2015 Arcane XIX Le Soleil
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Tasting Notes
Coming from 100-year-old Grenache vines (there’s 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre in the blend) mostly in the northern part of the Southern Rhône. This inky coloured beauty offers a terrific perfume of blueberries, scorched earth, graphite, and crushed violets. Deep, full-bodied, incredibly pure, with silky tannins, it’s a sensational Côtes du Rhône that’s better than most Chateauneuf du Pape in the vintage. It will be even better in another year or two.
Critic Scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Youthfully dark in colour and fruit-forward, but it also shows softening, silky tannins. It's full-bodied but not overblown, with a sensationally seductive mouthfeel. Black cherries define the fruit, joined by hints of dark chocolate and enough garrigue to give it a seriously savory character despite the fruit. An old-vine blend of 80% Grenache with 10% each Syrah and Mourvèdre. Maybe the best Côte du Rhône Villages I've ever tasted, it looks to have the stuffing to go another 10 years.
About the producer
Xavier Vignon has become one of the Rhône Valley’s most accomplished winemakers. Despite not owning his own vineyards, Vignon’s experience consulting for over 500 different vignerons in the region has given him incredible access to some of the Rhône’s finest terroirs.