Tasting notes, Sept. 16, 2023; Southern Rhone Valley

                     Southern Rhone Valley

2021 Vieille Julienne Clavin Blanc
On Sale for $27.99
Châteauneuf-du-Pape / Southern Rhone Valley / France
Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier
Sourced from 65 year-old vines planted in the coolest, limestone-based portion of the Clavin site, the Cotes-du-Rhone Blanc from Vieille Julienne offers stunning aromatics and texture.
2020 Bosquet des Papes Blanc Tradition
On Sale for $39.99
Châteauneuf-du-Pape / Southern Rhone Valley / France
45% Clairette, 35% Grenache Blanc, 20% Bourboulenc
25% of the demi-muids (600L barrels) which imparts richness of texture rather than wood driven flavors. Bosquet des Papes produces a mineral leading style of Châteauneuf Blanc.
2022 LafondRose
On Sale for $15.99
Tavel / Southern Rhone Valley / France
60% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, 20% Syrah
The Tavel appellation is one of the few producing only Rose wine in France. This is a powerful Rose not without charm, a wine well suited as an aperitif or matched with a hearty meal of the grill.
2017 Stehelin
Gigondas Rouge
On Sale for $25.99
Gigondas / Southern Rhône Valley / France
70% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre
Sourced from 90 year-old vines planted at relatively high elevation (300m), Stehelin’s flagship wine is aged for 24 months in large, neutral casks. Powerful and possessing plenty of acidity, this Gigondas offers aromas of black pepper and flavors of dark cherry.
2020 Vieille Julienne
Clavin Rouge
On Sale for $27.99
Just North of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhone 
Mostly Grenache, with Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvèdre 
The consistently excellent “Clavin” cuvée, is a classic Rhône red so named for the series of sloped sites from which it emanates. The vines employed are 85 years old on average.
2020 Moulin Tacussel Rouge Tradition
On Sale for $34.99
Châteauneuf-du-Pape / Southern Rhone Valley / France
70% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah 5% Vaccarese, 5% Muscardin
The vines employed for this cuvee average 40 years of age and are planted in a combination of clay, pebbles and sand. The resulting wine is fermented in concrete and aged for 12 months in a combination of new and used large oak barrels.