2017 Gigondas, Domaine du Clos du Tourelles
£170 /6 in bond ex vat
96-98/100 Wine Advocate: “Even better than I remember it being last year, and potentially edging out the L'Argnée this vintage, the 2017 Gigondas Clos des Tourelles is just flat-out terrific juice. From yields around 15 hectoliters per hectare, it's 80% Grenache and 10% each Mourvèdre and Syrah, all aged in foudre. Soaring floral notes of rose petals, violets and garrigue appear on the nose, followed by ripe raspberry flavors that flow almost weightlessly across the silky, full-bodied palate. So fine, so elegant, so long, it nearly left me speechless.”
2017 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Rouge
£150 /12 in bond ex vat
This 2017 vintage will be remembered as the year of all records: the driest year in 30 years, non-interventionist vineyard work, optimal harvest conditions, a very small yield due to climatic hazards, and wines with very rich potential.
The 30 hectares of Coudoulet are located just east of the vineyard of Beaucastel on the other side of the A7 motorway. For reasons that have now become obvious, Coudoulet is often considered the baby Beaucastel. The Coudoulet soil has many similarities to that of Beaucastel. It is made out of Molasse seabed covered by diluvial alpine deposits. These pebbles called “Galets Roulés” play a big role: They take in the heat during the day and let it if off slowly at night which gives a good start to the vines in the Spring.
90-92/100 Wine Advocate: “…the final blend of the 2017 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet de Beaucastel was showing plenty of garrigue and dried-spice notes layered over cherry fruit. Full-bodied, silky textured and long on the finish, it should drink well for a decade or more.”
2017 Coudoulet de Beaucastel Blanc
£175 /12 in bond ex vat
89-91/100 Wine Advocate: “Tasted prior to bottling, the 2017 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet de Beaucastel Blanc, a blend of Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Clairette and Bourboulenc, looks to be a solid effort. There's a bit of honeyed richness to round out the tangerine and lime aromas and flavors of this medium to full-bodied wine and a long, vibrant finish.”