Rhône 2017: the South

The nose of this wine is very pure, with cool dark berry fruit aromas with plenty of garrigue. The palate reveals more concentrated blackberry flavours complemented by fresh rosemary and thyme. The abundant tannins are well-managed, fine and ripe, framed by Cabotte’s signature elegant acidity which makes its wines both refined and digeste. This is one for the dinner table. Drink now to 2023.
Oliver Barton, Buyer Assistant

This unique cuvee is made entirely from Clairette, spending 10 months in old oak barrels – not to impart oak flavours, but rather to allow micro-oxygenation which stabilises the wine and allows it to develop additional complexity. The resulting wine has a very mineral nose, with herbs and a hint of camomile. The palate starts gently with more mineral notes, but builds to very pure stone and citrus fruit notes, all in balance with the crisp acidity. Drink now to 2022.
Oliver Barton, Buyer Assistant

This has an absolutely delightful, revealing nose with fresh red and black berries, blackcurrants and fleshy cherries, with fragrant notes of rose and smoke. Cracked black pepper evokes memories of peppered salami with its umami and savoury depth. This bold Beaucastel is clearly built for the long haul, with a long, deep finish of white-pepper spice.
Alice Brandon – Private Account Manager, autumn 2018

This cuvée shows much promise. The blend includes just under 80% Grenache which is sourced from 13 plots across the appellation, but centred around the prized La Crau commune. This vintage is rich in bright red and black fruit, with plenty of signature sweet spice, building to a savoury olive and black pepper finish. The oak use is minimal which allows full focus on the top-quality fruit. This generous wine is both full of fruit and serious, with a long future ahead of it. Drink 2021-2040.

Marcoux’s top cuvée is made from just two plots, where some of the vines are over 100 years old. There is 90% Grenache here, giving the wine a rich spicy nose, with oodles of black fruit and garrigue notes. On the palate, it shows great harmony and elegance. There is plenty of cool fruit to balance the plentiful but fine tannins which melt on the tongue. The finish is typically complex and lengthy. Drink 2022-2042. 

A charming nose of bright cherry and blackberry fruit benefits from a hint of thyme. The palate is juicy, with more fleshy cherry fruit and a hint of spice from the 50% barrel-maturation. The finish has good freshness and very fine tannins, in keeping with the vintage. Drink now to 2022
Oliver Barton, Buyer Assistant

This well-made white has an expressive nose of green apple, white peach and sage. The palate is textured and rounded, with plenty more fruit and herb notes. The most important element here is the wonderful fresh acidity, boosted by the Clairette which makes up a third of the blend (along with a third each Grenache Blanc and Viognier). The finish is surprisingly long with a cool mineral note. Drink now to 2021.
Oliver Barton, Buyer Assistant

The Réserve des Seigneurs has significantly less Grenache this year (40%), with a higher proportion of Mourvèdre (40%) and Syrah (20%) compared to the 2016. This has not been detrimental to this delicious cuvee, however, with opulent layers of pepper, violet and black fruit combined with liquorice spice. A luxurious, silky texture is complemented by fine-grained, powdery tannins and brisk acidity. Drink now to 2025.
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer

The vines’ reasonably high-altitude location preserves the grapes’ freshness for this powerful Rasteau. The Grenache is unoaked, but the Syrah sees a little wood, adding a layer of complexity. The palate displays powerful blackberry fruit and a hint of lavender. The tannins are abundant but very fine, with a nice floral lift on the finish. Drink now to 2025.
Oliver Barton, Buyer Assistant