Our Wines in the Press

The Wine Advocate
A blend of 55% Grenache and 45% Syrah, the 2016 Vacqueyras is a full-bodied, supple offering loaded with lavender aromas, lush cherry and raspberry fruit and a long, silky finish. It certainly speaks of its origins in the Garrigue lieu-dit. Drink it over the next 6-7 years. Drink 2018-2025. 92/100.

Joe Czerwinski - robertparker.com, August 2018

vinous.com
(fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged for 15 months in concrete vats). Deep ruby. Fresh blackberry, licorice and allspice on the perfumed nose. Broad and fleshy in the mouth, offering concentrated dark fruit and spicecake flavors that become sweeter as the wine stretches out. In an ample but energetic style, delivering solid closing thrust and spiciness on the youthfully tannic finish. 90-92/100.

Josh Raynolds - vinous.com

The Bunch 2020
Carine and Eric Dalmasso make this from a blend of 80% Folle Noir and 20% Grenache Noir grown organically on stony soils in the hills above Nice. After alcoholic and malolactic fermentations have taken place, the wine is racked into French oak barrels of varying ages for a 12-month élevage prior to fining, blending and bottling. Bright crimson. Very much a beaker of the herbal warm south, including notes of garrigue. Savoury finish. This would take you on holiday. A rarity. Drink 2020 – 2027. 16.5 points.

Jancis Robinson OBE, MW - JancisRobinson.com

The Bunch 2020
Andreas and Markus Klumpp make this from an organically grown blend of Blaufränkisch, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and St Laurent in the lee of the Vosges mountains in Baden. Grapes from 20-year-old vines are hand-harvested and carefully transported within the winery by gravity before pressing. After three days of cold maceration on skins, the must undergoes a classic red-wine fermentation for 12 days with the cap being submerged three times a day. The wine is matured for 12 months in 5- to 8-year-old French barriques. High-toned Pannonian warmth on the nose of this blend. Interesting, distinctive wine – sui generis – and a nice blend of sweet fruit and refreshment. Berry character. Drink 2020 – 2023. 16 points.

Jancis Robinson OBE, MW - JancisRobinson.com

The Bunch 2020
Pascal Gay makes this from a premier cru site in the centre of the appellation. Hand-harvested grapes are vinified and then matured in oak barrels of various ages for 18 months prior to light filtration and bottling. Good to see a wine with this much bottle age... Drink 2018 – 2026. 16 points.

Jancis Robinson OBE, MW - JancisRobinson.com

The Bunch 2020
Maxime Graillot (son of Alain) and Thomas Schmittel bought this Syrah crop from the lieux-dits Chaillot (planted 1993), La Côte (late 1960s) and Sabarotte (late 1970s). Grapes are 50% destemmed and cooled at 15 degrees C. for six days prior to a four-week vinification (cap punching every two days). Aged in oak – 10% new, 45% one-year old, 45% two-year old 228-litre oak casks – for 18 months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. 300 cases made each year. Very juicy and much less severe than many Cornases... Drink 2019 – 2027. 16.5 points.

Jancis Robinson OBE, MW - JancisRobinson.com

The Bunch 2020
Hervé Bizeul’s wines seem to have settled down over the years. Hand-harvested grapes from selected plots of 50- to 100-year-old Grenache Noir, Lladoner Pelut, Carignan and Syrah vines on limestone-clay soils are vinified in stainless steel after cold maceration. The wine is aged without racking for 12 months in one- and two-year-old barrels and bottled after fining. Savoury nose and good concentration with just a hint of some very light brett? Rich, layered and interesting. Long and exciting with masses of almost porty spice and sweetness but it’s not flabby nor too potent. Drink 2019 – 2025. 16 points.

Jancis Robinson OBE, MW - JancisRobinson.com

The Bunch 2020
Julien Seydoux, based near Leon Barral’s winery, is responsible for this organic blend of 45% Syrah, 35% Grenache, 15% Carignan and 5% Mourvèdre. The grapes are hand-harvested at optimum maturity and then hand-sorted prior to pressing. Aged 50% in oak vats and 50% in tank for at least 14 months. Each grape variety is vinified and aged separately prior to fastidious assemblage and bottling. Brilliant value. Transparent crimson. Lovely transparent fruit in which the Syrah seems to dominate. Seriously underpriced. Long, satisfying and charming. Great for current drinking. Real lift (thanks to the schist?).
Drink 2020 – 2025. 16.5 points.

Jancis Robinson OBE, MW - JancisRobinson.com

The Bunch 2020
Guy Lyons makes this. Dry-grown vines on gravel loam soils with an underlying clay base (crucial to non-irrigated vines) force vine roots deep in search of water. This keeps yields low, giving smaller berries and more concentrated, intense flavours that are pruned and harvested by hand. With the influence of the Southern Ocean, this is an elegant cool-climate Riesling from three different plots in this extensive vineyard in the Mount Barker region of the Great Southern in Western Australia. Lively and tight. Bone dry. I wonder whether Clare or Eden Valley could offer better value? Although this is such a famous vineyard. Tangy finish. Drink 2020 – 2025. 16 points.

Jancis Robinson OBE, MW - JancisRobinson.com

The Bunch 2020
An organic blend of Marsanne, Roussanne, Ugni Blanc and Bourboulenc from an elevated coastal vineyard below the Cap Canaille. Vinification takes place in thermoregulated stainless-steel vats using indigenous yeasts and there is no fining before bottling. Quite rich – some residual sugar or just low acid? – but lots of fun and so individual. Not a silly price considering how many tourists are (usually) after this signature wine. Drink 2020 – 2021. 16.5 points.

Jancis Robinson OBE, MW - JancisRobinson.com