2015  

"Deep, bright-rimmed ruby. Displays intensely perfumed dark berry, cherry preserve and olive aromas, along with hints of succulent flowers and incense. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering sappy black raspberry, licorice and spicecake flavors that become livelier on the back half. Plays richness off finesse smoothly and finishes impressively long and sweet, with velvety tannins coming in late." - 93pts Vinous

2001  La Landonne

2016  Les Terrasses de l'Empire

Les Terrasses de l'Empire -- In 2013, Christine Vernay was given the prestigious award of "Winemaker of the Year" by Bettane & Dessauve. -- ORIGINS - The Terrasses de l’Empire cuvee is from the younger vines in the vineyards of La Caille and Sainte-Agathe. Located on the steep hillsides of Condrieu, the vineyards locations render the use of machines for their maintenance impossible. They are thus maintained manually with all treatments made with organic products. -- VINIFICATION - The grapes are harvest by hand and after a gentle pressing they are placed in neutral oak vats for 2 to 3 weeks for fermentation. -- AGEING - After fermentation, the wine is aged in 2,000 liter neutral oak vats until the spring after which the wine is transferred to stainless steel tanks until the bottling in the summer. -- TASTING NOTES - Les Terrasses de l’Empire is a fruity wine, with an unmistakable fragrance of white peaches and a finesse and elegance typical of this style. It is a harmonious Condrieu, one of freshness and beautifully balanced aromatic qualities

2016  St. Joesph Chemin Faisant

St. Joesph Chemin Faisant -- "Chemin Faisant" or "On the Way" is a complex St Joseph with peppery aromas on the nose followed by gorgeous depth and freshness. Structure and finesse reign supreme in this beautiful bottle.

2015  Premier Quartier

Light, granitic soils without much depth -- Organically farmed, all fruit is hand harvested -- Often the most friendly of the St Joseph upon release, the Premier Quartier is floral and focused with lovely textures and lift. A great introduction to the Ferme des Sept Lunes lineup. -- 750 cases produced

1998  Dionneres, WA90

2016  

1990  

"The 1990 Hermitage La Chapelle lived up to its reputation on this occasion, and of the three titans (1990, 1978 and 1961), it was probably my favorite. Still inky colored and ruby at the rim, it offers an absolutely profound bouquet of sweet cassis, smoked meats, chocolate, licorice and spice. This is followed by a full-bodied, insanely textured, pure and hedonistic palate that has that perfect mix of still-vibrant fruit and ample secondary nuances. I suspect the '61 was even richer at this stage, but the overall purity and freshness here are incredible. It will continue to evolve for decades, but I'd happily open bottles today." - 100pts WA -- "I’ve been lucky enough to drink probably a case of the 1990 Hermitage La Chapelle, and it’s always either rated pure perfection or just off that magical number. On this occasion, it tasted like a newly released wine and offered incredible purity and freshness in its crème de cassis, crushed rocks, spring flowers, chocolate, and smoke meat aromas and flavors. Deep, brilliantly concentrated, yet also elegant and seamless, it’s just now starting to show hints of secondary aromas and is going to be incredibly long-lived. One of the greatest Hermitages ever made, life is too short not to drink this once in your life!" - 100pts JD

2009  "Arena Mica"

Very simply, Stéphane Vedeau makes expressive, beautifully balanced wines in an approachable (and affordable!) style. Hermitage is the most famous Northern Rhone appellation and typically the Syrah-based reds from the region are powerful, deep, muscular wines that can take years to soften and develop. The 2009 J. Boutin Hermitage stands apart from the crowd for its elegant purity, its concentrated (not extracted) plush flavors of raspberry, cherry & a kiss of chocolatey iron. Its texture evokes the descriptor "seductive" & we don't toss that around carelessly or without merit. With tannins far softer than is typical for a young Hermitage, it absolutely may be drunk now and indeed, is a stunning glass of wine. Delicious now, it will also reward cellaring over the next several years.

2015  

From his small vineyard in the Northern Rhône Valley, Jacques Leménicier produces two wines: a profound Cornas from 100% Syrah and a highly aromatic Saint Péray from Marsanne and Rousanne. An athletic, affable fellow, Leménicier happened into the wine business when he took a job with Robert Michel in 1974, before going to work for one of the most famous winemakers in the region, Alain Voge. He learned at the hand of Voge for more than a decade, eventually starting his own domaine on a small piece of land in the early 1980s. Employing the skills and knowledge he had accumulated, Leménicier began producing classic and expressive wines from Cornas and Saint Péray at incredible price points. During the past 20 years, these beautiful wines have sold out of Leménicier's cellar mostly to private clients and restaurants throughout France. -- The old vines are 100% de-stemmed and then put in tank with morning and evening punchdowns. For the younger vines, located on the foothills of Cornas and harvested later, the grapes remain 100% whole cluster and go through the same punchdown regimen. Vinification lasts 22 to 28 days. These two wines are both aged 12 months in oak barrels and are blended before bottling.