The Wine Society 2019 Rhône

2019

AN IN-BOND OFFER OF

RHÔNE THE REGION’S BOLDEST STATEMENT YET A vintage of panache, brilliance and exuberance; on an epic scale and with exceptional wines from all areas.

RHJAN21/1

2019 RHÔNE THE 2019 RHÔNE VINTAGE CONTINUES THIS REGION’S RUN OF EXCELLENT VINTAGES WITH SURELY THE BOLDEST STATEMENT YET. Of past vintages, 1990 springs to mind for the purity of fruit and ripeness of the tannins, but on a much bigger scale.

The climate of course played its part in full and as in previous years, heat and drought were overriding factors that shaped the destiny of this vintage. But that is not the whole story. What is exceptional about the 2019 vintage is that the wines are not lacking in acidity and therefore have freshness.

Stranger still, pH values, a good way of assessing a vintage, are often quite low.

So what were the ‘X’ factors that make 2019 so special?

For a start, though there were indeed times of drought, ground water was never really lacking. Autumn rainfall had been plentiful

enough. Temperatures for the first months of the year remained on the cool side.

Then there was much needed rain in April and May, just when the vine needed it most before flowering. For most, these would be the last rains until the end of August. And then of course there was the heat – sometimes excessive with peaks occasionally exceeding 40˚C – but never constant, and temperatures at night remained relatively cool, allowing the vine to rest. Late summer rains came as a relief and were then followed by a final heatwave in September, setting the harvest in a blaze of sunshine.

More wines online: We also have a number of wines with very low stocks, listed online.

Please visit thewinesociety.com/rhoneep

2019: one of the truly great vintages in Hermitage

IF DEMAND EXCEEDS SUPPLY

The Society has a long relationship with many of the growers in this offer and access to good quantities of wine. It is possible however that demand may exceed supply for individual wines, in which case we will share out (as far as is practical) the available stock equally amongst ordering members. If this still does not allow every member to have some wine, then as a final resort we divide members into groups depending on their level of support for The Society (quantity of wine bought, spend, orders placed etc).

Members who have given greater support to The Society will have a better chance (but no certainty) of being allocated wine, and those who have given less support will have a lesser chance (but still a chance). The Society will offer a similar wine as a substitute if the original choice cannot be provided, or members may nominate their own substitute when ordering. Doing so will not lessen the chance of receiving the original wine.

HOW THIS OFFER WORKS

Orders by telephone, website and post will be accepted. If you would like to order via the website, visit thewinesociety.com/rhoneep Orders need to arrive at Stevenage by 8pm, Tuesday 9th February, 2021 and will be processed thereafter.

Members whose orders have been received by this date will receive confirmation of their purchase by Thursday 18th February, 2021 at the latest.

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What do the wines taste like?

The first thing to note is that everywhere made exceptional wines. Both the northern and southern Rhône have produced brilliant 2019s. The grenache grape knows all about heat, but what is remarkable is the quality of the so-called ‘second-tier’ varieties such as cinsault and counoise. Such conditions are not common in the north, but the vine adapts and there was no water shortage.

That said, the syrahs from the north are like nothing before: so dark, brooding and strong.

‘Flamboyance’ is a word that crops up in tasting notes and is a truly apt one in describing these wines. Speaking to a grower with the gift of synaesthesia, the colour red in all its shades, seemed to define this vintage.

A buying trip like no other I was one the few buyers who were able to travel spending much of October in the Rhône Valley and returning home on the day the second lockdown was imposed in France.

During my stay, I was able to visit some 80 producers, keeping my distance and wearing a mask, and tasting 1,500 or so wines.

Secure your share of in-demand wines that are still maturing in cellars in their country of origin.

Sold ‘in-bond’ at first-release prices

The wines arrive in the uk after they’ve been bottled, a year or two after the vintage

Because of Covid, everyone was at home, even the ever-genial François Villard who at this time of the year is usually in Canada! You can read about the experience on our Discovery pages at thewinesociety.com/marcelstravels

Marcel Orford-Williams Buyer for the Rhône A note about alcohols: we are including indicative alcohol levels for all the wines in this offer. Please note however that these are intended as a guideline and may differ once the wine is in bottle.’

The cellar at Saint Cosme

Choose to take delivery of your wines once they are in the UK (duty & VAT payable)

OR...

...Utilise our Members’ Reserves facility for those without a cellar of their own (duty & VAT payable either immediately or upon delivery to you)

Each wine has a suggested drinking window; ultimately, however, deciding when to pull the cork is a matter of personal taste

MEMBERS’ RESERVES

The Society’s Members’ Reserves is a temperature-controlled facility offering members access to optimum storage conditions. The annual rental charge (currently £9.24 per dozen) includes VAT and insurance at replacement value. Any wine bought from The Society, by the unmixed or pre-mixed dozen, may be added or removed at any time. Members can also remove a few bottles of a full case stored in Reserves. Please visit our website thewinesociety.com/reserves for more detail.

WHAT THE PRICE INCLUDES

Prices shown include delivery to a UK address. They do not include excise duty or VAT. Payment of duty and VAT, at the prevailing rate (currently £26.78 duty per 12 75cl-bottle case, £13.39 per six-bottle case and 20% VAT payable on wine and duty) will be requested once the wines are removed for delivery or collected from Stevenage.

The wines will arrive at Stevenage in autumn 2021 for the whites and spring 2022 for the reds.

Once the wines arrive, members may opt to have them delivered within the UK or stored in Members’ Reserves.

THIS OFFER WILL CLOSE AT 8PM, TUESDAY 9TH FEBRUARY, 2021 For information regarding availability after this date, please contact The Society on 01438 741177.

To order visit thewinesociety.com/rhoneep or call 01438 741177 02

THE REDS THE NORTH REF

In-Bond Delivered Price

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CROZES-HERMITAGE & BRÉZÈME

Crozes-Hermitage was hit by hail on 15th June but as brutal as it was, the storm cut through one swathe of vineyard area, leaving most of the appellation unscathed. The northern slopes, those behind Hermitage, did brilliantly well. Cue superb wines from growers like Rousset, Fayolle and Belle, not forgetting Chapoutier and Saint Cosme.

RH57851

Côtes-du-Rhône Brézème, Château de la Rolière Dark and ripe, with considerable weight in this extraordinary vintage, this shows why Brézème is one of the Rhône’s best-kept secrets. Drink from 2022 to 2030. 14.5%

£46

RH57871

Crozes-Hermitage, Maison Les Alexandrins For this wine, Nicolas Jaboulet and his team select parcels from some of the region’s top growers. The result is well balanced, full and ripe. Drink from 2022 to 2029. 14%

£61

RH57931

Crozes-Hermitage Les Pierrelles, Domaine Belle Remarkably dark in colour, with fabulous weight of fruit and great length, this northern Crozes will need time to come around, but the wait will be worth it. Drink from 2024 to 2031. 14%

£65

RH57891

Crozes-Hermitage La Croix du Verre, Domaine Dumaine The top wine from Olivier Dumaine, who divides his time between tending his vines and growing apricots (but the future is definitely wine!). A delicious and very full-bodied vintage here, showing thick texture and dark ripe fruit. Drink from 2022 to 2029. 14.5%

£65

RH57921

Crozes-Hermitage Les Trois Chênes, Emmanuel Darnaud Made by the son-in-law of Hermitage grandee Bernard Faurie, this ripe, firmly structured and finely balanced Crozes is on a grand scale in this vintage. Drink from 2024 to 2030. 14.5%

£69

RH57861

Crozes-Hermitage Meysonniers, Chapoutier A ripe, richly fruity and full-bodied year for this unoaked syrah from the famous house of Chapoutier, yet still retaining plenty of charm. Drink from 2022 to 2029. 14%

£71

RH57961

Crozes-Hermitage, Domaine Les Alexandrins Not to be confused with Maison Les Alexandrins, this is a single-estate blend coming from two plots in the southern part of the appellation. Very rich, powerful and concentrated with flavours dominated by blackberry and graphite. Drink from 2025 to 2031. 14.5%

£78

RH58001

Crozes-Hermitage, Château Saint Cosme Sourced by Louis Barruol from the northern part of the appellation where slopes tend to be steep, higher up and from a mix of soils including granite, this is a tarry, black and rich 2019, aged in barrel and yet very well balanced. Drink from 2023 to 2031. 14%

£80

RH57911

Crozes-Hermitage Les Picaudières, Domaine Rousset The granite slopes behind Hermitage made stunning wines in 2019, none more so than this old-vine cuvée from Stéphane Rousset. Very dark, with brooding power and concentration. Drink from 2024 to 2032. 14.5%

£85

RH58021

Brézème, Domaine de Bréseyme We’ve included two wines from Brézème this year, from two very contrasting vineyards.

This comes from very steep slopes where any kind of mechanisation is impossible and hence the price difference. Think of this as along the same lines as a Côte-Rôtie: sensuous, silky and with a very long finish. Drink from 2022 to 2029. 14%

£87

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RH57991

Crozes-Hermitage, Cuvée Louis Belle Splendidly rich, fat and full-bodied Crozes, close to Hermitage in style and concentration.

Drink from 2025 to 2032. 14.5%

£94

RH58011

Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert, Paul Jaboulet Aîné A full-on vintage of this much-loved wine: very ripe, powerful with loads of dark-fruit matter and deep seated tannins. Everything is in place for a great Thalabert to look forward to for years to come. Drink from 2026 to 2039. 15% Magnums (RH58014 @ £100 per three) and halves (RH58012 @ £103 per dozen) available.

£99

RH57941

Crozes-Hermitage Sicamor, Chapoutier A granitic expression of Crozes from vines close to Hermitage. Very elegant and complex, with flavours of blackberry and graphite. Outstanding. Drink from 2024 to 2033. 14.5%

£105

RH57881

Crozes-Hermitage Cuvée Gaby, Domaine du Colombier With plenty of concentration, the 2019 vintage of this, the top wine from a family of fruit farmers, is creamy and satisfying, with soft tannins. Drink from 2022 to 2030. 14%

£110

RH57951

Crozes-Hermitage Cornirets, Domaine Fayolle A very black, intense syrah made in tiny quantities from a specific granitic plot in the northern part of Crozes. With piles of rich jammy fruit, this is an intense wine and the tannins will need a couple of years to tone down. Drink from 2023 to 2030. 14.5%

£112

RH57971

Crozes-Hermitage Domaine des Grands Chemins, Delas One of the signature wines at Delas, this barrel-aged syrah is dark and intense in 2019 with plentiful ripe concentration. Drink from 2023 to 2030. 14%

£112

SAINT-JOSEPH

The 2019 Saint-Josephs are amazing: there are some very concentrated examples from the steep slopes and the wines have so much character and drinkability.

RH58061

Saint-Joseph Le Grand Pompée, Paul Jaboulet Aîné The best vintage of this wine that Jaboulet has made in ages: evocative of graphite and olive paste, concentrated and nicely balanced. Drink from 2023 to 2029. 13.5%

£75

RH58051

Saint-Joseph Côté Sud, Domaine Courbis From a very steep south-facing granite hillside, this is full, concentrated and extraordinary syrah that will be best after a few years’ ageing. Drink from 2026 to 2034. 14%

£82

RH58031

Saint-Joseph Clos de Cuminaille, Domaine Gaillard Probably the best Cuminaille made to date: well-rounded, fruity and beautifully polished, sensuous, rich with a decidedly floral touch on the nose. Drink from 2023 to 2031. 14%

£87

RH58141

Saint-Joseph Arzelle, Vins de Vienne Not unlike a mini Côte-Rôtie in style, this is lush and rich with gorgeous flavours of graphite, plum and blackberry. Drink from 2022 to 2028. 13.5%

£90

RH58041

Saint-Joseph, Château Saint Cosme Louis Barruol sources his Saint-Joseph from the more northern part of the appellation, closer to Côte-Rôtie. This is always packed with coal-black, blackberry-scented fruit and the 2019 offers great weight and ripe, soft tannins. Drink from 2023 to 2031. 14%

£92

RH58081

Saint-Joseph, Babylone, Julien Cécillon The Babylonian reference relates to a bar in Los Angeles, where Julien Cécillon met his American wife. As for the wine, it is exquisite: ripe, concentrated yet with no hint of heaviness. Drink from 2023 to 2030. 14%

£117

RH58071

Saint-Joseph, Domaine Gripa Textbook Saint-Joseph that’s perfect for early to mid-term drinking, offering weight, charm and balance with a surplus of ripe fruit and great length. Drink from 2022 to 2027. 14%

£133

RH58091

Saint-Joseph Les Reflets, Domaine Villard From the northern end of Saint-Joseph, this is aged partly in new oak and will need time to come round. A delicious mix of cherry and blackberry fruit with a touch of olive. Drink from 2025 to 2032. 14%

£135

To order visit thewinesociety.com/rhoneep or call 01438 741177 04

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In-Bond Delivered Price

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RH58101

Saint-Joseph Les Olivaies, Domaine Coursodon An inky-black, savoury and very full-bodied Saint-Joseph with excellent depth of flavour and ripe blackberry fruit. Drink from 2023 to 2031. 14.5%

£135

RH58161

Saint-Joseph La Croix des Vignes, Paul Jaboulet Aîné A densely packed and enormously concentrated Saint-Joseph from Jaboulet. Very tight and backward, this will need time to come round. Drink from 2025 to 2032. 15%

£139

RH58121

Saint-Joseph Rouge, Domaine du Tunnel Ripe, dark and well-rounded in 2019 with flavours of dark-berry fruit. A fine, polished wine from Stéphane Robert. Drink from 2023 to 2031. 13.5%

£142

RH58171

Saint-Joseph Sainte Epine, Delas An extraordinary Saint-Joseph on a massive scale, with a very dense concentration of tapenade and blackberry fruit. Drink from 2022 to 2029. 14%

£222

CORNAS

Maybe it’s because the harvest started so early, but there is a wonderful constancy about Cornas. The 2019s are fabulous here.

RH58201

Côtes-du-Rhône Les Peyrouses, Domaine Voge This is a baby Cornas in all but name, made mostly from young vines and gorgeous in this vintage. Piles of fruit, sinuous and quite lovely, this will be approachable before the more serious wines come round. A great buy. Drink from 2022 to 2030. 14%

£65

RH58191

Cornas Granite 30, Vincent Paris Made from younger vines to give a more forward style, but in 2019 this is nonetheless concentrated and delicious with considerable length of flavour. Drink from 2024 to 2031.

14%

£114

RH58181

Cornas Les Empreintes, Domaine Durand Brilliant in 2019, this great-value blend comes from plots in the best parts of Cornas.

As usual I tasted from several barrels. Patou brings dense black fruit, Chaillots imparts structure and Teyziers concentration. The combination will be worth waiting for. Drink from 2024 to 2032. 14%

£120

RH58231

Cornas Les Grandes Terraces, Paul Jaboulet Aîné Excellent in 2019. Jaboulet are rightly famous for their Hermitage, but Cornas has always been a strong suit and they have both vines and contacts with good growers. This is from both and as ever offers good value, with lots of weight but freshness too. Drink from 2024 to 2031. 14.5% Magnums (RH58234 @ £121 per three) available.

£120

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RH58251

Cornas Patou, Domaine Dumien Serette Concentrated and with plenty of dark-fruit matter, this is a very good 2019 from a talented father-and-son team. Drink from 2024 to 2034. 14%

£123

RH58221

Cornas, Domaine Alain Verset Alain is the nephew of the legendary Noël Verset, now retired and succeeded by his daughter Emanuelle who has added new plots to bring more complexity. The style reflects the vintage here, with plenty of richness and thick ripe blackcurrant fruit. Though soft and uncomplicated, this is a satisfying and delicious wine with good ageing potential. Drink from 2024 to 2032. 14%

£124

RH58241

Cornas, Maison Les Alexandrins, Nicolas Perrin A wine of elegance rather than power. The upper slopes of Cornas do well in very hot vintages like 2019 where fruit ripen fully and yet keep a certain freshness. Drink from 2024 to 2031. 14%

£132

RH58271

Cornas Terres Brûlées, Domaine Lionnet Old vines and traditional winemaking are behind this brilliant Cornas, which offers plenty of density and weight of fruit. Drink from 2024 to 2032. 14.5%

£155

RH58281

Cornas Chante Perdrix, Delas Cornas has always been one of Delas’ strong suits and the richly textured 2019 has elegance, finesse and, inevitably, the power and ripeness of the vintage. Drink from 2023 to 2031. 14%

£166

RH58211

Cornas Les Eygats, Domaine Courbis 2019 is the perfect vintage for this vineyard, which is always backward and grippy. Great density of thick black fruit and a wonderful seam of freshness that runs through it. Drink from 2026 to 2036. 14.5%

£182

RH58261

Cornas, Domaine du Tunnel A multi-layered, hugely characterful wine, made from the old vines on Stéphane Robert’s plots, which used to belong to one of the icons of Cornas, Marcel Juge. Drink from 2024 to 2034. 14%

£185

RH58321

Cornas Domaine de Saint Pierre, Paul Jaboulet Aîné Such a heatwave vintage favoured vines grown at altitude, such as Jaboulet’s holdings near the little chapel dedicated to Saint Pierre. The result here is a wonderfully savoury Cornas that will repay with keeping. Drink from 2026 to 2037. 14.5%

£199

RH58311

Cornas Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Voge Complex, complete and quite stunning in 2019. This has everything: all the intense, seductive fruit of the vintage and great depth of flavour. Drink from 2026 to 2037. 14.5% Magnums (RH58314 @ £232 per three) available.

£230

RH58301

Cornas Sabarotte, Domaine Courbis Great Cornas! Very rich and concentrated, with notes of black olive paste and blackberry.

Drink from 2027 to 2040. 14.5%

£244

AROUND CÔTE-RÔTIE & COTEAUX DU LYONNAIS

Some of the best bargains of the northern Rhône can be found here. And this year, courtesy of Clusel-Roch, there is a cheeky little gamay that thinks it’s a Côte-Rôtie!

FC39991

Coteaux du Lyonnais ‘Traboules’, Clusel-Roch This famous estate extends to a small holding in the hills above Lyon. This is made from gamay but barrel aged in the same way as their other reds. Ripe, juicy and cherry like with a rustic twist. Drink from 2022 to 2027. 13.5%

£42

RH58351

Syrah ‘Les Candives’, Yves Cuilleron A thickly textured, dense and long-flavoured barrel-aged syrah from vines that fall outside the official Saint-Joseph boundary, making for great-value drinking. Drink from 2022 to 2028. 13.5%

£50

RH58341

La Rosine Rouge, Collines Rhodaniennes, Domaine Ogier Deeply seductive and long, with dark fruits of the forest, this comes from a nonappellation vineyard on the border between Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu. Always one of the must-buys of the vintage. Drink from 2022 to 2031. 13.5%

£72

To order visit thewinesociety.com/rhoneep or call 01438 741177 06

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In-Bond Delivered Price

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RH58371

Côtes-du-Rhône L’Enclave, Jean-Luc Jamet From a famous estate where two brothers went their separate ways, this is a Côte-Rôtie in all but name as it comes from just outside the appellation. Fleshy, deeply coloured, with tarry, graphite fruit. Very impressive. Drink from 2022 to 2030. 14.5%

£90

RH58361

Domaine René Rostaing Les Lézardes, Collines Rhodaniennes Côte-Rôtie in all but name from one of the region’s great estates, made from a small patch of vineyards on very steep schistous slopes that hang precariously over the main road.

Fruity, very black and ripe, this offers excellent value. Drink from 2022 to 2029. 13.5%

£102

CÔTES DE SEYSSUEL

Appellation rights have yet to be granted to this hillside around the Roman city of Vienne, but such is the quality that it only feels right to list them separately. The wines are very dark and brooding in 2019, similar to Côte-Rôtie but with more grip and a real taste of the region’s schistous soils.

RH58391

Seyssuel Jardins de Rome, Domaine Garon From young vines but very fine, this is an exquisite option for early drinking. Drink from 2022 to 2027. 14%

£109

RH58381

Seyssuel Ripa Sinistra, Domaine Cuilleron This has all the weight of the vintage; dark, blackberry-laden and with notes of graphite. A lovely wine from the opposite bank to Côte-Rôtie. Drink from 2023 to 2030. 14%

£147

RH58401

Seyssuel Esprit d’Antan, Pierre-Jean Villa Pierre-Jean Villa made a wine of great finesse in 2019 in a rich, thickly textured style, offering very ripe blackberry and cherry fruit. Drink from 2023 to 2029. 14%

£150

RH58421

Seyssuel Sotanum, Collines Rhodaniennes, Vins de Vienne Wisely, no new oak was used in this wine, so the perfectly ripe fruit is able to shine, with all its concentration, mineral intensity and great length. Drink from 2025 to 2032. 13.5%

£155

RH58411

Seyssuel L’Âme Soeur, Domaine Ogier The 2019 vintage of this exquisitely refined and intense syrah offers black fruit, smokiness and graphite, and will need a little time. Drink from 2024 to 2030. 13.5%

£165

CÔTE-RÔTIE

Another amazing vintage for Côte-Rôtie with enormously concentrated and dramatic wines.

RH58481

Côte-Rôtie, Domaine Burgaud Bernard Burgaud’s wine (he is one of those rare growers who makes just the one) is rich and juicy in 2019. He draws on fruit from several plots and uses a small proportion of new oak barrels to create a chunky, generous style. Drink from 2023 to 2034. 13.5%

£160

RH58471

Côte-Rôtie, Domaine Gaillard Some of Pierre Gaillard’s plots are co-planted with the white viognier grape, which adds elegance and contributes to the fragrance of this ripe-tasting and velvety wine. Drink from 2023 to 2031. 13.5%

£167

RH58431

Côte-Rôtie Triotes, Domaine Garon Beautiful, rich and sensual wine from a family with plots in some of the best slopes. Drink from 2024 to 2031. 13%

£170

RH58511

Côte-Rôtie, Maison Les Alexandrins Nicolas Perrin Nicolas Jaboulet likes his Côte-Rôtie to be Burgundian in style with plenty of charm and cherry-like fruit, and this combined with this hot vintage has given a very attractive result.

Much of this blend comes from the south, which delivers softer, rounder fruit but there is also some fruit from Roziers, which is more sinewy. Drink from 2024 to 2031. 13.5%

£180

RH58531

Côte-Rôtie Les Schistes, Domaine Clusel-Roch Very much in a Burgundian style, with great elegance, marked graphite and dark-cherry flavour and fine length. A wine that will age very well and gain in depth. Drink from 2025 to 2033. 13.5%

£180

RH58441

Côte-Rôtie Germine, Duclaux A rich, soft and creamy 2019 from the southern end of the roasted slope, which gives a style that is rounder, albeit relatively lighter in colour. Drink from 2023 to 2031. 13.5%

£190

Caroline Frey of Jaboulet made exquisite wines in 2019

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RH58501

Côte-Rôtie Les Jumelles, Paul Jaboulet Aîné Excellent in 2019, this has weight of ripe fruit with lots of fat and a long finish. There is a lovely quality of ripe, cherry-like fruit. Drink from 2025 to 2032. 14%

£190

RH58571

Côte-Rôtie, Bassenon, Domaine Cuilleron Concentrated, ripe and seductively velvety, with about 8% of viognier in the blend adding fragrance and finesse. Drink from 2024 to 2032. 13.5%

£192

RH58491

Côte-Rôtie, Château Saint Cosme A tarry, ripe and full year for this northern Côte-Rôtie, which always offers a more brooding and dark incarnation than the wines of the south. Drink from 2023 to 2032. 13.5%

£195

RH58561

Côte-Rôtie Mon Village, Domaine Ogier I tasted barrels from every plot in Stéphane Ogier’s expanding estate. Like a top négociant, he is able to create blends that reflect the strengths of the vintage. The 2019 offers considerable power and finesse. Drink from 2025 to 2033. 13.5%

£200

RH58591

Côte-Rôtie Carmina, Pierre-Jean Villa Fragrant, soft and very round. Not quite the intensity of his Fontjeant, but very fine nonetheless. Drink from 2023 to 2032. 13.5%

£210

RH58611

Côte-Rôtie Ampodium, Domaine Rostaing A very special Ampodium in 2019. René Rostaing’s son Pierre is now at the helm (but dad is never far away), overseeing a multiplicity of plots on many of the best slopes. Drink from 2024 to 2032. 14%

£240

RH58541

Côte-Rôtie La Viallière, Domaine Clusel-Roch Very rich, very fine and very long, with great concentration, intensity and sinew. Drink from 2028 to 2035. 13.5%

£275

RH58581

Côte-Rôtie Seigneur de Maugiron, Delas Delas have always enjoyed a reputation for their Côte-Rôtie. Much comes from sources on the Côte Brune, and the estate has vines on La Landonne. Very full yet well rounded.

Drink from 2025 to 2032. 14%

£280

RH58451

Côte-Rôtie Les Rochins, Domaine Garon The 2019 vintage of this wine has great finesse and length of flavour. It comes from the Garon family, who have owned vines here for several centuries, but only began bottling the wine themselves since 1995. This particular wine is from a Côte Brune vineyard, close to Guigal’s La Turque, that tends to produce dark, full-flavoured wines that are well founded for ageing.

Drink from 2026 to 2035. 13.5%

£300

RH58551

Côte-Rôtie Les Grandes Places, Domaine Clusel-Roch An austere, concentrated and tannic syrah, but with very exciting potential. Côte-Rôtie for the long haul. Drink from 2029 to 2040. 13.5%

£365

To order visit thewinesociety.com/rhoneep or call 01438 741177 08

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HERMITAGE

2019 is one of the great Hermitage vintages.

RH58691

Hermitage, Château Saint Cosme Very powerful, multi-layered with immense concentration and at the same time great length and elegance. Louis Barruol sources this from plots at the eastern end of Hermitage. Drink from 2025 to 2034. 14%

£200

RH58651

Hermitage La Maison Bleue, Paul Jaboulet Aîné Formerly known as La Petite Chapelle, there is nothing remotely little about this cuvée.

The blend includes the fruit of three top vineyards – Muret, Diognière and Greffieux – to the east of the appellation which normally makes a lighter Hermitage. But not in 2019.

This is on a big scale and is very impressive. Drink from 2026 to 2041. 15.5% Magnums (RH58654 @ £220 per three) available.

£216

RH58641

Hermitage, Domaine du Colombier With ripe blackberry fruit and round tannins, this comes from the less granitic part of Hermitage, giving a softer style that suits earlier drinking. Drink from 2026 to 2038. 14%

£240

RH58681

Hermitage Rouge Domaine des Tourettes, Delas The added weight and richness of the vintage, combined with Delas’ holdings on the granite Bessard slope, gives a wine on a grand scale, with great structure and staying power. Drink from 2024 to 2032. 14.5%

£284

RH58661

Hermitage, Domaine Faurie From one of Hermitage’s greats, a thick, rich and chewy wine brimming with blackberry and chocolate. This is blended from the three top vineyards, Bessards, Méal and Greffieux.

Drink from 2026 to 2040. 14%

£320

RH58711

Hermitage, Domaine Belle A multi-layered, rich-tasting Hermitage from a tiny plot in Les Murets at the eastern end of the hill. Drink from 2025 to 2038. 14%

£324

RH58721

Hermitage La Chapelle, Paul Jaboulet Aîné Majestic and dramatic. This is Hermitage on a huge scale and probably set fair for 50 years.

Drink from 2030 to 2060. 15.5% Magnums (RH58724 @ £726 per three) available.

£725

THE SOUTH REF

In-Bond Delivered Price

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dozen

THE RIGHT BANK, INCLUDING LIRAC AND LAUDUN

Many of these wines are close to Châteauneuf in style, but not in price, making this section a very happy hunting ground for bargains.

RH58741

Laudun Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Château Courac The 2007 vintage of this wine is perfect now, showing the fantastic ageing capacity the 2019 promises. It comes from a husband-and-wife team who manage their estate with great flair and make this wine without oak; just lashings of sun-ripened fruit. Drink from 2022 to 2029. 14% Magnums (RH58744 @ £70 per six) available.

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£60

RH58751

Signargues Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Domaine de Pierredon A deserving bestseller from a fine co-operative at Estézargues. Full, dark and spicy, with syrah accounting for about half of the blend. Drink from 2022 to 2029. 14.5%

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£65

RH57791

Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Omar Khayyam, Mas du Libian A full-bodied, fruity 2019 from this much-loved estate close to the end of the Gorges de l’Ardèche. With great purity of fruit, this wine will gain in complexity with a little longer in bottle. As ever, all the hard work is done in the vines, some of it by Nestor the shire horse! Drink from 2022 to 2028. 14.5%

£45

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RH58791

Lirac, Château Mont-Redon This is unmissable in 2019. Lirac is just across the Rhône from Châteauneufdu-Pape and Pierre Fabre at Châteauneuf’s Mont-Redon makes this wine. A relatively early-drinking and friendly style that while close to its famous neighbour in style, comes in at a friendly price. Drink from 2022 to 2029. 14.5%

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£100

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RH58761

Saint-Gervais Les Rouvières Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Domaine Sainte-Anne This estate was among the first to plant the mourvèdre grape successfully and their wine is modestly priced yet capable of achieving great complexity with age. Almost zinfandel-like in its flavours and weight of fruit in this extraordinary vintage. Drink from 2023 to 2033. 14%

£55

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RH58781

Saint-Gervais Côtes-du-Rhône Villages les Mourillons, Domaine Sainte-Anne Especially ripe and tarry in 2019, this blackstrap syrah is a delicious option for long-term keeping, with sinewy and full-on fruit flavours. Drink from 2022 to 2032. 14%

£65

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£135

£237

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Richard Maby made remarkable Lirac in 2019

RH58801

Lirac Nessun Dorma, Domaine Maby With very ripe plum-like fruit and sweet spice, there is a remarkable sensation of freshness despite the generosity and obvious power in this grenache-dominant red. Drink from 2022 to 2030. 15%

RH58811

Domaine de Trévallon, Vin de Pays des Bouches du Rhône Rouge Just across the Rhône from Tavel, Trévallon is the original cabernet-shiraz blend which over the years has acquired cult status. The mix is half and half with the two starting out seperately in small oak foudres before coming together. Quite dense and tannic, this plum-and-blackberry laden 2019 will need time, but the quality of the fruit is wonderful. Drink from 2025 to 2039. 13.5%

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THE NORTHERN RIDGE INCLUDING MASSIF D’UCHAUX, SAINT MAURICE AND VINSOBRES

These wines have an elegance and a hint of the north about them, and of note in 2019 is the emergence of Louis Barruol as a major voice in Vinsobres. Cool breezes and extensive woodland (and sometimes truffles!) are the key and from west to east, Alpine foothills increasingly begin to dictate climate.

RH58841

Vinsobres Altitude 420, Domaine Jaume Made with very little oak and, as the name suggests, from grapes grown on slopes that rise to 420m altitude to keep their freshness, this is a 60:40 grenachesyrah mix full of raspberry-like fruit, a touch of spice and added weight in this vintage. Drink from 2022 to 2030. 14% Magnums (RH58844 @ £74 per six) available.

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£70

RH58821

Valréas Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Val des Rois A gorgeous grenache and syrah blend whose Burgundian finesse comes as no surprise given Emmanuel Bouchard’s ancestry! Drink from 2022 to 2028. 14.5%

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£72

RH58861

Côtes-du-Rhône Mon Coeur, Sélection Jean-Louis Chave Fragrant and ripe yet slightly restrained and finishing well, this has lovely, easy balance in 2019. The origins for this wine are Rasteau, Cairanne, Visan and, above all, Vinsobres, which Jean-Louis Chave sees as having such great potential. Drink from 2022 to 2030. 14.5%

£42

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RH58881

Vinsobres Cuvée Référence, Domaine Jaume 2019 was a stunning vintage for the Jaumes. This is a barrel-aged blend with syrah the dominant variety, which is splendidly rich yet refined too. Drink from 2023 to 2036. 14.5%

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£95

RH58891

Saint-Maurice Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Guillaume de Rouville, Domaine de Florane This is 95% syrah and comes from Saint-Maurice, a little-known area next to Vinsobres, making broadly similar wines. Intense in 2019 with great weight of dark blackberry fruit and a scattering of Provençal herbs. Drink from 2023 to 2031. 14.5%

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£102

RH58831

Visan Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Terre Pourpre, Domaine la Florane This is quite outstanding. Made from 80% syrah with grenache in support to give a dark, spicy wine with loads of ripe fruit. Drink from 2022 to 2030. 14.5%

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£105

RH58871

Massif d’Uchaux Vieilles Vignes, Château Saint Estève This is the top wine from this excellent estate. The Massif is a heavily wooded upland to the north of the town of Orange and the presence of ancient woodland is essential to the quality of the wine. Drawing on old vines of grenache and syrah, and aged in oak, the 2019 has fabulous quality of fruit, fatness and length. Drink from 2023 to 2035. 15%

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£115

RH58851

Vinsobres, Château de Rouanne Louis Barruol has always admired Vinsobres which he sees as not that dissimilar to Gigondas. Both are mountain wines with ample supply of water and where cooling breezes play such an important part. Drink from 2022 to 2030. 14.5%

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£125

RH58901

Vinsobres, Les Hauts de Julien Perrin The Perrins have become important players in Vinsobres and this is their best wine made from equal parts of grenache and syrah. Almost northern Rhône like in style, this is very dark with notes of blackberry, spice and dried herbs, and it will need a while for the new oak to integrate. Drink from 2025 to 2036. 15%

£125

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CAIRANNE, RASTEAU AND NEIGHBOURS

Always a source of superb value, and even more so in 2019. Although these regions occupy a central position in the south and produce equally heady, full-bodied wines, each still has distinct styles. Cairannes tend to be subtler, the wines of Rasteau bolder and more dramatic, while the flat, stony Plan de Dieu, which extends below them, is home to some excellent buys.

RH58951

Plan de Dieu Côtes-du-Rhône Villages de Père en Fille, Paul Jaboulet Aîné A mourvèdre-driven wine, this is spicy and richly flavoured with elegance and length. Drink from 2023 to 2030. 14.5%

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£82

RH58981

Cairanne Ventabren Villages, Domaine des Escaravailles This is quite splendid. A very rich Cairanne, made mostly of grenache; spicy, very full-bodied and with more tannin than usual. Drink from 2023 to 2029. 15%

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£90

The ever smiley Gilles Ferran at Domaine des Escaravailles

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RH58991

Rasteau La Ponce, Domaine des Escaravailles With grenache ripening to perfection in 2019, this is a very big, full-bodied Rasteau.

Generous and weighty, yet not without freshness. Drink from 2023 to 2030. 15%

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£100

RH59001

Côtes-du-Rhône Les Deux Albions, Château de Saint Cosme This thick, rich blend from Louis Barruol draws on fruit from Cairanne, Vinsobres and several other Rhône villages, and this is reflected in the makeup of the grape varieties too: the focus is on the blackberry and olive flavours of syrah, but it also includes grenache, cinsault, carignan and even a little of the white clairette grape.

Drink from 2022 to 2030. 14.5%

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£100

RH58961

Cairanne, Clos Romane One of the best wines in Cairanne and offering lovely balance in 2019, this is full and herby with a core of ripe plummy fruit. Drink from 2022 to 2029. 14.5%

£51

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RH58971

Cairanne Réserve des Seigneurs, Domaine de l’Oratoire Saint Martin Sumptuous in 2019, this is a stunning blend of grenache and mourvèdre with a little syrah, all fermented in concrete, so fruit flavours are to the fore. Fabulous.

Drink from 2023 to 2030. 14.5%

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£110

RH58941

Plan de Dieu Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Domaine Saint Antonin A gorgeous sweet-tasting wine brimming with chocolate and thick black cherry.

This is part of the Janasse estate, run by Isabelle Sabon, and the blend is 50% grenache with syrah and mourvèdre making up the difference, partly aged in large barrels. Drink from 2022 to 2028. 14.5%

£61

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RH59011

Rasteau Argila, Domaine des Escaravailles This is a new cuvée from Gilles Ferran’s estate. 60% grenache raised in clay amphora. An explosion of ripe fruit with very round tannins. Drink from 2022 to 2027. 14.5%

£92

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THE EASTERN FRINGES, PART ONE: SABLET, SÉGURET AND VACQUEYRAS

Bordered by the natural rampart called the Dentelles de Montmirail, with unspoiled Provence pastures beyond, these vines have given us some delicious 2019s. In terms of style, Séguret is more robust, sandy Sablet offers greater delicacy and Vacqueyras’ accent is on fruit.

RH59021

Sablet Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Cheval Long, Domaine Stehelin An attractively fragrant, rich and concentrated Sablet, a region of sandy soil situated next to Gigondas. This smooth, elegant blend of grenache and syrah needs a little time in bottle to really show its colours. Drink from 2022 to 2029. 14.5%

£52

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RH59061

Vacqueyras Saint Roch, Clos des Cazaux Made from grenache with an important element of syrah, which adds colour and fragrance, this is a very fine Vacqueyras. Utterly gorgeous. Drink from 2023 to 2031. 14.5% Magnums (RH59064 @ £107 per six) and halves (RH59062 @ £59 per twelve) available.

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£105

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RH59071

Vacqueyras Les Templiers, Clos des Cazaux This brilliant blackstrap syrah is on impressive form in 2019, showing power, weight and density of fruit. Drink from 2022 to 2029. 14%

£57

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RH59041

Vacqueyras Les Cyprès, Paul Jaboulet Aîné A lovely Vacqueyras for early drinking, packed as it is with ripe red-berry fruit, a good deal of weight, a satisfyingly long finish and a spoonful of spice. Drink from 2022 to 2028. 14.5%

£60

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RH59031

Séguret Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Grande Réserve, Domaine de Mourchon This is from Séguret’s leading estate, where old vines imbue the wine with great concentration. In keeping with the style of the vintage, the 2019 is very powerful with lovely ‘fat’ and weight of fruit, and some years’ ageing will be needed to round off the tannins. Drink from 2024 to 2032. 14.5%

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£130

RH59051

Vacqueyras Domaine de Genets, Delas For mid-term drinking, this very rich and ripe-tasting blend (mostly grenache and syrah) makes a perfect option. Drink from 2022 to 2027. 14.5%

£69

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THE EASTERN FRINGES, PART TWO: GIGONDAS, VENTOUX AND BEAUMES DE VENISE

All of these areas are mountain vineyards in essence, with cool breezes tempering the ardour of the vintage and imbuing lovely freshness. The most famous of this trio is Gigondas, a source of bold and big-hearted wines, while the reds of Ventoux and Beaumes de Venise are gentler.

RH59091

Ventoux, Domaine de Martinelle This estate is the creation of Corrina Faravel, German-born and educated, and married to Thierry Faravel of La Bouïssière in Gigondas. Hers is a steeply sloping vineyard on the edge of the famous Dentelles de Montmirail. This is full-bodied and promises to be a brilliant bottle in two to three years’ time. Drink from 2023 to 2028. 14.5%

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£87

RH59081

Beaumes de Venise Le Paradou, Paul Jaboulet Aîné Made from 80% grenache and 20% syrah, this is more robust than usual.

Wonderful quality of fruit with some firm tannins that will need a little bottle age.

Drink from 2024 to 2031. 14%

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£89

RH59141

Beaumes de Venise, Domaine La Bouïssière Made from 80% grenache and 20% syrah, this is a gorgeous and full, plummy and spicy Beaumes de Venise. Drink from 2023 to 2030. 15%

£60

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RH59131

Gigondas La Tour Sarrasine, Clos des Cazaux Made from 70% grenache and the rest evenly split between syrah and mourvèdre, this is a lovely Gigondas bursting with rich-tasting ripe fruit. Drink from 2023 to 2030. 14.5% Magnums (RH59134 @ £132 per six) available.

£65

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RH59111

Gigondas La Gille, Famille Perrin With the Perrins having become important landowners in Gigondas, quality across their range has gone up and this is clearly felt in this wine. Mostly from sandy soils, this has super fruit and great length. Drink from 2022 to 2030. 14.5%

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£140

RH59161

Gigondas Domaine Grand Romane Vieilles Vignes, Pierre Amadieu With a concentration of rich figgy flavours and finesse, this comes from the largest in Gigondas that occupies a high mountain valley, surrounded by extensive woodland which plays a vital role in the ecosystem. Drink from 2023 to 2031.

14.5% Magnums (RH59164 @ £74 per three) available.

£72

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RH59151

Gigondas Pierre Aiguille, Paul Jaboulet Aîné Jaboulet make a very fruity and ripe Gigondas, but which is never overpowering.

A fine option for earlier drinking. Drink from 2023 to 2031. 14.5%

£75

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RH59181

Gigondas, Domaine La Bouïssière A monumentally full-bodied Gigondas from the Faravel brothers. A step up from their Beaumes de Venise above, with brilliant flavours of strawberry and cherry.

Drink from 2023 to 2032. 15%

£90

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RH59171

Gigondas, Domaine du Cayron This ripe, figgy, old-school Gigondas is quite glorious in 2019. Three sisters share the work of making the family wine, which is raised in large oak foudres and offers fatness of texture and finesse in tandem. Drink from 2023 to 2031. 14.5%

£95

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RH59121

Gigondas, Delas Almost an infusion of fig and bay leaf, this is a very concentrated Gigondas with bright fruit flavours and a long finish. Drink from 2023 to 2031. 14.5%

£97

RH59211

Gigondas Les Racines, Domaine Les Pallières Daniel Brunier reckons that 2019 is his best vintage to date. A perfectly balanced wine, finely poised and with great length. Drink from 2024 to 2035. 15% Magnums (RH59214 @ £227 per six) available.

£112

RH59101

Ventoux Artemia, Château Pesquié Made from grenache and syrah planted at around 400m on mostly limestone, this shows the positive effects of altitude with greater attention to finesse. With dark, ripe blueberry, spice and a smoky twist, this will age well. Drink from 2022 to 2030. 13%

£120

RH59191

Gigondas Ventabren, Moulin de la Gardette An outstanding 2019 made from old vines by one of Gigondas’ best estates, whose wines have excellent capacity for ageing. Drink from 2023 to 2032. 14.5%

£120

RH59201

Gigondas, Château de Saint Cosme Huge, fabulous and thickly textured Gigondas with great concentration of blackberry fruit.

Drink from 2023 to 2032. 14.5%

£130

RH59231

Gigondas L’Argnée Vieilles Vignes, Perrin For long-term cellaring, this is an outstanding cuvée of grenache made from 130-year-old pre-phylloxera vines. Very complex, very full, but perfectly poised and elegant too. Drink from 2024 to 2038. 15%

£215

CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE AND AROUND

After two scarce vintages, 2019 produced a normal-sized crop of outstanding quality. The grenache grape is the hero, but all 13 of the region’s permitted varieties have played their part too, contributing to what is a memorable vintage here.

RH59261

Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Domaine l’Abbé Dine This is quite brilliant in 2019. It comes from the area known as Coudoulet, just outside Châteauneuf, and is mostly grenache. Very full-bodied with an almost chocolatey richness.

Drink from 2023 to 2028. 14.5%

£50

RH59251

Côtes-du-Rhône, Coudoulet de Beaucastel Rouge Beaucastel’s Côtes-du-Rhône is made from vines that fall outside the official Châteauneuf boundary. But the style is recognisably Châteauneuf and indeed recognisably Beaucastel, with its high proportion of the mourvèdre grape. Drink from 2022 to 2031. 14.5%

£145 per dozen

RH59271

Côtes-du-Rhône Quartz, Clos du Caillou Made mostly from grenache, this is very full-bodied, rounded, ripe and spicy in 2019.

It comes from an estate with an extraordinary story, as many of its plots were not presented for inclusion in Châteauneuf. Which is very much to our benefit. Drink from 2022 to 2030. 14.5%

£76

RH59291

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Château Mont-Redon A rich and weighty vintage for Mont-Redon. A wine of bright fruit flavour, concentration and sheer brilliance. Drink from 2023 to 2037. 15% Magnums (RH59294 @ £213 per six) available.

£105

RH59301

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine Font de Michelle The mourvèdre grape has always had an important role to play at this most stylish of estates. The Font in the name is one of a few sources of water in Châteauneuf, essential to the quality of the harvest. Drink from 2023 to 2032. 15%

£112

RH59331

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Le Bosquet des Papes Traditional, full and splendid Châteauneuf, well managed in this great vintage with almost fruitcake-like richness. Drink from 2023 to 2031. 15%

£115

RH59361

Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau de Ma Mère, Famille Mayard Generous, richly flavoured with hints of chocolate and plum, this is densely packed and weighty. Drink from 2023 to 2031. 15.5%

£127

RH59321

Côtes-du-Rhône Les Garrigues, Domaine de la Janasse A very impressive 100% grenache. Firmly structured and very concentrated, yet despite the power, there is no lack of freshness. Drink from 2023 to 2033. 14.5%

£130

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RH59341

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tradition, Domaine Giraud As the name suggests, this is a traditional style of Châteauneuf. It is made by a brotherand-sister team with a valuable stock of 100-year-old grenache. It is very generous and full-bodied, with a wonderfully rich texture. Drink from 2024 to 2031. 15%

£132

RH59351

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Piedlong, Famille Brunier Piedlong is one of the highest points in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and is very highly regarded.

This is made from almost pure grenache and is utterly gorgeous in 2019: deeply fragrant with a flavour of crushed strawberry and a certain delicacy, even in this supercharged vintage. Drink from 2023 to 2031. 15%

£155

RH59371

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Mourre des Perdrix, Domaine de la Charbonnière Big, full-bodied, plum-and-spice laden Châteauneuf from the Mourre des Perdrix vineyard.

This is situated just below the more famous La Crau, but on mainly sandy soils, and owned entirely by this rejuvenated estate. There is a new generation in charge, represented by two talented sisters. Drink from 2023 to 2033. 16%

£165

RH59311

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Etienne Gonnet, Domaine Font de Michelle A very powerful and richly flavoured 2019 from some of the oldest vines on the estate with 65% grenache, 20% syrah and, most importantly, 15% mourvèdre, aged in large barrels. Drink from 2025 to 2034. 15%

£197

RH59391

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Quartz, Le Clos du Caillou Very ripe, plummy and round. This will need some time in bottle to let its wonderfully fragrant perfume and dark fruit flavours express themselves fully. Drink from 2025 to 2033. 15%

£210

RH59381

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Bois Pointu, Blagden and Gonnet The vines – grenache, counoise and mourvèdre – are tended by Yorkshireman Charles Blagden and the wine made by Guillaume Gonnet of Font de Michelle. A very impressive 2019, with the counoise grape bringing finesse, fruit and complexity. Drink from 2024 to 2032. 14.5%

£220

RH59411

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe A wonderful vintage for this famous estate, with great depth of flavour and an imposing structure. Drink from 2026 to 2040. 15% Magnums (RH59414 @ £472 per six) available.

£230

RH59441

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Elegance de Jeanne, Font de Michelle Very fat, deeply coloured and with extraordinary concentration and length, this is made from a single plot on La Crau of mostly grenache, planted between 1900 and 1905. Drink from 2026 to 2040. 15%

£232

RH59401

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin, Domaine de la Janasse From north-facing slopes on the sandier parts of La Crau, this is a stunning, richly flavoured wine that will with time develop a wonderful velvety texture. Drink from 2024 to 2038.

14.5%

£250

RH59421

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Château de Beaucastel A great year for this celebrated Châteauneuf, which is especially dense, weighty and delicious. Drink from 2026 to 2045. 14.5% Magnums (RH59424 @ £542 per six) available.

£270

RH59431

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Clos des Papes A great Clos des Papes and happily from yields that were nearly three times higher than for 2018. Very complete with both the grenache and mourvèdre elements outstanding.

Drink from 2025 to 2042. 15% Magnums (RH59434 @ £351 per three) available.

£350

RH59451

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes, Domaine de la Janasse The 2019 vintage of Janasse’s old-vine Châteauneuf-du-Pape is monumental. A wine for long-term keeping. Drink from 2026 to 2042. 15%

£350

RH59461

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve, Clos du Caillou Richly textured, very full-bodied and long, this is a remarkable black-cherry fruited Châteauneuf with a high percentage of mourvèdre in the blend. Drink from 2025 to 2040.

15%

£430

WHITE WINES Generally picked in August, and therefore before the last heatwave, the 2019 whites are quite lovely, with plenty of fruit, all well-defined and with decent acidity. They remain for the most part big and full-bodied for all that.

Please note the white wines will arrive in the autumn of 2021 and when ordering these wines on line, members will be required to place a separate order.

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THE VIOGNIER GRAPE: CONDRIEU AND ELSEWHERE RH59471

Viognier La Bonne Etoile, Domaine Barou Always expressive and fleshy, and offering great length of flavour in this vintage, this is a peachy and pear-laden delight for early drinking. Drink from 2021 to 2023. 14.5%

£55

RH59521

Les Contours de Deponcins, Vin de France, Domaine Villard Utterly gorgeous in 2019: full-bodied, peachy and better than many Condrieu. Made from young vines, some from Condrieu itself but mostly from slopes outside its hallowed borders. Drink from 2021 to 2024. 14%

£65

RH59511

Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc ‘Les Gendrines’, Domaine Gaillard From viognier planted just below the Clos de Cuminaille but outside the Condrieu appellation, this is full of lime and lemon fruit with just a touch of honey. Drink from 2021 to 2024. 14%

£69

RH59491

Viognier La Rosine, Collines Rhodaniennes, Domaine Ogier From a vineyard just outside the Condrieu appellation, this has peachy citrus fruit, refinement and length of flavour. Drink from 2022 to 2025. 13.5%

£75

RH59481

Viognier La Lézarde Collines Rhodaniennes, Domaine Rostaing This is a lighter and more refreshing style of viognier than those from Condrieu, and the 2019 is delightfully fruity. Drink from 2021 to 2025. 13.5%

£90

RH59531

Condrieu, Domaine Pichon Now aided by his son Corentin, Christophe Pichon made a deliciously fruity Condrieu in 2019 with light peachy fruit and a twist of lemon. Drink from 2021 to 2025. 14%

£122

RH59561

Condrieu, Cave Merlin François Merlin learned his craft with Georges Vernay and René Rostaing, and over 20 years has accumulated a wide spread of small holdings including a plot above the famed Château-Grillet. This is fabulous in 2019 with great texture and citrus fruit. Drink from 2021 to 2024. 14.5%

£137

RH59541

Taburnum, Collines Rhodaniennes, Vins de Vienne This is a lovely barrel-fermented viognier, evoking the style of Condrieu, if a little more reserved and with some salinity on the finish. Drink from 2021 to 2028. 13.5%

£147

RH59631

Condrieu La Loye, Domaine Gérin A fine complex Condrieu with white peach, pear, balance and finesse. Drink from 2021 to 2023. 14%

£147

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RH59571

Condrieu, Combe de Malleval, Domaine Ogier A brilliant and richly expressive wine from Stéphane Ogier, set against the backdrop of the stunning medieval village of Malleval, wedged in a tight valley with vines hanging from steep slopes all around. Drink from 2021 to 2026. 14%

£165

RH59611

Condrieu, Guigal A very full-flavoured 2019 Condrieu from this great house, with succulent peach-like fruit.

Drink from 2021 to 2024. 15%

£165

RH59551

Condrieu De Poncins, Domaine Villard A creamy and weighty expression of this generous viognier in 2019. Needs a year in bottle to be at its best. Drink from 2021 to 2027. 14.5%

£170

RH59591

Condrieu Le Jardin Suspendu, Domaine Pierre-Jean Villa A superb Condrieu for early drinking courtesy of a star grower. Opulent, richly flavoured, full and long. Drink from 2021 to 2026. 14%

£182

RH59621

Condrieu La Bonnette, Domaine Rostaing With all the weight of the vintage and yet very fine and elegant, this makes discreet use of oak to great effect. Drink from 2022 to 2029. 14%

£225

RH59641

Condrieu Vernon, Domaine Cuilleron A splendid and extravagant viognier which is unctuous, richly flavoured yet well structured and well balanced. Drink from 2021 to 2028. 14.5%

£260

RH59651

Condrieu La Doriane, Guigal Guigal’s top Condrieu has a staggering sense of power in 2019. The change in style over the last few vintages (new oak is down and newly acquired slopes have been introduced) is welcome, as the wine has gained in finesse as a result. Drink from 2023 to 2031. 15%

£305

NORTHERN RHÔNE WHITES RH59721

Crozes-Hermitage Blanc, Domaine Rousset Very powerful and concentrated in 2019. The village of Larnage is famous for its white clay soils called kaolin (also used in the making of porcelain), in which white grapes thrive. Drink from 2021 to 2024. 13.5%

£60

RH59731

Saint-Péray Les Tanneurs, Chapoutier A blend from two districts, Ongrie and Crussol, this is a very rich, oily and full-flavoured Saint-Péray from Michel Chapoutier. Drink 2021 to 2029. 13.5%

£62

RH59761

Saint-Péray, Domaine Durand There’s a lovely burst of freshness in this northern Rhône white, which is somewhat similar to a white Burgundy from Mâcon in style. A wine that would work very well as an aperitif or with a starter. Drink from 2021 to 2027. 13.5%

£65

RH59681

Saint-Joseph Blanc, Sélections Circa Jean-Louis Chave Much of the fruit for this wine comes from the historic Clos l’Arbalestrier where there are 100-year-old marsanne vines. In this vintage the result is full-flavoured yet elegant and long. Drink from 2022 to 2027. 13.5%

£75

RH59661

Crozes-Hermitage Terre Blanches, Domaine Belle Powerful, full-bodied marsanne-dominant white from the favoured china clay soils in the northern part of Crozes. This has considerable richness in 2019 and flavours of crushed pear. Drink from 2022 to 2028. 14%

£75

RH59701

Brézème Blanc, Domaine de Bréseyme Made from a 70:30 split of low-yielding viognier and marsanne, this is a fragrant, fullflavoured white from a tiny vineyard area, almost midway between the northern and southern Rhône. Drink from 2022 to 2028. 13.5%

£85

RH59671

Crozes-Hermitage Blanc Pontaix, Domaine Fayolle Part-aged in barrel, this is rich and oily in texture with a lovely combination of lemon and honey. This wine makes use of some excellent vines from the northern part of the appellation behind the hill of Hermitage itself. Drink from 2021 to 2027. 14%

£87

RH59791

Saint-Péray Biousse, Domaine Cuilleron Made from 100% marsanne, and aged in oak, this is a lovely, fruity white with good depth and richness. Drink from 2022 to 2028. 13.5%

£90

REF

In-Bond Delivered Price

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RH59691

Crozes-Hermitage Mule Blanche, Paul Jaboulet Aîné A 50:50 blend of marsanne and roussanne, much of which comes from Jaboulet’s famed Thalabert vineyard. Some oak ageing brings creaminess and complexity, and the 2019 is very rich and floral, with a slightly nutty twist. I can imagine this with a monkfish risotto in a couple of years’ time. Drink from 2021 to 2027. 14%

£99

RH59741

Saint-Joseph Blanc La Digue, Domaine Cuilleron From a very steep slope, this is an ageworthy roussanne that hints at the nutty honeyed flavours that will join its youthful intensity with time. Drink from 2022 to 2028. 13.5%

£105

RH59811

Saint-Péray Ongrie, Domaine Voge Showing its balance and elegance in 2019, this comes from a Saint-Péray vineyard that takes its name from the Latin ungere, or to oil, and has to do with leather making. The soil is essentially granite but there is limestone too which explains both the complexity and freshness. Drink from 2022 to 2030. 14%

£120

RH59771

Saint-Péray Prestige, Domaine du Tunnel A blend of 100-year-old marsanne vines with 20% roussanne, this will gain in complexity with time but already shows its old-vine concentration and finesse. Made in the clear, crystalline style that has become Stéphane Robert’s calling card. Drink from 2022 to 2029.

13.5%

£125

RH59821

Saint-Péray Les Figuiers, Domaine Bernard Gripa The more serious of Fabrice Gripa’s two contrasting Saint-Péray cuvées is particularly full and savoury in 2019. Made using old-vine roussanne to create a multi-dimensional white that will age well. Drink from 2022 to 2028. 14%

£135

RH59781

Saint-Joseph Blanc ‘Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph’, Guigal From the birthplace of Saint-Joseph and facing Hermitage, on steep slopes, this is a very impressive, richly flavoured 2019 white; intense, fat and oily with a lovely honeyed taste.

Drink from 2022 to 2030. 14%

£155

RH59851

Hermitage Blanc La Pierrelle, Château Saint Cosme Elegance rather than sheer power characterises Louis Barruol’s conception of white Hermitage. Lovely lemony fruit and great length. Drink from 2021 to 2033. 14.5%

£195

RH59871

Hermitage Blanc Chante-Alouette, Chapoutier Spectacularly rich and glorious in 2019, this is a sensual treat, with excellent structure and great length. Drink from 2023 to 2035. 15%

£217

RH59841

Hermitage Blanc Domaine des Tourettes, Delas A fabulous, rich and unctuous white Hermitage with plenty of fat and ripe flavours of honey and lemon. Drink from 2022 to 2030. 14.5%

£305

The beautiful Château Saint Cosme

18

The vineyards at Vinsobres

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In-Bond Delivered Price

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SOUTHERN RHÔNE WHITES RH57321

Laudun Blanc, Ferraton Laudun is but a short drive from Lirac, and like Lirac it is gaining a reputation for its whites. This is based on grenache blanc but includes marsanne, roussanne and viognier too, forming a wine with a lovely fruit tang and a tropical hint to the flavour. Drink from 2021 to 2024. 14.5%

£31

RH59891

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Richness tempered by a seam of freshness, even salinity. The blend is based on the clairette grape with grenache, roussanne and bourboulenc in support. Drink from 2021 to 2030. 14%

£197

RH59901

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Clos des Papes Making use of all six white Châteauneuf varieties, this is a weighty and expressive wine, with picpoul and bourboulenc grape varieties playing a key role in this hot vintage. The 2019 displays aniseed and pear flavours for now but will gain in complexity with time and develop almost riesling-like flavours. Drink from 2021 to 2033. 14%

£270

RH59911

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Château de Beaucastel Made from 80% roussanne, 15% grenache and 5% of everything else, this is a very fine and, as ever, multi-dimensional white Beaucastel. Full-flavoured and rich with a hint of peach and honeysuckle. Drink from 2022 to 2032. 14%

£275

To order visit thewinesociety.com/rhoneep or call 01438 741177 19

MIXED CASES *Drink dates for these mixed cases refer to the period when all the wines will be at their peak. Please refer to the individual wine for its recommended drink date.

£124

2019 RHÔNE ESSENTIALS Drink from 2022 to 2028. A 12-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following: • Crozes-Hermitage, Maison Les Alexandrins • Laudun Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Château Courac • Vinsobres Altitude 420, Domaine Jaume • Rasteau, La Ponce Domaine des Escaravailles • Ventoux, Domaine de Martinelle • Saint-Joseph Le Grand Pompée, Paul Jaboulet Aîné • Plan de Dieu Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Domaine Saint Antonin

• Vacqueyras Saint Roch, Clos des Cazaux • Gigondas, Delas • Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Le Bosquet des Papes • Saint-Maurice Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Guillaume de Rouville, Domaine de Florane • Côtes-du-Rhône Les Deux Albions, Château de Saint Cosme

ref OC5226

£96

2019 RHÔNE VILLAGE CASE Drink from 2022 to 2027. A 12-bottle case containing two bottles of each of the following: • Laudun Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Château Courac • Séguret Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Grande Réserve, Domaine de Mourchon • Visan Côtes du Rhône Villages Terre Pourpre, Domaine la Florane

• Valréas Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Val des Rois • Plan de Dieu Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, de Père en Fille, Paul Jaboulet Aîné • Sablet Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Cheval Long, Domaine Stehelin

ref OC5236

£180

2019 CROZES-HERMITAGE Drink from 2022 to 2030. A 12-bottle case containing two bottles of each of the following: • Crozes-Hermitage Les Trois Chênes, Emmanuel Darnaud • Crozes-Hermitage Les Pierrelles, Domaine Belle • Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert, Paul Jaboulet Aîné

• Crozes-Hermitage, Domaine Les Alexandrins • Crozes-Hermitage, Sicamor, Chapoutier • Crozes-Hermitage Domaine des Grands Chemins, Delas

ref OC5266

2019 NORTHERN RHÔNE PORTFOLIO

£144

Drink from 2022 to 2029. A six-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following: • Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert, Paul Jaboulet Aîné • Saint-Joseph Les Olivaies, Domaine Coursodon • Cornas Les Empreintes, Domaine Durand

• Domaine René Rostaing Les Lézardes, Collines Rhodaniennes • Côte-Rôtie Triotes, Domaine Garon • Hermitage La Maison Bleue, Paul Jaboulet Aîné

ref OC5276

£134

2019 SOUTHERN CRUS Drink from 2022 to 2028. A 12-bottle case containing two bottles of each of the following: • Vinsobres Cuvée Référence, Domaine Jaume • Lirac, Château Mont-Redon • Vacqueyras Les Cyprès, Paul Jaboulet Aîné

• Gigondas La Gille, Famille Perrin • Rasteau La Ponce Domaine des Escaravailles • Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine Font de Michelle

ref OC5246

To order visit thewinesociety.com/rhoneep or call 01438 741177 20

MIXED CASES £93

2019 GIGONDAS Drink from 2022 to 2030. A six-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following: • Gigondas La Tour Sarrasine, Clos des Cazaux • Gigondas, Domaine du Cayron • Gigondas Ventabren, Moulin de la Gardette

• Gigondas Grand Romane Vieilles Vignes, Pierre Amadieu • Gigondas Les Racines, Domaine Les Pallières • Gigondas La Gille, Famille Perrin

ref OC5256

£111

2019 TAKE SIX WHITE RHÔNES Drink from 2021 to 2024. A six-bottle case containing one bottle of each of the following: • Contours Deponcins Vin de France, Domaine Villard • Crozes-Hermitage Blanc, Domaine Rousset • Saint-Péray Les Tanneurs, Chapoutier

• Hermitage Blanc Domaine des Tourettes, Delas • Condrieu, Domaine Pichon • Laudun Blanc, Ferraton

ref OC5286

THE SOCIETY’S PROMISE Uncork with confidence.

The Wine Society is a mutual organisation, so our members’ satisfaction is paramount. If, for any reason, you haven’t enjoyed a wine (whether bought from us en primeur or not) we want to hear about it and will happily offer a credit, a replacement or a refund. thewinesociety.com/promise

Vineyards at Clos du Caillou

This offer will close at 8pm, Tuesday 9th February, 2021.

thewinesociety.com/rhoneep

01438 741177

The International Exhibition Co-operative Wine Society Limited, Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage SG1 2BT Registered no.: 1824R