Description
“Cuvée Julien” Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages, from the village of Séguret, made by the creative volcano that is Jérôme Benoit of Le Mas des Flauzières, vintage 2019. New wine to TOB.
Grenache 70% Shiraz 30%. 18 months in barrel.
Jérôme is a vigneron of overflowing personality that pours through his kaleidoscopic portfolio of wines, some bamboozling in their idiosyncrasies but others, like this – the “Cuvée Julien” – that simply nail the fusion of creative energy with indulgent tastiness. There is a wild exoticism to this wine with its piercingly pretty perfume and tropical notes that sparkle around the surging core of dark fruit, but the palate – as always – is where the wine’s greatness lies with its full body armoured by a chainmail suit of savoury tannins. I tried all his wines recently and settled on this one that covers similar ground to Jérôme’s entry level Gigondas wine but for much less money (his entry level Gigondas would be about $50 and it’s a bargain for Gigondas – but this Cuvée Julien is just as good – if not better – on a simple wine quality basis). A seriously punchy red wine with a very bright future ahead of it. Think Gigondas for half price.
Drink now to 2030++
