I am very excited to welcome the wines of Duclaux into our Direct Import program. On my most recent visit to the Northern Rhône, I had the opportunity to taste with the Duclaux brothers, and the wines were truly revelatory. La Germine comes from one of the notable lieux-dits near Tupin, where gneiss-driven soils produce wines of finesse and elegance. The wine is brimming with dark berry fruit and roasted plum, layered with hints of bay leaf and graphite that speak clearly to the region’s character. The tannins are supple and inviting, yet there is a core of fruit that recalls the more traditional expressions of the Northern Rhône—never overt, always balanced and poised. This is a tremendous new addition to our portfolio and fits beautifully alongside our other standout producers from the region, including Domaine Barge and Clos de la Bonnette.

Duclaux is one of our newest direct imports from France and we struck gold with this one. Considering the limited supply and hefty average price of Cote-Rotie, this is an absolute steal. It's a classic and generous style Syrah with tremendous depth of fruit and length and the addition of a small amount of Viognier adds a wonderful hint of spice to the wine. Northern Rhone fans will love this one.