Château de Manissy 2019 Côtes du Rhône "Oracle"

The very talented Florian André at Chateau de Manissy makes this delicious Côtes d Rhône from Grenache, Carignan and Counoise in organic/Biodynamic farming on sandy, brown clay/limestone soils. "The wine shows a shiny dark red, purple tints; the bouquet charms thanks to its sunny curve of aroma that mixes dried herbs with blackcurrant fruit, all neatly presented. There’s a little smokiness. The fruit purity stands out on the palate, the blueberry fruit with notes of tar-tannin, licorice accompanying it as it runs with calm continuity. This is bang on the money Côtes red, a pleasure to drink with its keen clarity, the length in shape to allow red meats into the dining equation. The freshness contributed by the Counoise is very helpful." (DrinkRhone) This is a superb everyday red at a crazy price!

Aphillanthes 2019 Cotes-du-Rhone Villages Plan de Dieu "Galets"

(Arrives 10/19) The 2019 Domaine les Aphillanthes "les Galets" is a very delightful Côtes de Rhône from 60% Grenache (1970s), 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre grown on clay-limestone soils on the Plan de Dieu, a terroir of gravel, rolled stones and clay near Gigondas. The wine shows lovely, bright aromas of black cherry and red currant, floral and quite pretty. The palate is supple and silky with cool red and black fruits, the finish is long with juicy red fruits and hints of spice with good length.  Really a lovely CDR at a great price - serve with Coq au Vin and be happy...

Ferrand 2018 Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Antique Vieilles Vignes

The Ferrand CDR Cuvee Antiques Vieilles Vignes is 90% Grenache from 80+ year-old vines, 5% Syrah, 2% Cinsault, 2% Mourvèdre, 1% Grenache blanc plus Clairette blanche from 3.5 hectares next to the domaine in the northern zone of Chateauneuf-du-Pape. This wine was a big favorite at CSW ten years ago and we're very glad to have it back, as the 2018 is drinking beautifully as a young wine. "The color is dark red; mulberry, mixed black stone fruits, violets show in a confident, appealing aroma. The palate bears fluid gras, with a gradual increase in intensity that moves it towards the South, black olives territory. It holds lots of well struck fruit, has good spring in it, captures 2018 very well. There’s a bit of pebble grain at the end. Gives a good glimpse of Châteauneuf-du-Pape at a much lesser price." Drink this lovely wine until  2029-31.

Monardiere 2019 Vacqueyras Les 2 Monardes

The 2019 Vacqueyras  "Les 2 Monardes" shows  a "very dark robe; the bouquet is deep, sustains on appealing black berry fruits, has a coffee side, a little roasting. The palate’s richness is enjoyable, doesn’t hold back, maintains its rolling depth throughout, with smoked, pine needle moments towards the close, a menthol surge on the aftertaste. It evokes a pine tree fringed vineyard, has a natural oiliness that holds it together well. This is high interest, genuine, really grass roots Vacqueyras of terroir, marks for character. 14°. From mid-2023, decant, drink until 2037-39." DrinkRhone

Viret, Philippe 2016 VdF Renaissance

This is a full bodied, black-fruited blend from an estate that follows the principles of Cosmoculture, which can be likened to Biodynamics in its respect of lunar patterns and also energy fields and telluric currents. Though it might sound a bit "new-age," it's more accurately a look back to how ancient civilizations observed water sources and planetary movement to inform how, where, and what they would plant. Primarily Grenache, with Syrah, Mourvedre, and Carignan from several plots, the maceration is long (about 45 days) and aging is over 4 years in concrete, with no addition of sulfur. A complex and generous, earthy Southern Rhone red with great length, supple tannins, and nice aging potential.  -EL

Les Pallières 2019 Gigondas Les Racines

The Les Pallieres "Racines" is 80-85% Grenache (average age 70 years), 5-7.5% Syrah & 5-7.5% Cinsault, 5% Clairette blanche from vineyards near the cellars at 250 metres, 80% destemmed, gentle crush, 30-35 day concrete, oak vat vinification,  large oak vat aged 10 months, then large 60 hl barrel 7-9 months, unfined, unfiltered,  Domaine Les Pallières is undeniably one of the greatest, longest-running properties of the Southern Rhône — outside the village of Gigondas, woven into the foothills of the beautiful and brooding Dentelles de Montmirail. The domaine had been a continuously running farm within the same family since the fifteenth century! From DrinkRhone: "full red robe; there’s real depth on the nose, beef, bulls blood, intense black berry jam, Southern/sudiste tones, black olives. The palate gives a constant surge attack, a very good wheel of rolling black fruits, is well together, ends with a fine note of stylish juice, precision from the tannins there. It’s both elegant and full, well extended, a very good bottle, has a real upholstered finish." Drink this beautiful Gigondas over the next 30 years.

Pierre Andre 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge

(Arrives 12/2)  We consider Domaine Pierre André to be one of the greatest estates in Châteuneuf-du-Pape. Organic since 1980 (one of the first in the AOC) and Biodynamic since 1992. The red is 90% Grenache with Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Vaccarèse, Counoise, Muscadin and Picpoul. Some parcels are over 100 years old, with the average vine age around 65 years. The 2016 is a beautiful glass of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, showing fresh, complex aromas of ripe blackberry with cherry, spice, rose, earth, tar, smoke and floral notes.  On the palate, the wine is perfectly structured, similar to the 2010, with deep blackberry and black cherry liqueur with spice, garrigue, earth and saline minerals. A great CDP for aging, this is delicious now in its vibrant youth, but will repay waiting for ten years and then enjoy until 2050! Very highly recommended. David Lillie

Texier 2014 CdR St. Julien en St. Alban Domaine Pergaud Vieille Serine

From 70-year-old Syrah/Serine vines located on the west bank of the Rhône on granite soils that had been farmed exclusively by a protestant religious order known as D’Arbistes. There has never been a chemical introduced into this vineyard. "The 2014 St Julien Pergaud is ready to drink" says Eric "enjoy it now for its round tannins, with low alcohol and minimal SO2. My parents love it because it goes well with confit de canard!" The wine shows conplex, earthy aromas of blackberry, rose, black pepper and graphite with animal and smoky notes. The palate is cool and sapid with blackberry, prune, citrus and earth with a long finish with black fruit and mineral flavors. This is a delicious old vine Syrah reflecting the granite terroirs and M. Texier's superb farming and natural vinifications.

Texier 2015 Brézème Domaine Pergaud Vieille Serine

Made primarily from 80 to 90 year-old vines of Serine, grown in a small hillside parcel of limestone marl soil in Brezeme, generally regarded as an old version of Syrah (which evolved from Mondeuse Blanc and Dureza) with smaller berries which survived through massale selection, principally in Cote Rotie.  Serine gives a more aromatic and elegant wine that the larger berried modern Syrah. Eric Texier says "2015 Brezeme Pergaud is a different animal. Very reductive now, it needs decanting or, better, opening 24 hours before pouring. Personally, I will not touch it before 2025. I consider it as one of my best "old school" wines. A bit like 2010 with more depth, riper than 2013 with a similar balance. Not a fruit bomb." The 2015 shows earthy, complex black and blue fruits, with chalky strawberry and floral aromas. The palate is intense and earthy with blackberry, red currant, licorice and mineral flavors with pretty red fruits lingering in the long finish. Decant well in advance if drinking now, best to hold ten years or more.

Barou 2020 Saint-Joseph "Un Autre Monde"

Domaine Barou has been organic since the 1970s and also produces cherries, apricots and peaches. The Saint-Joseph vines are in Limony, on thin soils of decomposed granite over the bedrock. Shallow plowing ("griffage") is done in the summer, with rye and clover growing between the rows in winter. The grapes are 80% de-stemmed, fermentations are with wild yeasts, aging is primarily in old barrels. .The 2020 Saint-Joseph shows a deep black/red color and gorgeous aromas of blackberry and blueberry liqueur with violet, spice, citrus and roast meat, very floral and pretty. Ripe black fruits, bitter chocolate, earth, licorice and citrus continue on the very lush, supple palate which is framed in perfect, bright acidity. The finish is soft and sapid and shows bright acidity and mineral flavors. This is absolutely delicious now but has the structure to age nicely for five to ten years. A sensational value and highly recommended!