Rhone Valley Showcase - Sydney 2025

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

An impressive wine, broad, textural and layered, with such brightness at the center. Dark cherries, blueberries, violets, grilled meat, dried herbs, ashes and warm spices on the nose. It's full-bodied with finely grained tannins. There is a brightness at the center, with crunchy blue fruit and violets mingling with the spices under the watch of a solid frame of finely grained tannins. Structured and harmonious on the broad, dense, textural and focused palate. Such intensity and drive, always in control and with a very refined texture. So much depth and layers funneling trough a vibrant, spicy, flavorful and very long finish. (98) STUART PIGGOT, jamessuckling.com

The 2022 Hermitage will be terrific, if not up with the finest from this estate. Darker currants, roasted meats, leather, and peppery spice notes all define the aromatics, and it's a big, broad-shouldered Hermitage with terrific mid-palate density, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. JEB DUNNUCK, jebdunnuck.com

Wild strawberry and thyme notes make for a fairly light, perfumed style. Has some concentration of fruit, with more blackberry on the palate and cassis. Smooth tannins, well-balanced acidity and low alcohol, this is a charming and approachable style of Hermitage that can be enjoyed in its youth. MATT WALLS, decanter.com

The 2022 Hermitage bursts with prominent orange blossom, crushed violets, wood spice, blackcurrant and splashes of espresso. Majestic and bold, it hits the palate with elevated flavor concentration and remarkable intensity. If all comes together as it should, the 2022 will turn into a Hermitage of real substance and class. NICHOLAS GREINACHER, Vinous

 

An exceptionally early harvest, low yields and high quality characterize the Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2022 vintage. It is a very special vintage indeed, where each parcel expressed itself in a different way.

Domaine Font de Courtedune – for now, at least – is something of an insider’s secret. With vineyards right next door to Château Rayas, and sharing the same sandy soils, this tiny Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate produces outstanding wines that are a fraction of the price of those of its famous neighbour. The vineyards have long been owned by the Charrier family, but the fruit was sold to the local co-operative until 1997, when René Charrier established the domaine. Today his children Caroline and Frédéric are in charge.

Everything here is joyously traditional. The old vines (some of which are over 100 years old) are all farmed sustainably, with as little intervention as possible; a philosophy that follows through into the winery. Everything is whole-bunch, fermented and aged in concrete vats, with no oak to be found in the winery at all. They work almost exclusively with Grenache, with just a splash of Mourvèdre, Counoise, Cinsault, and Terret Noir to add extra spice and body to the wines.

A blend of 99% Grenache Noir and 1% Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Terret Noir and Counoise, the 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Domaine Font de Courtedune reveals a floral, spicy bouquet of chocolate, dark cherries, violets and garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, deep and dense, it is enrobing with a delicately grained tannic frame that concludes with freshness, a dark cherries-inflected finish and an ethereal aftertaste. This is a classic. YOHAN CASTAING - Wine Advocate

A seductive, balanced, juicy and citrusy Chateauneuf-du-Pape white blend of 70% clairette and 30% roussanne with aromas of fresh lemons, white peaches and warm herbs. A touch of flowers, too. It's medium-bodied with a delicious blanched-almond character on the palate. Round and velvety with a tactile finish. JAMES SUCKLING

Love the one two punch here. It hits with real oomph and then there is a burst of freshness that sears its way through the abundance of ripe stone fruits. Throughout it all there is a heavy duty presence of lemon oil, it attaches itself to your palate with the help of some phenolic heft and extract. That lengthens things considerably, drawing all that flavour in to position and holding it there. A fulsome but refreshing and tantalisingly mineral CNDP Blanc that continues to evolve, slowly, with air, unleashing more details, whisps of smoke, the occasional note of something exotic, sweet thai basil? Curry leaves? It's a faint theme that waves its way through the more floral and herbaceous components. Excellent! This is not only a great intro to the style, but kind of textbook in its delivery. Another classic from Donjon. ROSCOE

Aged for one year in barrel, the 2022 Cote Rotie Mon Village constitutes about half of Stéphane Ogier’s production. It features aromas of fresh dark berries, violets and spices with seamlessly integrated oak. It has a medium to full-bodied palate, displaying a taut, dense structure complemented by fresh, velvety tannins and leading to a refined, ethereal finish with hints of dark berries. YOHAN CASTAING - Wine Advocate

Usually the first Côte Rôtie to be bottled, the 2022 Côte-Rôtie Mon Village kicks off with alluring notes of black cherry, crushed rock, black plum and a flicker of licorice. Medium- to full-bodied, round and concentrated, the delicious 2022 offers solid persistence on the structured finish. Give it three more years in bottle before pulling the cork. NICHOLAS GREINACHER - Vinous

A delicious 2022 Cote-Rotie that is already open and expressive. Deep blackberry, red-berry and blueberry aromas. The silky tannins are already beautifully integrated. The tannins gently build at the long, polished finish, where there’s a touch of stony minerality. Bottled in the spring of 2024 after one year of maturation in oak barrels, followed by a few months in tank. Drink or hold. JAMES SUCKLING

Stéphane Ogier stands out as one of the most skilled and respected winemakers and growers in Côte-Rôtie. His family’s involvement in viticulture spans seven generations, during which time they primarily sold their grapes to renowned wine merchants, such as Guigal and Chapoutier. After completing five years of studies, Stéphane took over the family estate in 1997. It was a little under two hectares in area at that time. Today, it encompasses 14 hectares that are meticulously divided into 35 parcels, each vinified individually. In a significant shift in 2018, Stéphane decided to forego the use of 100% new oak to allow the soil and grapes to express themselves better. His vinification approach also varies distinctly between the two areas: vines on the Cote Brune are vinified with whole grapes (ranging from 60% to 100% whole cluster, depending on the parcel and vintage), while those on the Côte Blonde are entirely destemmed. The result is a range of impressive wines that are characterful, elegant, refined and deep, yet never overly heavy or compact.

All destemmed and made in concrete tanks, the 2022 Cotes du Rhone comes from two small parcels of vines. Mainly Grenache, with smaller amounts of Mourvèdre and Syrah, it's a terrific value this vintage, offering up loads of black cherries and blackberries, garnished with an appealing waft of garrigue. Full-bodied and soft, it's awfully easy to drink and enjoy. JOW CZERWINSKI, The Wine Advocate

A field blend, produced from 50 % Marsanne (planted mid 1950s) and 50 % Roussanne (younger vines) planted in decomposed granitic soil at Les Vessettes on the slope above the town of Chavanay. Barrel-fermented with natural yeasts and matured in barrique for 8 months, without battonage. Only 355 dozen produced. A richer style of Saint Joseph blanc which retains good freshness and acidity and balance. Outstanding in 2022.

100% Syrah from 20 year old vines also from the lieu-dit of Les Vessettes on decomposed granite above the town of Chavanay. The wine was fermented with about 40% whole bunches to produce an elegant floral style of Syrah. Easily the richest and most impressive vintage we have tasted of this wine yet kept on skins for just 2 weeks before cuvaison. Matured in older barriques for 12 months before bottling without fining or filtration. 800 dozen produced. Brilliant wine in 2022 with more depth and structure than previously and will age well too.

2022 dark red; plum fruit, rose-floral airs, a nose with a genuine N Rhône Syrah aroma. The palate is well made, fits well together, has a flavour of intense red berry, raspberry coulis, red fruit gums, cooked fruits, has sure length, late salting. It actually gains reduction after 90 minutes! JOHN LIVINGSTONE-LEARNMONTH


The Albéric Red Crozes-Hermitage comes from old vines, approximately 70 years old, from three parcels on red clay soils close to the famed Hill of Hermitage. The fruit is de-stemmed and crushed to temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for fermentation over about 20 days. Extraction is by both remontage (pumping over) and pipeage (plunging) depending on the vintage and character of the fruit. Towards the end of ferment the wine is racked to oak barrels (30 % new) for the malolactic conversion, followed by 12-14 months maturation.

 

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

Stacks of blackberry and mulberry fruit are married to the generous body with lovely freshness. The rather fine tannins build nicely at the long licorice finish. Excellent energy at the long, powerful yet fresh finish. Drink or hold. JAMES SUCKLING

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

The 2022 Lirac La Lorentine (tasted as a tank sample) reveals wonderful violet notes strewn among blueberries and cherries on the nose. Full-bodied, soft and plush in feel, it finishes long and silky. As usual, it's mostly Syrah and Mourvèdre, with a bit of Grenache. YOHAN CASTAING, The Wine Advocate

Marcoux’s biodynamically farmed Lorentine vineyard lies in the heart of the Lirac appellation on the red clay, limestone and galet soils of Saint-Laurent-des-Arbres (in the valley of Balouvière). Over many years, the Armenier family has slowly peeled back the layers of Lirac’s neglected terroir. They have restored life to the soils through cultivation and organic/biodynamic practice. Today, they produce wines worthy of this excellent terroir. In 2022, this usually Grenache-dominant blend was crafted from 40% Syrah and 40% Mourvèdre with 20% Grenache. The wines fermented with indigenous yeasts and were raised for 15 months in concrete, foudres and old wooden barrels.

This year, Sophie Armenier produced only one cuvée, incorporating the old vines into this blend. However, the 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape from Domaine de Marcoux reveals a deep, complex bouquet of spices, chocolate, dark wild berries and garrigue complemented by delicate notes of tapenade. Medium to full-bodied, round and concentrated, it's rich without being heavy and framed by a fleshy core of fruit, a sweet, enveloping mid-palate and concludes with a long, saline finish. Considering the challenges of the vintage, particularly the significant downy mildew in the vineyard that affects the yield, this wine is a great success. Kudos! This is a blend of 85% Grenache Noir and the rest a mix of Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault, all matured in a combination of foudres, concrete tanks, barrels and amphorae. (95) YOHAN CASTAING, The Wine Advocate

At eye level with the delicious 2020, the 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is an instant classic. Fragrant raspberry, orange blossom, licorice, lavender and white pepper are all nicely delineated. Polished and full-bodied, the 2022 will start to show its full potential in around three years. It should easily celebrate its 15th birthday in style. (93) NICOLAS GREINACHER, Vinous

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!