Northern Rhône En Primeur

Transcription

1 2015 Northern Rhône En Primeur

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3 2015 Northern Rhône En Primeur 2015 is a stunning vintage in the Rhône Valley: the vintage has produced many intricately structured, beautifully concentrated wines of real class. Having tasted extensively across the region in March 2017, it was the northern appellations that particularly thrilled us. Just as we have seen with Burgundy s 2015 Pinot Noirs, these Syrah-based wines have outstanding purity, flesh, vibrancy and fine structures. They combine density of fruit with energetic freshness and outstanding length of flavour. Many growers believe this is the most exciting and complete vintage they have ever seen. Although tempting to enjoy young, the best bottles have great potential for bottle-age - as indicated in our notes. It is with great excitement that we introduce our selection to you, en primeur (a duty-paid offer of our southern Rhône discoveries will follow shortly). The 2015 Growing Season & Harvest The northern Rhône enjoyed near-perfect wine-making weather conditions throughout the 2015 growing season. Of particular note, the summer was marked by warmth, sunshine and dry weather, but crucially, night-time degrees were low, ensuring that acidity levels and thus freshness were maintained. A small burst of late summer rainfall came at just the right time so that ripeness of skins and aromas could be fully achieved. A textbook, easy year in the vineyards provided them with glorious raw material with which to work. These wines are offered in bond UK, for delivery during 2017 Unless otherwise indicated, prices are per case of 12x75cl bottles Page Domaine 2 Domaine Laurent Habrard, Crozes-Hermitage 3 Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne, Saint-Joseph 4 Domaine Vallet, Saint-Joseph 5 Domaine Pierre Gaillard, Saint-Joseph 7 Domaine Stéphane Ogier, Côte Rôtie 1

4 Domaine Laurent Habrard, Crozes-Hermitage With the beautiful 2015 vintage, we are thrilled to introduce the wine of Laurent Habrard. Un Vigneron Heureux (a happy winemaker) as declared on Laurent s wine labels here is a man who is 100% in love with and committed to his life and work in the vines of the northern Rhône. The Habrard family has been cultivating vines in Crozes-Hermitage for 5 generations. They own 14 hectares here, split between two distinct zones: 1/3 in the south of the appellation, in the commune of Pont de l Isère; 2/3 to the north, in the communes of Gervans and Erôme. A large number of their Syrah vines are between 40 and 60 years old, all of which are cultivated organically. Working the vines and wines as gently as possible is in this domaine s DNA. The results are a pure, transparent expression of Crozes-Hermitage Syrah. Crozes-Hermitage Cuvée Marcel Domaine Laurent Habrard 2015 Named for Laurent s father and only made in top vintages, this cuvée is a selection of Laurent s best barrels of 2015 Crozes-Hermitage. Deep ruby colour, the nose is intense and perfumed, recalling violets and black cherries. This is a focused, gentle, lively Syrah style that glides across the palate. There is good depth of ripe berry flavours, very fine tannins and a long, elegant length (for drinking as soon as shipped and over the next 5 years). 2 Gloucestershire London Hampshire

5 Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne, Saint-Joseph Jean-Claude Marsanne lives and works in Mauves in the southern part of the Saint- Joseph appellation, opposite Tain L Hermitage. He uses traditional methods to make one, beautiful cuvée of Saint-Joseph. This is the 5th vintage that we have shipped, having fallen for Jean-Claude s 2010 when we first met him in His 2015 is very special Syrah indeed, which will reward time in the cellar. Indeed, for those of you with some of his 2010 still in your cellar, we suggest that you continue resisting it: it will be even better with another few years bottle age. Saint-Joseph 12x75cl Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne x150cl Deep ruby-purple colour, aromas are refined and intense, being smoky, floral and full of dark berries. Full-bodied and fleshy, this wine envelopes the mouth with its suave texture. This is seriously good, richly concentrated Saint- Joseph, being generously textured, complexly flavoured and with the finest of structures. The finish is harmonious, long and complete (for drinking ). 3

6 Domaine Vallet, Saint-Joseph Anthony Vallet is an energetic, young wine-maker who exudes passion for his work in the vines of Saint-Joseph and Condrieu. He farms 11.5 hectares on the granite slopes surrounding the riverside town of Serrières, which lies at the middle-point of the Saint-Joseph appellation, to the south of Condrieu. Purity, vibrancy and charm are key features of his whites and reds. Condrieu Rouelle-Midi 6x75cl Domaine Vallet % Viognier, this spent 10 months on fine lees before bottling, which has contributed lusciousness of texture and complexity of flavour. To counterpoint this, freshness is in abundance with this lively, youthful Pale lemon-gold, aromas recall lifted, sweetly-scented apricots. Palate is full-bodied, rich and powerful; classic Viognier perfume is interwoven beautifully with delicate spice and mineral nuances. The finish is elegant, tense and long-lingering (for drinking as soon as shipped 2020+). Saint-Joseph Méribets 12x75cl Domaine Vallet x150cl Just 20 days of maceration for this wine, with 10 months of élevage in barrels (but not new) to guard the bright fruit character. Deep ruby colour, the nose is incredibly attractive, recalling freshly picked red cherries. This is full bodied to start, with good flesh, intense fruit flavours and bouncy freshness. There is good structure, without being massive, fine texture and a complete finish. Drink this as soon as shipped - as you might a youthful Pinot Noir through to Gloucestershire London Hampshire

7 Domaine Pierre Gaillard, Saint-Joseph Producing wines that are harmonious and give wonderful drinking pleasure is what Pierre Gaillard strives to achieve at his family domaine. Established in 1981, Pierre started out with 3 hectares in Saint-Joseph s Clos de Cuminaille; he now makes wines from 70 hectares, spread across the northern Rhône. He is a true northern Rhône expert, understanding the minutiae and complexities of each parcel of vines he tends, and translating these details into the wines he makes. Having admired and enjoyed his wines for many years, we are thrilled to introduce them to our list with this outstanding 2015 vintage. Saint-Joseph Clos de Cuminaille Domaine Pierre Gaillard 2015 The wine for which Pierre is best known, from his original vineyard in the walled, sandy-granitic Clos de Cuminaille, this 2015 is deep ruby-purple colour, the nose having lovely, perfumed red berry and dried rose petal aromas. This is a bright, vibrant Saint-Joseph, with good depth of ripe fruit flavours, a fine tannic frame and a fresh finish (for drinking ). Côte Rôtie 6x75cl Domaine Pierre Gaillard 2015 What grabbed us about this Côte Rôtie is its wonderful, entrancing fragrance, explained by the 10% Viognier that compliments and enlivens the rich Syrah component. Deep purple colour, aromas are alluring, combining violet floral notes with sweet black cherries. The palate is full, with a voluminous core of lifted dark fruit. Texture is silky, the finish being drawn-out, elegant and fine (for drinking ). 5

8 Côte Rôtie Esprit de Blonde 6x75cl Domaine Pierre Gaillard % Syrah with 10% Viognier, from vines located in Côte Rôtie s southern, granite-schist Côte Blonde slopes, aromas are incredibly intense and lifted: violets, black cherries, spiced orange peel, smoke. Full, deep and energetic in the mouth, there are fascinating layers of flavour here, suave texture and a long, floral finish (for drinking ). Côte Rôtie Rose Pourpre 6x75cl Domaine Pierre Gaillard 2015 This is 100% Syrah from the iron-rich, southfacing, schist slope of the Côte Rozier vineyard, located on the Côte Brune side. In 2015, this is a more powerful, monolithic Côte Rôtie style. Incisive dark cherry aromas lead to a full, tightlyknit palate. There is beautiful lift and precision here: this is a taut, intense wine that needs time to show it underlying complexities (for drinking ). 6 Gloucestershire London Hampshire

9 Domaine Stéphane Ogier, Côte Rôtie Following in the footsteps of his father Michel, who set up this domaine in the early 1980s, Stéphane Ogier has carved himself a reputation as one of Côte Rôtie s most highly respected winemakers. Precision and attention to tiny details are paramount here, and the domaine s new, state-of-the-art winery allows them to vinify and mature even the smallest of their parcels separately. Stéphane has a wonderful lightness of touch, producing silky, seductive styles of Côte Rôtie that retain an incredible ability to age we are delighted to have secured allocations of 3 of his stunning 2015 wines. Syrah La Rosine Collines Rhodaniennes, Domaine Stéphane Ogier 2015 The vines for La Rosine grow just beyond the southern edge of Côte Rôtie, in the Collines Rhodaniennes appellation. In Stéphane s hands, you could call this pure Syrah from less prestigious origins a mini Côte Rôtie: even-more-so in this glorious 2015 vintage. Aged for 12 months in predominately old oak barrels, colour is deep ruby-purple, aromas being pretty and perfumed. Palate is fresh, bright and focused, flavours combining black cherry fruit with peppery spice and an attractive hint of smoked meatiness. The finish is long and tense. For per bottle (in bond) this is outstanding value (for drinking ). 7

10 L Ame Soeur 6x75cl Vin de Pays de Seyssuel, Domaine Stéphane Ogier 2015 Just north of the town of Vienne, on the opposite bank of the Rhône from Côte Rôtie, the little known Seyssuel appellation has a history as long as any other in the Rhône Valley. Vienne was an important town in Roman Gaul and according to Pliny the Elder, the Romans enjoyed the local Seyssuel wines. In the region s more recent history, whereas the vineyards on the other side of the river were re-established after their decimation by phylloxera in the 1880s and neglect during the First World War, Seyssuel was all but abandoned. It was in the 1990s that a group of northern Rhône winemakers decided that the time had come to resurrect these overgrown vineyards. Among them were Michel and Stéphane Ogier, who along with their fellow winemakers - believe that this area has the potential to produce wines to rival its neighbour s. This 2015 L Ame Soeur is testament to this belief. 100% Syrah, colour is very deep ruby, aromas being beautifully floral. Full bodied in the mouth, there is great depth of black cherry, blueberry and violet flavours, structure being taut, tannins being fresh and fine. This is an elegant, precise, poised wine (for drinking ) Côte Rôtie Village 6x75cl Domaine Stéphane Ogier 2015 The Ogiers own 10 hectares of well appointed vines in Côte Rôtie, split into no fewer than 35 different parcels. These are picked, vinified and aged separately before being blended 18 months after harvest. Tasting through the different barrels that make up this Village cuvée, we were wowed by the intense perfume of the 2015 wine: an abundance of cherry blossom, violets and dark berries. Full bodied on the palate, textures are seductively satin-like: this is at-once refreshing and mouthfilling. Flavours are concentrated and multifaceted, tannins sweet and fresh. There is an airy quality to this wine too the finish being energetic and full of finesse (for drinking ). 8 Gloucestershire London Hampshire

11 For further information or to place an order Please contact us in one of our offices: Gloucestershire t: London t: Hampshire t: or alternatively, visit our website: Buying wine in bond Prices in this offer are quoted in bond per case of 12x75cl bottles, unless otherwise stated. Once shipped to the UK, they will incur duty and VAT (at the prevailing rate) upon release from bonded warehouse. Any wines not delivered by our own delivery vehicles will be subject to a carriage charge. Transferring wine under bond We are able to arrange under bond transfers of all the wines in this offer. For transfers into Octavian accounts there is no charge, however a charge will be incurred for transfers to accounts held at other bonded warehouses. If you would be interested in setting up a storage facility with Nexus Wine Collections at Octavian, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

12 GLOUCESTERSHIRE Sheep Street, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, GL54 1AA t: LONDON 7 Elystan Street, London, SW3 3NT london@hhandc.co.uk t: HAMPSHIRE 7 Church Street, Whitchurch, Hampshire, RG28 7AA whitchurch@hhandc.co.uk t: facebook.com/hhandc twitter.com/hhandc