I have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the new Baron Louis, since I first tasted it almost a year ago at Chateau de Montfaucon. The vintage is stellar and will prove to be long lived, but more importantly the "Baron" is truly reflective of its terroir in Lirac. On the opposite bank of the Rhone river from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, we often think of Lirac as the kissing cousin to Chateauneuf in terms of style and flavor. The gravelly soils are there and the limestone deep under the soil is present. I feel like Lirac has really started to distance itself though. This is not pure hedonism, this is savory with blackcurrant, tobacco and pepper spice. There is a richness for sure, but so much lift and freshness go hand-in-hand here and the finish is long and complex. Montfaucon is firmly established as one of the greats of the Lirac region and they have long been one of the most important producers in our Direct Import program but every year, they reach for something deeper and longer and each year, that step forward impresses me. Few wines deliver this much wine for this kind of price. Drink now but discovering a few in your cellar a decade from now will lead to great rewards and memories for sure.

Woody, brambly vining berries intertwine with tobacco and wild mint, with a spicy clove-like tingle on the finish. The oak is well integrated yet prominent enough to face off with the lush, overflowing aromas of red and black fruit on the palate. This inviting wine brings a warm greeting from French countryside to your dinner table. Expect to be captivated!

This is one of our most dependable Rhone wineries, in my lil opinion, always making something that I tend to like and thus it makes it easy to recommend to our customers. It may surprise nobody that this wine doesn't change this streak, it's just great, especially for the price. The nose is dusky and dark-fruited, with touches of bramble, cherry, a little blue fruit, and purple flowers. The palate is fairly rich and chewy, very savory mid-notes, with a reasonable but not crazy acidity that slowly loses the fight to the tannins. More dusky black fruit, a little touch of bramble and then neutral barrel roundness. This is so accessible and easy, and the savory mid-notes make this so food friendly. Meat, braised, yes please. Potatoes still not optional. Unless you're allergic to potatoes. You can have polenta.