2015 Puligny-Montrachet “Les Chalumaux”Comtesse de Chérisey
France | Burgundy
$120
Producers
The first time I tasted the Barruol/Lynch Hermitage Blanc was several years ago with the KLWM staff after work one night. It was love at first sip—and heartbreak by the last, since we had sold out of our shipment. I’m always happy to revisit this wine and marvel at the impressively delicate profile, yet towering potential for growth. It’s classic Hermitage Marsanne, with lychee, nectarine, white flowers, and a focused minerality that provides a solid backbone. It’s so pretty! One sip of this and you’ll be clearing out space in the cellar for a few cases.
—Will Meinberg
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2016 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Marsanne |
Appellation: | Hermitage |
Country: | France |
Region: | Northern Rhône |
Producer: | Barruol Lynch - Northern Rhône |
Winemaker: | Louis Barruol |
Vineyard: | 80 years |
Soil: | Granite |
Aging: | Pressed and fermented in Burgundian barrels |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 13% |
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône | Hermitage
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône | Côte Rôtie
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône | Hermitage
Barruol Lynch France | Northern Rhône | Côte Rôtie
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône | Côte Rôtie
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône | Collines Rhodaniennes
On the wines of the northern Rhône, Kermit wrote in Adventures on the Wine Route, “The best combine a reminder of the sunny Mediterranean with the more self-conscious, intellectual appeal of the great Burgundies farther north, which is not a bad combination.” Like the wines of Provence, Burgundy, and Beaujolais, Kermit was introduced to this region by Richard Olney, an American ex-pat and friend of Alice Waters.
Though technically part of the same region as the southern Rhône and connected by the Rhône River, much differentiates the north from the south. The climate is continental and in general cooler than that Mediterranean climate of the south. The appellations are significantly smaller: Cornas has less than 300 acres planted to vine and Hermitage around 345. The area planted is minute when compared to Gigondas (3,000+ acres) and Châteauneuf-du-Pape (nearly 8,000 acres). Many of the great wines come from steep hillside vines—terraced during Roman times. It was clear to the Romans that great wine could be made here and DNA evidence now shows that Syrah is in fact indigenous to the Rhône.
The terroir is predominantly granite and lastly, blends of the wines are mostly single grape varieties. Only four grape varieties are permitted in AOC blends: Syrah, Viogner, Marsanne, and Roussanne (as compared to the 19 permitted varieties allowed in Châteauneuf). The red wines are nearly all Syrah and Condrieu and Château Grillet must be 100% Viogner. The whites of Hermitage, Saint Joseph, Saint Péray, and Crozes-Hermitages may only be blends of Marsanne and Roussanne.
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône | Condrieu
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône | Collines Rhodaniennes
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône | Côte Rôtie
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône | Côte Rôtie
Barruol Lynch France | Northern Rhône | Côte Rôtie
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône | Hermitage
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône | Saint-Joseph
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône | Hermitage
Paul Bara France | Champagne | Bouzy
Paul Bara France | Champagne | Bouzy
Domaine Robert-Denogent France | Burgundy | Pouilly-Fuissé
Domaine de Fontsainte France | Languedoc-Roussillon | Corbières
Trust the great winemakers, trust the great vineyards. Your wine merchant might even be trustworthy. In the long run, that vintage strip may be the least important guide to quality on your bottle of wine.—Kermit Lynch
Drinking distilled spirits, beer, coolers, wine and other alcoholic beverages may increase cancer risk, and, during pregnancy, can cause birth defects. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/alcohol
Many food and beverage cans have linings containing bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical known to cause harm to the female reproductive system. Jar lids and bottle caps may also contain BPA. You can be exposed to BPA when you consume foods or beverages packaged in these containers. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/bpa