vinous

{***}{region}Rhône{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                                                           {maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}For laying down{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}{***}

Based on an approximate blend from tank, Jamet's 2016 Côte-Rôtie features attractive aromas of cedar, leather, dried spices and cherries. It doesn't have the dramatic floral or rich bass notes of the truly great vintages, but it delivers a classic representation of the appellation. It's medium to full-bodied, with ripe, silky tannins, cherry and black olive flavors and a long finish.

{***}{region} Rhône{region}
{color} Red {color}                  

 {maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2016{vintage}

{ratings}
 [] The Wine Advocate:: 92-94/100        
{ratings} 

{***}

Inky ruby. Intensely perfumed aromas of ripe red/blue fruits, potpourri and smoked meat show excellent clarity and spicy lift. Offers deeply concentrated boysenberry, black raspberry, spicecake and violet pastille flavors. Hints of candied licorice and cracked pepper build on the back half. Finishes on a suave, alluringly sweet note of blue fruit liqueur, with slowly emerging tannins and outstanding focus. - Vinous

{***}{region} Rhône{region}
{color} Red {color}          

{maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2015{vintage}

{ratings}[]Wine Spectator:: 97/100
[] Wine Advocate:: 95/100

[] Vinous:: 94/100{ratings}

{***}

Quite reserved on entry, with fine linear acidity and a pure, long finish. The harvest was relatively late after a mild August; and René praises the resulting wine for its ‘belle tension’, The wine has ripe yet restrained fruit, with subtle aromatics of violets and forest floor, and beautifully silky tannins at the back of the mouth. Extremely promising.

{***}{region}Rhône{region}
{ {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2010{vintage}{***}

This is a blend of three parcels from the mid-slopes of Cornas. The team has sourced the best fruit from this vintage and the plots complement each other well, giving a wine full of dark broody fruit, wood smoke and spice. The tannins here are very fine and inky black but may need some time. Drink 2020-2029. 

{***}{region} Rhône{region}
{color} Red {color}          

       {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}{***}

Still in the Ardèche, this is from old 70-year-old Serine, a venerable Syrah clone, grown on gneiss, with no sulphur dioxide added at all. The 2013 has impressive mineral-tinged black cherry fruit backed up by peppery notes. The palate is meaty and lively with raspberry and cherry fruit. Overall the impression is one of structure, Corinthian rather than Doric, and purity of intent.

{***}{region} Rhône{region}
{color} Red {color}          

       {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink Now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2013{vintage}{***}

{***}{region} Rhône{region}
{color} Red {color}                                                              

 {maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}For Laying Down{maturity-text}
{vintage}2018{vintage}

{ratings} []Wine Advocate:: 95-97/100

[]Vinous:: 93-95/100

{ratings}

{***}

The decomposed granite slopes of Les Mazards, rather alarmingly known locally as ‘gore’, are the source of this famous cuvée. Twenty-five percent of stems are added to the vat for a cuvaison of four weeks, then 24 months in cask, 20 percent of which are new. There is no Vieilles Fontaines this year, so all the grapes have gone into the Vieilles Vignes, which repays the compliment and is suitably magisterial and complex. Fresh and yet imperiously powerful, this wine will be one for the long, longer and longest terms.
Simon Field MW - Rhône Buyer

Albéric Mazoyer, the charismatic sidekick to Alain Voge, is positive about 2013: there was no hail in Cornas and the late growing cycle was actually beneficial in this, the warmest of the northern enclaves, concentrating flavour but eschewing excess of any kind. The results are as spectacular as the volumes are scant.

{***}{region} Rhône{region}
{color} Red {color}          

{maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2013{vintage}

{ratings} [] Wine Advocate:: 92/100

{ratings}

{***}

There is no Cadettes this year, rather surprisingly, so all the benefit goes into the domaine cuvée. What is more, La Nerthe have introduced a second wine called Les Granieres, to ensure that only the very best fruit is allowed into the domaine wine. This is a blend of half Grenache and nearly a quarter each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, with a little Cinsault making up the balance. An extremely impressive wine, the 2011 captures all the qualities that I have admired in the wine over the years, in particular aromatic restraint balanced by a wealth of ripe fruit.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer

La Nerthe is by far the grandest of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape properties and now, under the guidance of oenologist Christian Voeux, it is making wines to match. Long feted by the French themselves, La Nerthe is now internationally recognised and lauded for a style which, appropriately enough seems to capture something of the structural grandeur of the greatest properties in Bordeaux.

{***}{region} Rhône{region}
{color} Red {color}                   {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2011{vintage}

{ratings}
 [] The Wine Advocate:: 90/100 

       
{ratings} 

{***}

Picked from Francois Cotat's youngest vines, from 5 years upwards, still within the confines of the village of Chavignol if on slightly flatter ground. The net result is a Francois Cotat wine that can be lapped up if its youth. As you would expect, the wine shows impeccable manners, along with a crystalline purity, freshness and scintillating detail. Perfect as an aperitif or with starters.

{***}
{region}Loire{region}
{color}White{color}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2019{vintage}
{ratings}      {ratings} 
{***}

As always the Côte Rôtie is an asemblage of grapes sources from both Cotes, with the lieus-dits of Tupins, Semons But de Mont, Boudin and Les Roziers all featuring to some degree. The wine is more elegant than the 2009, which Stéphane describes as ‘un millésime solaire’. He adds that 2009 is the vintage for the ‘grand publique’ whereas 2010 will be for the connoisseur, for the purist. For the English market, he adds, helpfully. It certainly appeals to this palate with its combination of ripe fruit, balancing acidity and beautifully silky tannins.

{***}{region} Rhône{region}
{color} Red {color}                  

 {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2010{vintage}

{ratings}
 [] The Wine Advocate:: 95/100

[] Robert Parker:: 95/100

 [] Jancis Robinson:: 17.5/20  

{ratings}

{***}

Grenache (75 percent), Cinsault (15 percent), Syrah (five percent) and Mourvèdre (five percent) conspire to pay homage to a significant forebear. More approachable than some of Isabel’s range, the Auguste Favier has a gentle fruity charm, with silky top notes that are seductive and finely orchestrated. Drink 2022-2030+.

{***}{region} Rhône{region}
{color} Red {color}                   {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} 

{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2015{vintage}

{ratings}
 [] The Wine Advocate:: 94/100

{ratings}

{***}

Grenache (75 percent), Cinsault (15 percent), Syrah (five percent) and Mourvèdre (five percent) conspire to pay homage to a significant forebear. More approachable than some of Isabel’s range, the Auguste Favier has a gentle fruity charm, with silky top notes that are seductive and finely orchestrated. Drink 2022-2030+.

{***}{region} Rhône{region}
{color} Red {color}                   {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} 

{maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2015{vintage}

{ratings}
 [] The Wine Advocate:: 94/100

{ratings}

{***}

{***}{region} Rhône{region}
{color} Red {color}                                                              

 {maturity}ready-keep{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2009{vintage}

{ratings} []Wine Advocate:: 97+/100

{ratings}

{***}

{***}
{region}Sancerre{region}
{color}White{color}
{vintage}2019{vintage}
{maturity}drink-now{maturity}
{maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{***}

For the 2019 vintage, Jean-Luc Terrier has sourced fruit from older vines and higher-altitude plots to produce a mineral and fresh white wine. The blend is largely Chardonnay, which gives an attractive stone-fruit and white blossom aroma, combined with the local variety Mauzac that gives a nervy acidity and roundness to the palate. Notes of ginger spice and nectarine are balanced by a salty character and chalky minerality on the finish.

{***}
{region}Rhône{region}
{color}White{color}

{vintage}2019{vintage}

{maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text} {***}

The awesome 1998 Cote Rotie La Mouline is a seamless, full-bodied classic with many characteristics of the 1997 La Landonne , but more structure, tannin, and muscle. It will need two years of cellaring, and will last for twenty years. Stylistically, it is reminiscent of the 1988. 97/100 pts. (Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - April 2002)

{***}{region} Rhône{region}
{color} Red {color}                  

 {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink Now{maturity-text}
{vintage}1988{vintage}

{ratings}
 

[] Robert Parker:: 97/100

{ratings}

{***}

For the 2019 vintage, Jean-Luc Terrier has sourced fruit from older vines and higher-altitude plots. The addition of 10% Pinot Noir to the historically Merlot/Syrah-based blend has transformed this into a beautifully fragrant, complex and elegant wine brimming with sweet red cherry fruit and displaying super fine tannins. It is harmonious and perfectly in balance with real subtlety and a long, extremely enjoyable, refreshing finish.

{***}{region} Languedoc{region}
{color} Red {color}                                                               {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text}
{vintage}2019{vintage}{***}