Clos Canos Corbieres Les Eoliennes 2013 750ML ($14.95) Buy Now: $11.90 specialWhy we love Les Eoliennes: Freshness! Much lighter on the palate than expected, with a shock of bright red fruit giving way to darker, spicier elements. This is a blend of Grenache, Carignan and Syrah from the south of France. Nice texture, too. – Tyler
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Inky ruby. A vibrant spice- and mineral-accented bouquet evokes ripe black raspberry and blueberry, candied flowers, incense and peppery spices. Sweet, palate-staining red and blue fruit compote and violet pastille flavors are complicated by notes of cracked pepper and bitter chocolate, with a spicecake nuance gaining strength in the glass. Velvety, pliant tannins add gentle grip to a strikingly long and incisive finish that strongly repeats the floral and mineral notes.” JR
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 93-95+ points “Tasted from multiple barrels, Jean-Paul’s 2013 Côte Rôtie is a peppery, complex and concentrated effort that shows the classic wildness and perfume of the estate. All of the samples had bright acidity and a spine of ripe tannin, so short-term cellaring will be the name of the game here. Always one of my favorite visits, Jean-Paul is loaded with enthusiasm and passion, and we went through multiple barrels for each of his cuvees. To me, his wines epitomize traditionally made Côte Rôtie. Jean-Paul told me that he was thrilled with his 2013s, but that it was an irregular vintage that will require bottle age. His 2012s are some of the most impressive in the vintage. The news here, however, is the split between Brothers Jean-Paul and Jean-Luc Jamet, who have been running the estate together since 1991. Jean-Paul will continue making the wines, and will maintain the majority of the estate vineyards. What effect, if any, this will have with regard to the wine is yet to be fully determined.”
Evesham Wood Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($39.95) Buy Now: $31.90 special
Evesham Wood Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 1.5L ($89.95) Buy Now: $79 special
Why we love it: The aromas! Sizzling red fruit, campfire spice, and herbs… An incredibly seductive wine with nice follow-through; cherry and currant flavors marry into a lasting, bright finish. A balanced and playful wine with very broad appeal. – Tyler
Winery note: “What a special place Temperance Hill is and what special wines come from it. As always, that “Temperance Hill note” is immediately evident on the nose. It’s hard to nail that note–cedar, green tobacco, freshly sawn wood–whatever you call it, it’s always there, but this year right there with it is a cherry and almost strawberry jam component. The mid palate is well-structured and full of fruit notes. 145 cases produced.”
Evesham Wood Le Puits Sec Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($39.95) Buy Now: $33 special
“Russ Raney founded Evesham Wood Winery in 1986. He studied wine in Germany before eventually moving to Portland to find an ideal US site for Burgundian and Alsatian-style wines. He is now enjoying semi-retirement while importing southern French wines from Clos Canos and Chateau de Cabriac, among others. Erin Nuccio took over as wine-maker and owner after working several years with Russ while also developing his Haden Fig label.
“The estate vineyard, Le Puits Sec, is planted on an east facing slope overlooking the Willamette River. It has iron-rich soils and is planted to several varieties. While the Evesham Wood wines tend toward elegance and the Haden Fig wines towards more fruit-forward notes, both are expressive examples of their (all dry-farmed) vineyards.
“The 2013 Le Puits Sec grapes were harvested before the rains and opens with notes of crushed violets. As this is still young, I gave the wine a chance to unwind for 24 hours before revisiting. The second taste still holds on to the violet and floral notes while adding a touch of wet autumn leaves that gives the nose a delightfully rustic note. The palate is all finesse with extremely fine, grippy tannins, delightfully balanced acidity and a light to medium body. It finishes with a hint of iron and red berries with an extra, unexpected something reminiscent of classic Sangiovese. A stylish 2013 and, of those I’ve tried, promises a superb aging potential.” -Suzanne