Wines

• The vines are grown in the commune of Chavanay, called the “Vignes d’à coté” because it’s mainly vines next this appellation.
• The soil is granitic and alluvial. Naturel cover cropping to avoid erosion.
• No insecticides with respect to soil and vine balance, few treatments (depending on weather and the necessary) and small amount of organic fertilizer. Vigor and yield control, leaf-thinning and green harvesting to promote grape ripening.

96 Points! Brilliant all the way, the 2020 Hermitage Chante-Alouette Blanc is a white readers should snatch up. All Marsanne from a mix of both granitic sites and more loess sites, brought up a mix of demi-muids and tank, it has a gorgeous perfume of honeyed peach, quince, crushed stone, and toast. With bright acidity, medium to full body, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a great finish, it will benefit from just a few years of bottle age and keep for 15+ years or more. It’s a quintessential Hermitage Blanc. - Jeb Dunnuck

95 Points! Shows impressive concentration, with a layer of melon, quince and heather supported by a foundation of wet stone. Lightly honeyed and well-defined, the palate shows beautiful integration and drive. Reveals echoing notes of dried verbena, white tea tannins and salted, buttery brioche on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2037. - Wine Spectator

From the importer: The domaine’s top red wine is the cuvée Charles de Batz, which was the original name of d'Artignan. The wine is composed of 90% Tannat with 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines that are between 50 and 100 years old. After being completely destemmed, the Cabernet and Tannat are fermented separately in cement tanks. During this time, a bit of micro-oxygenation or microboullage takes place. The wine then goes into oak (50% new) in an underground cellar where it also undergoes malolactic fermentation. After 12 months in wood, it is blended and bottled after a very light filtration.

Very ripe, rich Madiran that takes no prisoners. This wine succeeds in obtaining more fruit than tannin! The color is nearly opaque—wine doesn't get much darker than this. It displays notes of black fruit (blackcurrant and blackberry) along with just a hint of red fruit. There is a cedar-like creaminess to the oak which is extremely well-integrated. Tannins pick up on the finish but, let's face it, this is Madiran and that is to be expected. These tannins seem to dissolve when the wine is matched with richly flavored meats like leg of lamb, duck, goose or game.

94 Points! The Stefania Barbot 2019 Taurasi Fren offers pretty concentration and richness with dark fruit that starts with blackberry preserves, cherry confit, rum cake and sweet spice. The full-framed Fren could use another few years of bottle age to soften those chalky Aglianico tannins. Despite the wine's robust profile, the fruit remains punchy and lively. This wine ages for three years before its release, including two years in oak. Fruit comes from old vines aged from 70 to 90 years old. Only 4,000 bottles were made, and you get a beautiful Taurasi at an affordable price. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

91 Points! A pure expression of Aglianico, the Stefania Barbot 2019 Irpinia Campi Taurasini Ion is thick and darkly concentrated with a powerful 15.5% alcohol content. That brawn and muscle proves distracting, especially on first impact. However, the overall quality of dark fruit, with pressed blackberry and dark cherry, gives the wine pretty vertical lift and inner energy. On the palate, the wine is more streamlined and elegant than you might initially expect. Ion pulls itself nicely together at the end. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

92 Points! Lots of focused crushed-berry and cherry character. Very fresh. Medium body. Fine and delicate tannins and a delicious finish. Sort of Beaujolais mouth-feel to this. Drink now. - JamesSuckling.com

93 Points! Here's a fun new wine from Elena Fucci named "sceg," after the local dialect word for pomegranate. The 2021 Aglianico del Vulture Sceg is made with fruit from old vines in the village of Barile, perched on the steep slopes of the extinct Vulture volcano. This wine sends an important message for Aglianico because it aspires to a more contemporary profile with bright fruit flavors and an accessible drinking style. We're still talking about the mighty Aglianico grape, so you can expect ample tannic structure and texture; however, this wine does indeed break down in terms of bouquet with tart berry, cranberry jelly from a can and Amarena cherry. And, yes, there is plenty of pomegranate berry too. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

92 Points! Camphor complicates grilled herb and red plum aromas as the 2021 Aglianico del Vulture SCEG opens in the glass. This is an especially rich and supple rendition of SCEG, with sour citrus enlivening masses of dark red fruits and perfumed inner florals that resonate throughout. Juicy acidity maintains an energetic feel as grippy tannins come forward through the close, as the 2021 finishes long and staining with a youthful tension that puckers the cheeks. - Eric Guido, Vinous Media

93 Points! Crushed red plums, blood orange, and sweet spice create an alluring bouquet as the 2021 Aglianico del Vulture Grifalco lifts from the glass. This is soft tectured with a saline tinged core of wild berry fruits. Violet inner florals amass toward the close. The 2021 Finnishes with medium length and perfumed, grippy tannins as sour citrus nuances add freshness. I truly admire the energy and the classic lines inherent in this beautiful Vulture Aglianico. - Eric Guido, Vinous Media

96 Points! A big, ripe, opulent, and sexy white, the 2021 Hermitage Blanc has honeyed orchard and quince-like fruit, medium to full body, some acacia flower and spicy nuances, a layered, decadent mouthfeel, and that rare mix of freshness and richness that's so hard to deliver. - Jeb Dunnuck

80% Marsanne, 20% Roussanne, 40-50 year-old vines...

Marsanne 85%, Roussanne 15% from 30-40 year-old vines in Le Paradis sur Mauves, La Ribaudy sur Chavanay and Rochecourbe sur St Pierre de Boeuf

92 Points! A step up, the 2021 Saint Joseph Le Lombard Blanc is more rounded and complete, with beautiful honeyed quince, spice, and dried herbs in a medium-bodied, round, supple package that's already a joy to drink. - Jeb Dunnuck

Winemaker Notes: "When Jenn and I were dating we were up in San Francisco eating at La Ciccia, a great little Italian food spot, and asked the server for something to drink that they thought would go with our food choices and that also would be a bit off of the beaten path. The wine we ended up being served was awesome and my first time drinking a skin contact white. Over the years as this style of wine has gained popularity I have tasted many more. For me there is an “orange wine” style which to me is more funky, austere and sometimes flawed. In my mind there is the other side of skin contact whites, the bottles you keep going back to, unctuous and intriguing. So this is not orange wine, meaning it wasn’t made from oranges and it isn’t orange in color just to fit a trend. It is about ⅔ marsanne and ⅓ grenache blanc, both from Demetria Estate. Each variety was fermented separately on the skins, marsanne for two weeks and grenache blanc for about 5 days. Color is light amber, nose is fresh cut flowers and flavor is deep while remaining delicate. As I taste this wine I want crudo scallops or even better a good ole quesadilla mar y tierra."

94 Points! The 2018 Hermitage Chante-Alouette Blanc just about always delivers incredible quality, and it sells for a fraction of the single vineyard releases. Classic Hermitage notes of buttered citrus, honeysuckle, acacia flowers, and spice all flow from this richer, beautifully textured, balanced Hermitage that has enough density and depth to keep for 10-15 years or more. It's well worth seeking out and I'd be happy with a case in the cellar. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! Lovely, with a mix of fresh and dried peach, yellow apple and quince flavors, along with honeysuckle, salted butter and heather notes. The long finish has a nice tease of quinine for contrast amid the fruit. - Wine Spectator

94 Points! Extremely perfumed with violet and blueberry aromas that follow through to a full body with creamy, refined tannins. Wonderful depth, due to the compact fruit and vertical line of tannins. Black pepper to the dark fruit. Better in two or three years. Try after 2022. - JamesSuckling.com

92 Points! Molettieri’s 2007 Taurasi Vigna 5 Querce is a big, big wine. Mocha, espresso, game, tar, licorice and dark raspberries meld together in an unusually ripe, flashy Taurasi. The 2007 boasts tons of richness and sheer power, but it needs at least another year to settle down and incorporate its oak. Unlike most Molettieri Taurasis, the 2007 should drink well with minium cellaring. - Antonio Galloni, robertparker.com

91 Points! A full-bodied red with aromas of black cherries, blackcurrants, violets and black licorice. Tannic and chewy with a firm core of dark fruit. Try from 2023. - JamesSuckling.com