2018 Domaine les Aphillanthes ‘Clementia Blanc’
Cotes du Rhone, FR
Regular Price $19.99
Sale price $15.99
This blend of Viognier, Roussanne & Clairette is bright and fresh yet full and rich, making it, if not really unique among white wines, surprising to those that have a narrow and less factual view of whites. The vineyards are organic and biodynamic, so in addition to tasting good, the wine is good for you!
2017 Lionel Faury Saint-Joseph Blanc
La Ribaudy, FR
Regular Price $39.99
Sale price $31.99
The Northern Rhone valley is prized for their reds, but without diminishing those wines in the least, the whites even more exciting (But then again, I think whites are always more interesting than reds). The blend of Roussanne and Marsanne offers lovely floral aromas backed by lush pear and peach flavors touched by minerality and herbs. Full bodied but not oaky or buttery, the wine has grio and persistent acidity. Its a white wine for red wine drinkers. Or white wine drinkers.
2017 Terres d’Avignon ‘Cuvee Cyprus’
Cotes du Rhone, FR
Regular Price $17.99
Sale price $13.99
Red Cote du Rhones should be fresh and easy and supple and inexpensive, which is the description of this wine. Made by Terres d”Avignon, under the direction of famed importer, Kermit Lynch, this wine was literally assembled for the American consumer. Juicy and fruity with herbs and fresh acidity, this wine works with just about anything but pretense.
2015 Domaine du Terme Vacqueyras
Vaucluse, FR
Regular Price $29.99
Sale price $23.99
Daughter and father team, Anne-Marie & Roland Gaudin, run things at Terme, but make no mistake, its Anne-Marie’s vision and winemaking skills that make the estate a standout. This blend of Grenache and Syrah is full and bold but not heavy or ponderous. The wine spends 6-8 months in barrel, followed by 2 years in concrete, leaving the wine concentrated yet polished and supple.
2016 Domaine Breyton Crozes-Hermitage
Beaumont-Monteux, FR
Regular Price $31.99
Sale price $24.99
Made of 100% Syrah, this unoaked red (which is not a rarity, by the way) is fresh and floral with hints of earth and tar and leather to balance the blackberry and plummy fruit. This wine is not at all brooding and dense (as many syrah can be), but rather refreshing and attractive.
2018 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas ‘Granit 30’
Cornas, FR
Regular Price $46.99
Sale price $36.99
Vincent Paris is an ‘up and coming’ star in Cornas, even though his first vintage was in 1997. Nonetheless, since wine critics don’t count very well (as evidenced by their ‘scoring’ system) he’s a veritable newcomer. Anyway, in the past 20 years, he’s continually produced very good, if a bit modern’ wines from Cornas and Croze-Hermitage. This wine, from his ‘younger’ vines, is friendly and yet beguiling. Concentrated black fruits with anise and garrigue aromas, the oak tones are attractive rather than overwhelming. Easy to like, easy to enjoy, especially for a newbie.