2010 St Peray, Cuvée Prestige, Domaine Du Tunnel
Critics reviews
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Oct 2011)
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Oct 2011)
About this WINE
Domaine Du Tunnel
Located in a somewhat anonymous back-street of St Peray in Rhone, Domaine Du Tunnel is forging a reputation as one of the leading wine producers in newly rejuvenated villages of St Peray and Cornas, both famous through history and throughout France for making, respectively, excellent white and red wines.
Now, with the savoir faire of young vignerons such as Stéphane Robert, this reputation is set to achieve more international recognition.
Stephane began building this domain in 1994, when he was 24. He now works with 3ha in Cornas, 2.5 in Saint Joseph and 2 in Saint Peray, most of which he owns Aiming for wines which are characterised by fruit intensity rather than oak
Roussanne
Roussanne is one of the most important white grape varieties in the Rhône Valley. It is a particularly pernickety grape to cultivate being a notoriously low yielder as well as being highly susceptible to rot. It is difficult to ripen, and seemingly prone to oxidation at every opportunity. Roussanne's name comes from its russet-coloured skin and it produces richly aromatic wines, often with fruit characteristics of lime and blossom.
In the northern Rhône it is typically blended with Marsanne to produce the white wines of Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, St-Joseph, and St-Péray. Generally Marsanne is the dominant partner and it lends colour, body and weight to the blend, as well as richly scented fruit, while Roussanne contributes bouquet, delicacy and finesse.
It is grown less extensively in the southern Rhône although it is one of the permitted varieties in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. There are plantings of Roussanne in the Languedoc and Rousillon and in the last decade the grape have been cultivated with particular success in California, where it is produced both as a single varietal and as a component of Rhône-style blends.
Buying options
Add to wishlist
Description
A blend of 80% Marsanne and 20% Rousanne, the Prestige is beautifully aromatic, with notes of pear-skin and honeysuckle to the fore. The palate has classic Marsanne grip and hints of beeswax and lanolin; and beyond that, a fine almost saline minerality which lends a frim structure. Prestigious indeed!
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer, February 2012
A thoroughly deserved elevation to two stars in Le Revue des Vins de France (there are only three producers with three stars and not many more with two in the Northern Rhône) could not have happened to a nicer man than Stéphane Robert. To get Cornas right one must not lose sight of its history as ‘le vin noir’, almost impenetrable in its youth, but one must also pay careful attention to the purity of fruit and tannin management .This he has done with great aplomb.
wine at a glance
Delivery and quality guarantee