Fantastic Northern Rhone – Drinks like Cote Rotie for Under $30!

THE AMAZING 2015 VINTAGE OF A NORTHERN RHONE FAVORITE – RIGHT NEXT TO COTE ROTIE!

“This is one of my absolute favorites! I first tasted the 2012 vintage, then was thrilled with the next vintage and now am simply floored by the current one- simply because this wine is living up to the hype of the AMAZING 2015 vintage. As a lover of Syrah, this classic Northern Rhone wine is right up my alley, with everything I look for in Syrah –a medium elegant mouthfeel with hints of crème de cassis, black raspberries, licorice, roasted meats and cracked pepper spice. Simply delicious every sip you take.

The big secret of this wine that and what makes it such a steal is that this .75 ha vineyard is literally 150 feet from AOC Côte-Rôtie vines. It is the same terroir, soil, etc. as Côte-Rôtie! So, one can almost say that this is a Côte-Rôtie for under $30! We have a very limited quantity of this gem, which means don’t delay or it’ll be gone! “ –Jim Knight, The Wine House

FROM THE IMPORTER

About ‘L’Art Zélé: The name, which could be translated to “zealous, enthusiastic Art” is a play on words on the name of the lieu-dit where these vines grow: “L’Arselié”
Location: Grapes from parcels located 150 feet from AOC Côte Rôtie vines
Vineyard: Vines planted on a plateau at 850 feet above sea level
Vinification: Daily pump-overs and punch-downs. Vinified in open, temperature-controlled cement vats.
Aging: Aged for 15 months in 5 to 15 year-old demi-muid
Blend: 100% Syrah
Tasting Notes: This classic Côte-Rôtie expresses a savage sort of meatiness with a chewy structure to back it up. Notes of slain beast contribute to its wild gaminess, yet an abundance of heady blueberry fruit adds a touch of beauty.

About Domaine Faury
Along the steep, narrow valley that traces the northern Rhône, the appellations of Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu and Saint-Joseph take their place among the great wines of France, and Domaine Faury is one of the region’s most artisanal producers. When Philippe Faury took over the domaine in 1979, the family was selling wine, peaches and cherries, and the bulk of their clientele was local. Over the years, Philippe expanded their holdings to over eleven hectares, and expanded sales to an international client base. In addition, he has shared his savoir faire with his son, Lionel. Since 2006, Lionel has taken over the reins at Domaine Faury, though father and son still work side by side.

The steep slopes of the northern Rhône present a challenging terrain where farming is only feasible through terracing. On these terraced slopes, the Faurys’ vines take full advantage of the southern and southeastern sun exposure, benefitting from optimum ripening. A combination of the predominately granitic soil, partial de-stemming (in about 70% of the grapes), soft crushing of the grapes with a pneumatic press, and temperature controlled fermentation offer a liveliness and freshness that one does not often find in wines from the northern Rhône. There’s a real attention to detail here, and nothing is done in haste. Every method used encourages the grape towards greatness with the ultimate respect for its fragility. Pigeage, the punching of the cap, is not carried out with tools, but gently by foot – not just poetic but also pragmatic. Unlike many other vignerons in the region, the Faurys have a strong aversion to new oak. Though the reds definitely see time in barrels, there is a rotation between new and old alike, along with a variety of sizes, ranging from the smaller barriques to the larger 600-liter demi-muids. Unfined and only lightly filtered before bottling, these wines are loaded with classic flavors and show a remarkable rustic elegance.

THE 2015 NORTHERN RHONE VINTAGE

“For wine lovers who favor richness, weight and emphatic flamboyant fruit, 2015 will be a vintage to dive into, deeply. While I suspect that all but a few wines will be rather monochromatic on release, I’m confident that time will bring greater complexity and somewhere-ness to the ‘15s – and they definitely have the concentration to age. Patient wine lovers who heed what many producers and wine lovers call the '15-year rule' for northern Rhône Syrah and allow their 2015s to lose some baby fat for a decade and a half will be richly rewarded, but those hoping to find nuance and detail during the first few years after the wines hit the market may wonder what the fuss is about.
The tannins in the 2015s are definitely present but they’re not strict, as they often were in the 2010s and 2005s when I tasted those wines from barrel at a similar stage of development. In that regard the ‘15s show some resemblance to the often excellent and sometimes decadent 2009s, which as a group have yet to actually shut down. But the ‘15s, as a rule, are fresher than the ‘09s, which come across as broader and weightier. I believe that the ‘15s will always show better delineation and lift than their ’09 siblings because they possess the energy to buffer their ripeness. But I should emphasize that we’re speaking in relative terms here as few people will be able to call the ‘15s graceful or elegant wines unless they’re comparing them to the richest New World renditions of Syrah, or Shiraz.” –Josh Raynolds, Vinous, April 2017

Click the Share button below!