2015 Cotes du Rhone Villages Les Quartz

Leading off the 2015s which were all tasted from bottle, the 2015 Côtes du Rhône les Quartz is terrific and will compete with any number of more expensive Châteauneuf du Papes. Strawberries, framboise, garrigue and flower notes all flow to an elegant, ethereally textured Côtes du Rhône that has depth, length, and complexity. With silky tannin, a charming, forward style, and a great finish, it's a no-brainer purchase. Clos du Caillou, under the helm of the Vacheron family, with Bruno Gaspard as winemaker and Philippe Cambie as consultant, continues to release a bevy of brilliant Côtes du Rhônes and Châteauneuf du Papes. As I wrote last year, the style has shifted slightly towards the more elegant side of the spectrum and apparent with the 2015s, which at times had me wishing for slightly more density and breadth, especially with the top cuvees. Nevertheless, the wines are brilliant and the 2015 vintage as a whole is a more streamlined, elegant vintage. The 2016s appear to be a return to wines with more oomph, density, and depth, and I think are a clear step up.