Domaine Durieu
This is an extraordinary and relatively new estate (in French terms), established in 1976, all family owned and now covering 37 hectares. The oldest Grenache vines date back to 1914. Wines are sought after and this is one of the key estates in the north, with sandier soils, making the some of the finest Southern Rhone wines with a cooler climate edge; i.e. more raspberry and spice than plum jam and prunes. We think it has more in common with Cortadune, Charvin and of course Rayas; than say, Clos St. Jean, Ogier and Vieux Telegraph.
Today, the estate covers 37 hectares within Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Its most substantial holding lies on the Plateau de Mont-Redon in the northern sector of the appellation, while some of the oldest mixed plantings are found in the lieux-dits of Bois Lauzon, Cabrières, and Le Pied de Baud.
The vineyards are planted to a full palette of Châteauneuf varieties: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise, and Cinsault for the reds; Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Picpoul, and Clairette for the whites. With the Domaine under Vincent and François, the approach in recent decades has focused on extracting purity and finesse from the fruit, with density and cleanliness; while remaining faithful to the distinct voice of each parcel.
The "Lucile Avril" is a top cuvee and made from some of the the oldest vines. On average, it is 80-90% grenache, topped up with mouvedre and syrah. The grapes are not destemmed. The grenache is aged in concrete for 16-18 months. The mourvedre and syrah are aged in French oak.
Bois Lauzon is from an old Clos located on the sandy, "cooler" terroir in the north of the appellation and aged only in clay vessels.
The Cotes du Rhone is a cracker, full of flavour, with satisfying damp earthy and underbrush complexity, all with good life-giving tannins.
Please take a moment to recognise the value here - these prices are "off the charts" cheap due to the wines being direct imports with super-special just-landed prices!
Domaine Philippe Colin
Chassagne and Santenay Reds and Whites
Colin is a big family in Chassagne with many Domaine's having this surname. Philippe Colin is the brother of Bruno Colin, father of Simon Colin, and a 2nd cousin of P-Y Colin (Morey). He started on his own in 2004 and grew the Domaine to 11 ha before divesting most to his son. He kept some incredible sites (several Clos' and iconic, highly regarded little plots) that make up just 5.5ha. The vines have an average age of 50y and he now just replaces single vines that die or become diseased.
Philippe is using more and more 500lt barrels and the 1er and the grand cru whites are barrel fermented and aged in 30-50% new oak . Reds are destemmed and and are red-fruited bombs, clean, fresh and have good depth and firmish balanced tannins. I was surprised how bright, fruity and deliciously firm the '23's were!
Philippe is using more and more 500lt barrels and the 1er and the grand cru whites are barrel fermented and aged in 30-50% new oak . Reds are destemmed and and are red-fruited bombs, clean, fresh and have good depth and firmish balanced tannins. I was surprised how bright, fruity and deliciously firm the '23's were!
