Domaine Yves Cuilleron

Until 31st August this product is discounted by 30%*

From the southern (Blonde) granitic vineyards, this cuvée contains 10% Viognier and is aged in 50% new oak for 18 months. The wine has classic aromatics of bacon rind and hot house plants, with a plush, pleasing mid-palate, with hints of woodsmoke and black olive also evidenced.
Simon Field MW, Rhône Wine Buyer 

Yves Cuilleron compares 2012 to 2011; for him the vintage has more concentration and power than its immediate forebear. His house philosophy, whether by accident or design, mirrors the current fashions for later harvests and the addition of a varying degree of stems. Both engender structure and complexity when treated with due respect. Given that there is not the remotest sign of the green on the one hand or the over-ripe on the other, we can infer conspicuous success in these wines.



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The Terres Sombres in question are located in the central lieux-dits of Rochins and Rozier and, further to the north, La Viaillière. The wine will have aged for 20 months or so at bottling and is justly regarded as one of the finest in the appellation. Grilled meat, tapenade and ripe plums underwrite great potential.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer

Energetic, dynamic and likeable, Yves Cuilleron is seen as the most influential and, at times, the most outspoken of the Northern Rhône producers. The completely rebuilt winery at Chavanay is testament to both his success and ambition; Yves’ skill lies in disseminating the minutiae of terroir (now, in my view, with even better results as the use of new wood has been relaxed a little). ‘Tendu’ seemed to be his most popular adjective used to describe the 2011s: ‘tight-knit, nervous, and with potential’ is my rather prosaic and, in all probability, not entirely accurate translation, a little close to a personification perhaps.

The Terres Sombres in question here are located in the central lieux-dits of Rochins and Rozier, and, further to the north, La Viallière. The wine is justly regarded as one of the finest in the appellation. Grilled meat, tapenade and ripe plums underwrite a wine with great potential. Drink 2014-2020.

Most Exciting Wines of the Vintage:  St Joseph, Les Serines, Domaine Yves Cuilleron
Yves' range boasts a plethora of superbly crafted, different cuvées but for me this one stood out, as it has done in past vintages. Of his St Joseph wines this one comes from the oldest vines, displaying immense concentration wrapped up in a robe of sublime elegance and purity. The tannins are very finegrained, the balance is perfect and there is a seamless harmony between all the component parts. From the more southern vineyards of Yves’ 18 hectares in St Jospeh, Les Serines is sourced from 40-year-old vines and aged for 18 months. It displays classic St Joseph shape and purity, with fine minerality and almost Burgundian red-fruit charm in the mid-palate.

Sourced from older vines, the evocatively named Terres Sombres is a fine vin de garde, which will have been aged for 22 months by the time of bottling. A little closed now, quite understandably, there is great potential here with notes of dense black fruit, tar and liqueur de cassis evidenced.

Yves’ passion and energy is well-known and it was warming to see his reaction to our own enthusiasm for this cuvée, which was one we had not planned to buy. Like the best Cornas, it has a ‘lift’ to it with plenty of fresh, generous fruit. Easy on the ‘abv’ too, a really fine example of a Cornas that will develop very well mid-term.
Tom Cave - Cellar Plan Manager 

Until 31st August this product is discounted by 40%*

The eponymous soils are mainly schistous in the so-called Brune half of the appellation, indeed they are not far removed from Côte Brune itself. The palate is dominated by blue fruit, bay leaf and cooked meat; its linear profile underlined by a distinctive gunflint finish. Explosive, but in a carefully controlled fashion.
Simon Field MW, Rhône Wine Buyer 

Yves Cuilleron compares 2012 to 2011; for him the vintage has more concentration and power than its immediate forebear. His house philosophy, whether by accident or design, mirrors the current fashions for later harvests and the addition of a varying degree of stems. Both engender structure and complexity when treated with due respect. Given that there is not the remotest sign of the green on the one hand or the over-ripe on the other, we can infer conspicuous success in these wines. 




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Until 31st August this product is discounted by 50%*

The Côte Brune vineyards of Les Roziers and Les Rochains, near to La Landonne itself, provide the fruit for this perennial favourite. The wine is dark and tight, with intense aromas of thyme, liquorice and smoked meat. The complexity continues onto the palate and underwrites ageing potential. This vintage, for Yves, shares the family traits of 2010 and even the under-rated 2006 (which is delicious now); very fine pedigree, in other words, but perhaps more elegant than so-called sunshine years such as 2009 or the irredeemably tannic 2005. Drink 2020-2026.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer



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From predominantly schistose soils in the north of the appellation, this is a wine which combines beautiful tapenade/violet aromatics with a very serious palate, with firm, well-bred tannins cloaking the fruit, and adding a fine architectural framework.
Simon Field M.W. - Rhne Buyer