2020 Paul Jaboulet Aine, Crozes-Hermitage, Domaine de Thalabert 6x75cl
Beautifully expressive, floral with a gorgeous core of violets, followed on the palate by a richly-fruited core complemented by savoury, meaty, umami notes on the finish. Gently grippy with ripe and impressively fine-grained tannins, the structure is perfect for this to peak between 2027 and 2030. (Mr Wheeler Tasting note)
£99 / Case£16.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Paul Jaboulet Aine, Hermitage, La Maison Bleue 3x150cl
“Mostly sourced from les Murets, the 2020 Hermitage La Maison Bleue is a solid effort, with appealing notes of blackberries, raspberries and espresso on the nose. It's full-bodied and rich, yet... streamlined and focused, with savory tones of black olives appearing on the softly dusty finish. It should drink well young, yet age well for more than a decade.” 92-94 pts, Joe Czerwinski, www.robertparker.com
Drink 2026-2045
£230 / Case£76.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Paul Jaboulet Aine, Hermitage, La Maison Bleue 6x75cl
“Mostly sourced from les Murets, the 2020 Hermitage La Maison Bleue is a solid effort, with appealing notes of blackberries, raspberries and espresso on the nose. It's full-bodied and rich, yet... streamlined and focused, with savory tones of black olives appearing on the softly dusty finish. It should drink well young, yet age well for more than a decade.” 92-94 pts, Joe Czerwinski, www.robertparker.com, (Drink 2023-2035)
£215 / Case£35.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Paul Jaboulet Aine, Hermitage, La Chapelle Rouge 3x150cl
Blood-orange/grapefruit zest on a tight, polished nose; great minerality with deeper, plummier notes. A creamy, bitter black fruit palate; beautifully textured with an authentic, savoury, olive... tapenade core freshened further by a persistent streak of granite minerality and more juicy, deep citrus fruit. Proper grip and structure; very clean, long, peppery finish. Sheer elegance; utterly delicious.
£750 / Case£250 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Stephane Ogier, La Rosine , Collines Rhodaniennes IGP 12x75cl
Peppery, juicy with great purity, clarity and bags of ever-so-welcome bittersweet olive tapenade fruit. Gentle, silky tannins and invigorating, savoury snap finishing up. From one of Northern Rhone's most revered producers, one of Rhone's best-value syrahs.
£180 / Case£15 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Stephane Ogier, Cote Rotie, Mon Village 12x75cl
Made from a blend of different plots from Côtes Blonde and Brune with an intensely fragrant nose. Deep, plump raspberries and blackcurrant coulis on the palate with mouth-coating tannins that provide structure and depth. An enduringly fresh, long finish. Really delicious.
£538 / Case£44.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Yann Chave, Crozes-Hermitage 12x75cl
A very fine and pure expression of syrah here from Yann Chave. Made from 25-year old vines, and without oak. Generous violet floral and white pepper nose; very juicy, sweet/bitter black fruit and savoury liquorice palate; polished, elegant, precisely structured, impeccable finish with lingering pepper spice.
£195 / Case£16.25 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Yann Chave, Crozes-Hermitage, Rouvre 12x75cl
Yann’s ‘le Rouvre’ cuvée steps things up a gear, with an extra level of depth and intensity. A selection of the oldest parcels of syrah in the south of Crozes, and aged for 12 months in one... and two year-old barrels. Violet florals, blood citrus and white pepper on the nose; rich and powerful on the palate with intense, black cherry and an intriguing interplay of sweet and bitter black olive fruit. Ultra precision and polish on a long, expansive finish.
£275 / Case£22.92 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Yann Chave, Hermitage 6x75cl
Sheer Hermitage syrah elegance on full display: violet, black cherry, white pepper and liquorice nose; silky, juicy, sweet black/red cherry fruit, peppery, expansive and leading to ultra precision on a lingering finish. If you can resist the temptation of drinking this in 5 years, it will be extraordinary in 15.
£435 / Case£72.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Pierre Jean Villa, Saint-Joseph, Preface 6x75cl
Pierre's many years in Burgundy beautifully influence his take on Rhone varietals and terroir. Here, a St-Joseph of deep, lively cherry, blackberry and violet aromas, with notes of bacon, liquorice... and black pepper corn. Nicely concentration and energy on the palate that gives lively red and blue fruit and floral pastille flavours. Long, sappy, spicy, floral and gently tannic closing showing a laser-like delineation.
£150 / Case£25 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Melody, Crozes-Hermitage, Premier Regard 12x75cl
Hints of white pepper and spice on the nose lead you to a delightful warm and forward mouthful of berry fruit compote, vanilla and liquorice. Excellent weight and texture with malleable tannins that make it very accessible in its youth, yet built for medium term enjoyment as well.
£170 / Case£14.17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Domaine Melody, Crozes-Hermitage, Etoile Noire 12x75cl
Spicy, exuberant, full-bodied, but with real underlying freshness. Very well balanced, concentrated, with great finesse of tannin; all elements along with the oak are well integrated and finish with great depth and length.
£250 / Case£20.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 M. Chapoutier, Crozes-Hermitage, Les Varonniers 6x75cl
"Graphite, plum and blackberry aromas. Beautifully silky, this has a good sense of fluidity but also remarkable intensity and concentration. Energetic and driven, with deep fruit and sweet tannin,... there's a mineral straightness that helps to temper that ripe fruit and ripe tannin. The alcohol is quite raised but not unbalanced; this is a cut above most Crozes-Hermitages, more serious in style and texture." 94 pts., Matt Walls, www.decanter.com
£190 / Case£31.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Jasmin, Cote Rotie, Giroflarie 12x75cl
Ampuis-based Jasmin has the advantage of choosing from 12 different plots for blending this exceptional Cote-Rotie (95% syrah, 5% viognier) which he ages for 18 months. His 'Giroflarie' is... considered by many to be the most 'Burgundian' of cuvées in the appellation, drinking quite deliciously in its youth yet also packing the stuff for a good 20 years of graceful ageing.
£360 / Case£30 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur