Rhône 2020 En Primeur
You can view all of our 2020 Rhône en primeur wines below. Many wines in strictly limited availability, please enquire.
| RED | 2020 | 2 cases | Chapoutier - Crozes Hermitage Les Varonniers Rouge | 75cl | £220 per case of 6 | Chapoutier Crozes Hermitage Les Varonniers Rouge 2020 / 2 cases / 75cl £220 per case of 6 |
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| RED | 2020 | Chapoutier - Saint Joseph Les Granits Rouge | 75cl | £220 per case of 6 | Chapoutier Saint Joseph Les Granits Rouge 2020 / / 75cl £220 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"This 2.5ha Syrah vineyard is planted on poor, granitic soil in the heart of Saint-Joseph appellation. The harshness of the soil makes vines work extra hard, delivering long lived, structured wines." Chapoutier------"Touch of fresh peat and seaweed on the nose at this early stage. Lovely weight and freshness on the palate, very clear and detailed. Tannins are measured, the wine has a crispness and even a touch of black pepper. Earthy, spicy style, not overly ripe or concentrated - you see the structure with clarity. Will drink well young, and offer a lot of pleasure, showing terroir and complexity without great concentration or length. Great balance and freshness however. Drinking Window 2023 - 2030. 94 points." Matt Walls, Decanter, June 2021 |
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| RED | 2020 | 5 cases | Domaine La Soumade - Rasteau | 75cl | £125 per case of 12 | Domaine La Soumade Rasteau 2020 / 5 cases / 75cl £125 per case of 12 |
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| RED | 2020 | Jaboulet - Crozes Hermitage Thalabert | 75cl | £99 per case of 6 | Jaboulet Crozes Hermitage Thalabert 2020 / / 75cl £99 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2020 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert boasts effusive aromas of cracked pepper, black olives, cherries and blueberries. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers some soft dusty tannins and decent length, but it's surprisingly lacking in concentration. 89-91 points" Joe Czerwinski, RobertParker.com------“Yet another beautiful 2020, Thalabert is deep, dark and brooding in this vintage, and it has an almost Italianate liquorice and black-fruited theme underpinning its Syrah characters. This makes it an indulgent treat, and the palate is more velvety and forward than any young Thalabert I have tasted. In addition, it has the stuffing to age well, too. What more could you ask for? (Drink 2023 – 2033)“ 18+ points" Matthew Jukes------"Pure and lifted with the aroma of fresh, berry fruit. Less dense than imagined but pure, fresh and juicy with extremely fine-grained tannins. Refined and almost approachable but history says it will age. 16.5+ points" jancisrobinson.com (JL) |
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| RED | 2020 | 3 cases | Jean-Luc Jamet - Syrah Valine Collines Rhodannienes | 75cl | £180 per case of 12 | Jean-Luc Jamet Syrah Valine Collines Rhodannienes 2020 / 3 cases / 75cl £180 per case of 12 |
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Tasting NotesVery pure notes of black cherry, blackcurrant and bramble fruits on the nose, with peppercorns and herbs on the nose and an impression of freshness, more elegant than in 2019. This is confirmed on the palate which is wonderfully fresh and elegant, despite the fruit intensity. Also some graphite-mineral notes on palate. Possesses a balance which is almost burgundy-like, excellent. RKL |
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| RED | 2020 | 1 case | Paul Jaboulet - Hermitage La Chapelle | 75cl | £726 per case of 6 | Paul Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle 2020 / 1 case / 75cl £726 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"Subdued but pure and profound. Tightly wound on the palate, the tannins powerful but refined, the fruit deep but underplayed. A saline edge that runs from start to finish adding length at the end. Needs to unfurl and expand but clearly has potential. 17.5 points" jancisrobinson.com (JH)------"After the past several vintages, the 2020 Hermitage La Chapelle will need to add significant richness and concentration if it is to compete at that level. That said, it is still an excellent wine, with classic aromas of crushed stone, cassis, espresso and black olives. It's full-bodied, fine and silky, giving an impression of great elegance on the lingering finish. 93-95 points" Joe Czerwinski, RobertParker.com------“While there are faint roasted coffee bean notes here, which hint at the warm summer, and exotic rose and musk characters that only ever emerge in concentrated vintages, this is a masterclass in restraint and self-awareness. While this 2020 perhaps lacks the overall gravitas and high-rise tannins of the majestic 2019 vintage, this is a very seductive La Chapelle and one that will appeal to lovers of textural, velvety Syrahs. I am certain that everyone who drinks this wine will fall for its charms. (Drink 2025 – 2040)” 19+ points" Matthew Jukes |
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| RED | 2020 | 3 cases | Vieux Télégraphe - Châteauneuf du Pape | 75cl | £235 per case of 6 | Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf du Pape 2020 / 3 cases / 75cl £235 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape should be a gem of a wine as well as age-worthy. Lots of red and black berry fruits, licorice, wild herbs, and pepper define this medium to full-bodied, ripe, yet very classic, focused, elegant 2020. I love its underlying structure as well as its balance. Give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades. 92-94+ points." Jeb Dunnuck |
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| WHITE | 2020 | 1 case | Yves Cuilleron - Condrieu 'La Petite Cote' | 75cl | £180 per case of 6 | Yves Cuilleron Condrieu 'La Petite Cote' 2020 / 1 case / 75cl £180 per case of 6 |
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Tasting NotesFrom viognier vines near Chavanay, on muscovite-rich granite. The wine spends 9 months in barriques, on the lees, with no racking and regular stirring. A delightful, text-book expression of viognier with lots of freshness and purity of expression to the fruit, encompassing peach, quince, apricot, quince and citrus. Slightly honeyed too, but the overall impression is savoury and fresh. Would be wonderful paired with sashimi! RKL |
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| RED | 2020 | 1 case | Yves Cuilleron - Cote Rotie 'Bassenon' | 75cl | £240 per case of 6 | Yves Cuilleron Cote Rotie 'Bassenon' 2020 / 1 case / 75cl £240 per case of 6 |
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Tasting NotesFrom 1.5 ha of south-facing terraced vines on Coteau de Semons, in Tupin-Semons commune. 'Bassenon' is named after the stream at the foot of the hill. Granite and gneiss soils, planted to 90% syrah, 10% viognier. The grapes are picked by hand, then sorted, crushed and partially destemmed in the cellar. Open, temperature-controlled vatting for about 3 weeks, with regular cap-punching and pumping-over. Malolactic-fermented in barriques with native yeasts, before maturation for 18 months in barriques. A step-up in finesse from the St.-Joseph's, but still with wonderfully ripe and intense fruit concentration. An elegant, floral note of violets on the nose, presumably from the Viognier, which also adds a peach character to the palate, lifting the red and black fruits enormously. Very refined tannins, masses of energy. Could be enjoyed on landing and for over the next decade. A very accessible, modern and technically correct interpretation of Côte-Rôtie which should bring this appellation lots of new followers. RKL |
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| WHITE | 2020 | 2 cases | Yves Cuilleron - Saint Joseph Blanc 'Lyseras' | 75cl | £95 per case of 6 | Yves Cuilleron Saint Joseph Blanc 'Lyseras' 2020 / 2 cases / 75cl £95 per case of 6 |
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Tasting NotesFrom Marsanne and Rousanne vines on the sandy, granitic hillsides in the commune of Chavanay. The grapes are hand-picked; then sorted and pressed in the cellar. Alcoholic and malolactic fermented in barriques with native yeasts, followed by 9 months in barriques, on the lees, with no racking and regular stirring. Luscious fruit also layered and complex; stone fruits and acacia honey notes on the nose. Fleshy and fruity on the palate, with some minerality adding freshness. RKL |
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| WHITE | 2020 | 2 cases | Yves Cuilleron - Saint Peray 'Biousses' | 75cl | £110 per case of 6 | Yves Cuilleron Saint Peray 'Biousses' 2020 / 2 cases / 75cl £110 per case of 6 |
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Tasting NotesBiousse is a single vineyard in the south of Saint-Péray, planted with Marsanne, on red clay and granitic scree. The wine is fermented partly in barriques and partly in larger casks, before 9 months' ageing in the same formats. Apple citrus fruits with some floral notes, honeysuckle, and a fresh minerality on the palate, which is long and quite intense. Saint-Péray whites definitely should be drunk more! RKL |
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| RED | 2020 | 2 cases | Yves Cuilleron - Syrah 'Les Candives' | 75cl | £75 per case of 6 | Yves Cuilleron Syrah 'Les Candives' 2020 / 2 cases / 75cl £75 per case of 6 |
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Tasting NotesLes Candives' is the local name for Syrah. Granitic, shallow soils. The grapes are hand-picked, sorted, destemmed and crushed. Alcoholic-fermentation is in open vats with native yeasts, followed by 8 months in barriques. Superb nose with intense black fruits and so much energy on the palate, light on its feet, despite the concentrated, juicy dark fruit, spice and liquorice. RKL |
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