2/15 PETIT WEEK IN WINE - Northern Rhône

  • Posted on
2/15 PETIT WEEK IN WINE - Northern Rhône

PETIT WEEK IN WINE | Feb 15 - Feb 19 2023

This Week's Showcase:

The Northern Rhône Valley

Explore the land of Syrah with us and discover its hidden gems!

Join us this week as we take a journey to the northern Rhône Valley in France and embark on a Tasting Flight featuring world-class Syrah and one exceptional Viognier.

With Syrah believed to have originated in the region over 2,000 years ago, we will be presenting three distinct Syrahs from three different appellations, each with its unique flavor profile derived from the hillside terroir of granite, schist, and gneiss soils.

Our flight begins with a notoriously challenging to produce Condrieu Viognier, yielding a rich and complex white wine, followed by a classic Crozes-Hermitage introducing French Syrah. We will also explore the St-Joseph Syrah, a joy to drink and exciting to discover, and a ripe and full-bodied Syrah from Cornas, the southernmost appellation of the Northern Rhône.

This week's Tasting Flight is priced at $33 and is now available at both locations. Stop by to indulge in a journey of flavors and discover your palate's preference.

For additional information, please refer to the details below. And for those who enjoy pairing food with wine, be sure to check out our food pairing suggestions for the weekend!

Cheers,

Mark

NEW ARRIVAL!

2020 Domaine de Montille - Burgundy

Be the first to enjoy the 2020 Vintage Burgundy from Domaine de Montille. While supplies last, these will be our GO-TO red and white Burgundies for the season!

These two wines offer classic expressions of Pinot Noir & Chardonnay at great value considering the allure of winemaker, Etienne de Montille. You will be hard-pressed to find this quality at this price.

For order requests, simply reply to this email and let me know your desires. First-come, first-served!

Domaine de Montille Bourgogne Blanc

"Le Clos du Château de Puligny Montrachet" 2020

$55 btl/retail

Situated in the village on the border of the Puligny-Montrachet vineyards. Nose of citrus, green apple, and white flowers, complemented by subtle notes of toast and vanilla from the oak. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with bright acidity and flavors of lemon, peach, and mineral, with a long, elegant finish.

Domaine de Montille Monthélie Rouge

"Vin Nature" 2020

$59 btl/retail

Nestled between Volnay & Meursault, Monthélie terroir provides a delicate, perfumed, and elegant style. Nose of cherries and raspberries, as well as floral and spice notes. Notable freshness & acidity enhance a refined finish.

Click Here to Browse & Purchase Wine Directly Online. We will have your order ready for pickup at either of our two local stores OR ship nationwide! (some states restricted)

Stay up to date with our latest offerings on Instagram and Facebook!

Facebook  Instagram  

Northern Rhône AOCs

Whether or not French Syrah is “the best” is entirely up to you, but one thing is for certain: The Northern Rhône produces Syrah very unlike other regions in terms of style. It’s a fascinating region to try to understand. Beyond just reds, 3 other grapes are a big deal here: Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne.

Let’s explore the Northern Rhône region from North to South.

Côte Rôtie: The “roasted slope” is one of the most important French appellations for Syrah (alongside Hermitage and Cornas). The best wines offer up flavors of black raspberry, black currant, violet, and chocolate along with savory hints of olive, bacon fat, white pepper, and powerful charcoal smoke. They are bold yet precise with fine-grained tannins.

Condrieu: The largest white wine appellation in the Northern Rhône produces rich, opulent wines made with 100% Viognier. The wines of Condrieu are rather hard to source. Still, when you do find one (primarily from Guigal, the largest negotiate), you can expect rich oily flavors of tangerine, papaya, lime peel, and green almond with rich toasted oak notes of gingerbread, macadamia nut, and allspice.

Chateau Grillet: The tiny single-producer appellation, Neyret-Gachet releases 10,000 bottles each year. This wine is produced partially with oak aging, which adds richness similar to a full-bodied Chardonnay.

Saint-Joseph: Some of the best values of the Northern Rhône exist along this 30-mile stretch that is Saint-Joseph. Of course, due to the large size of the region, you’ll want to be choosy. The wines of St.-Joseph range in taste from spicy flavors of black olive and black pepper to richer, more complex wines similar to those found in Côte Rôtie.

Crozes-Hermitage: The largest appellation in the Northern Rhône and also easily confused with Hermitage (the fine wine micro-region), Crozes-Hermitage wines range in quality from simple food wines to awesome Syrahs. The major difference you’ll see here is in tartness due to Crozes-Hermitage’s position on the East bank of the river.

Hermitage: The hill of Hermitage is famous for its emboldened Syrah wines that usually need around 5–10 years before you open them. When you do, you’ll be greeted with heady aromas and layered flavors blackberry, black currant, licorice, coffee, candied cherry, and smoke. Besides Syrah, the hill also produces some outstanding age-worthy white wines that are a blend of Marsanne and Roussanne. Wines from L’Ermitage do not come cheap for two reasons: one, the wines are consistently ranked as the best in the Northern Rhône, and two, Hermitage has a storied history, which can make tasting these wines feel a bit mystical.

Cornas: Typically the boldest and most tannic of all the Northern Rhône Syrah wines, Cornas delivers tongue-staining flavors of blackberry jam, black pepper, violet, charcoal, chalk dust, and smoke followed up with grippy intense tannins. Most will recommend waiting about a decade for the tannins to soften and the wines to reveal more kirsch and licorice flavors. However, some of the producers have started practicing more modern techniques to deliver a softer, smoother wine right on release.

Syrah Tasting Quick Guide

Join us this week at either location as we feature an all Northern Rhône Valley flight that includes three Syrahs & one Viognier! Here's the lineup:

Ferraton Condrieu "Les Mandouls" 2019 - $70 btl/retail

Condrieu, Northern Rhône, FR

Domaine du Colombier Crozes-Hermitage Rouge 2019 - $36 btl/retail

Crozes-Hermitage, Northern Rhône, FR

Lionel Faury St-Joseph Rouge 2020 - $42 btl/retail

St. Joseph, Northern Rhône, FR

Alain Voge Cornas "Les Vieilles Vignes" 2019 - $105 btl/retail

Cornas, Northern Rhône, FR

Full Tasting Flight of 4 Wines - $33 (2.5oz pours)

TASTING FLIGHT HOURS:

MYERS PARK:

5:00 - 7:00pm Wednesday

5:00 - 8:00pm Thursday, Friday

1:00 - 7:30pm Saturday 

SOUTH END: 

5:00 - 9:00pm Thursday, Friday

1:00 - 9:00pm Saturday

1:00 - 5:30pm Sunday

>> TASTING FLIGHT OFFERINGS:

Ferraton Condrieu

"Les Mandouls" 2019

Condrieu, Northern Rhône, FR

$70 btl/retail

The name "Les Mandouls" refers to the almond trees that grow alongside the vineyards where the Viognier grapes for this wine are sourced. Classic Condrieu with a rich and complex flavor profile.

Varietal: 100% Viognier from the steep slopes at the foot of the Massif Central. The wine is aged in oak barrels for several months, which imparts a subtle toasty flavor to the wine. Damien Brisset has been the winemaker since 1998.

Taste: On the nose, the wine displays aromas of apricot, peach, and honeysuckle, along with subtle hints of vanilla and spice. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with a creamy texture, and flavors of tropical fruits and a touch of minerality.

Pairing Suggestion: Best enjoyed on its own or paired with rich and flavorful dishes such as creamy risottos or seared scallops. Additionally, the wine's tropical fruit and vanilla notes work well with the delicate flavors of the lobster.

Domaine du Colombier

Crozes-Hermitage Rouge 2019

Crozes-Hermitage, Northern Rhône, FR

$36 btl/retail

The brothers Florent and David Vial come from a family of gardeners in Mercurol in the heart of Crozes-Hermitage, where apricots have long being the priority until a new cellar was built in 1991 and wines under the Colombier label were introduced.

Varietal: 100% Syrah from 60 year old vines grown in alluvial soils that are dotted with centuries-old rounded stones.

Taste: Deep, purple-red in color in the glass with ripe red/black fruits aromas that are complemented by subtle notes of violets, licorice and black pepper. The palate is filled with spicy notes that combine with notes of plum, cherry, prune and berry jam that are skillfully woven into a rounded texture and smoothly flow into a persistent, juicy finish with a hint of spice.

Pairing Suggestion: The bold flavors and firm tannins work well with hearty vegetables dishes such as roasted eggplant, mushrooms, and lentil stews.

Lionel Faury

St-Joseph Rouge 2020 

St. Joseph, Northern Rhône, FR

$42 btl/retail

Domaine Faury is one of the region’s most artisanal producers of Syrah, famous for its low intervention winemaking. Complex & layered flavors abound.

Varietal: 100% Syrah from the famed “Le Blanchard” parcel on the northern tip of the Saint Joseph appellation. Winemaker Lionel Faury believes in using oak barrels that are at least five years old. The wine is aged for 12 months before being bottled.

Taste: Deep, dark red color with a purple hue in the glass with an intense and complex nose that hints at aromas of black fruits such as blackberry, black cherry, and blackcurrant, along with notes of violet, pepper, and herbs. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and rich, with firm tannins that provide a structure to the wine and lead into a long persistent finish with a mineral spine.

Pairing Suggestion: A versatile wine that pairs well with a range of dishes. This Syrah can stand up to bold flavors (grilled meats) and can also complement more subtle side dishes that feature roasted roasted root veggies.

Alain Voge Cornas

"Les Vieilles Vignes" 2019

Cornas, Northern Rhône, FR

$105 btl/retail

From the steep granite hills of Cornas, Alain Voge has been making exceptional Syrah since 1959. In recent years, his daughter Albane has taken over the winemaking & continues to produce unique terroir driven wines.

Varietal: 100% Syrah from +50 year old vines. Style for this wine involves partial destemming and fermentation using only native yeasts. The wine is aged in a combination of new and used oak barrels for 18 months, which contributes to the wine's complexity and texture.

Taste: On the nose, the wine has a rich and complex aroma, with blackberry, black currant, and plum, along with hints of black pepper, leather, and smoke. These aromas are indicative of the wine's ripe fruit character and its partial aging in oak barrels. On the palate, the wine has a full body and firm tannins, with a balanced acidity that provides structure and freshness. The flavors on the palate mirror the aromas, with ripe dark fruit and spice notes dominating the mid-palate, along with additional layers of smoked meat and earthy undertones. The wine's long, persistent finish is marked by fine tannins and a touch of minerality, leaving a lasting impression of complexity and elegance. Tertiary notes of leather & earth also make an appearance.

Pairing Suggestion: Does well with wild game such as pheasant, and venison. Can also be enjoyed with stronger aged cheeses as the wine's fruitiness and spiciness provide a nice contrast to the rich, tangy flavors of the cheese, while the tannins help to cleanse the palate between bites.

 704.332.9910 (Myers Park) | 704.332.9913 (South End)

 [email protected] | www.petitphilippe.com

Wine Emergency? txt 415.306.4283

BE WELL + STAY CONNECTED