Rhône Report: Cornas, Côte-Rotie, Crozes, St. Joseph, CDP, CDR and More!
2/13/2025
It seems that winter is not going away anytime soon, so here is a hearty collection of Rhône wines, North and South, to keep you warm over the next few months, or to cellar for winters to come…
We lead off with a superb wine and a sensational value, the 2021 Dumien-Serrette Cornas "Patou" Vieilles Vignes - $41.39 per bottle on a case or mixed case!
As our friend John Livingstone-Learmonth (drinkrhone) points out, "2021 is certainly a vintage with some jolies choses, and a higher level of aromatics than the sunbaked vintages, and potentially good access to the true terroir in the wines. 2021 will really be an outlier, and I bet will give most attractive drinking around eight to 10 years’ old [and beyond], as this so-called forgotten or ignored vintage serves its wares openly and honestly." The 2021 "Patou" is a beautiful Cornas to drink soon, showing great elegance and purity of fruit, but also has the necessary acidity and structure for long-term aging. "It's a Burgundian, high appeal Cornas. Drink until 2045-47" says drinkrhone - where it scored higher than the Allemand "Chaillot?!
Speaking of 2021, the very traditional Levet Côte-Rotie "Chavaroche" and "Journaries" are still available, which also show beautifully in this cooler, more balanced vintage. “The wines are very fresh, very typecast with more minerality than previous years,” said Agnès Levet, “The fruits are red, like cherries, while there is a slow development of perfumes. It needs time to express itself."
To drink this winter (and over the next ten winters) one of our greatest values is the surprisingly profound 2022 Rousset Crozes-Hermitage. This junior Hermitage, from mostly granite hillsides in Erôme, Gervans and Crozes, is remarkably deep and satisfying - give it some time open and it will reward you with a gorgeous, complex Syrah of terroir - and yes, the "Les Picaudières" will be back in March…
We have to mention a beautiful Northern Rhone white, arriving in 2 weeks, the Saint-Joseph "Altitude 300" from Veronique, Philippe and Remi Grenier at Domaine des Amphores, certified organic and Biodynamic. 80% Roussanne, 20% Marsanne on granite soils in "Le Monteillet" at 300 metres altitude. Fermented and aged in anfora and vat rather than wood. This wine has become more elegant and silky-textured over the past few years with son Remi in charge of the wine-making, but the price remains crazily low...Pre-Arrival, expected 2/26.
[A parcel of old vines hidden away at Creve Coeur]
The Southern Rhône:
The Châteauneuf-du-Papes of Laurent Charvin can always be enjoyed young due to their freshness and elegance, but of course at least ten years of aging is recommended to enjoy them at their best. The 2022 is another outstanding wine from Laurent, a product of organic viticulture, traditional whole-cluster fermentations and aging in concrete tank, no barrels. (Domaine Charvin is a 3-star estate in the Revue Vin de France Green Guide, joining only Rayas, Mont-Olivet, Clos des Papes and Vieux Donjon)
Southern Rhônes to drink this winter:
Of course we recommend the 2016, 2019 and 2022 Clos du Joncuas Gigondas, and 2022 Vacqueyras! The Chastan sisters have been organic "forever" and the wines are made with completely traditional methods.
A less well-known superstar of the Southern Rhone is our friend Pablo Hocht at the Domaine de Crève Coeur in Seguret. "I created the estate in 2010 to live my passions - for wine, for nature and respect of terroir. The vines, grown according to the rules of organic and biodynamic farming, produce wines that are original and authentic" says Pablo, and we couldn't agree more. The wines on offer today are vibrant and beautifully fruited - the 2022 Sablet a bit softer and aromatically pretty, the 2022 Seguret more structured and complex, and the old-vine Seguret "Pachamama" more elegant and deep. Try them all, they are really delicious wines!
Three more favorites for the winter months, and beyond…
Domaine des Aphillanthes has been organic and biodynamic for almost 20 years and practices regenerative agriculture with biodiversity in the vines as well - and the wines are superb values in a CDP style! We always love the CDR Villages Plan de Dieu "Les Galets" from a terroir of gravel, rolled stones and clay near Gigondas.
Another over-achieving biodynamic estate is Terre des Chardons in the Costieres de Nimes on a unique terroir of sileceous stones deposited by the Rhone river. Their two top reds, the 2016 "Chardons-Marie" and the 2022 "Marginal" are both Syrah-based and both guaranteed to please with hearty winter meals.
All wines discount 10% on a case or mixed case. Please allow until Monday 2/17 for pick-up/shipping. (Domaine des Amphores Saint-Joseph Blanc arrives approx 2/26)
