Once again a great success, with notes of acacia honey, white flowers, and warm toast...The palate is extremely complex with extraordinary energy - really worthy of the highest Scores...
The vintage

2011, a Vintage saved by the months of September and October, which were exceptional.

A summer-like spring and a spring-like summer and an optimal autumn.This, more or less, summarised the Vintage.
The weather conditions in spring, reminiscent of summer, suggested that it would be a relatively early harvest. But a summer, which more resembled spring in character, slowed down the maturity, above all that of Grenache. Autumn, however, enhanced everything, and, ultimately, provided fantastic conditions for the harvest.
We got so close to a really Perfect Vintage... A wonderfully fresh July smiled on the Syrah. Unfortunately, rain at the end of August and the beginning of September impacted on what hitherto had been a Vintage of extraordinary potential.
That said, however 2011 remains at a very high level, richly fruited and with good typicity, faithful to Terroirs so admired by Wine Lovers around the whole world.

Terroir

Pierrelles, Beaumes, Murets, Maison Blanche.

Ageing

20 months in new and one year old barrels. Tronçais et Allier.

Tasting

Once again a great success, with notes of acacia honey, white flowers, and warm toast...The palate is extremely complex with extraordinary energy - really worthy of the highest Scores...

Alcohol content

13%

Bottling

Without fining and light filtration.

Cépages

Marsanne : 80 %
Roussanne : 20 %

La neige tombe sur Venise, où les eaux sont gelées, retenant prisonnières les gondoles. La robe est jasmin. Le bouquet est un merveilleux panorama où les amandes, l'anis étoile et la vanille construisent un monde d'antiquaire. Sur le palais, les épices du gingembre sont figés dans une texture exceptionnellement intégrée et veloutée de brioche beurrée et de tarte tatin. En rétro-olfaction, tombent de la cire à bois, de la pierre à fusil et un peu de poudre. La finale est aussi intense que le bouquet. L'ampleur des arômes de pâtisserie, de minérale et de térébenthine la transforme en classique inoubliable. Un vin exemplaire, typique du meilleur de l'appellation.

Le Magazine du Vin , 95/100 , 2015-10-01

This fullbodied, opulent wine... it’s showy and lush, bathed in honey, pineapple and apricot fruit and accented by hints of toast and gingery spice."

Joe Czerwinski
Wine Enthusiast , 91/100 , 2014-11-01

A head-turner, with a broad range of salted butter driving through the core of sweetened butter, creamed white peach, white ginger, melon and macadamia nut notes. The finish is lush, creamy and enveloping."

James Molesworth
Wine Spectator , 94/100 , 2014-05-31

Pale gold. Penetrating citrus pith, floral and mineral scents are complemented by deeper notes of toasty lees and smoke. Smells like an exotic white Burgundy. Densely packed lemon, orange and pear flavors are lifted by dusty minerals, with the smoky note coming back on the tail end. Finishes tangy and focused, with intense mineral and floral notes and excellent persistence.

Josh Raynolds
Stephen Tanzer International Wine Cellar , 92/100 , 2013-04-01