2012 Sacrilege
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Tasting notes
Fashioned due to an unfortunate blending mistake, the 2012 Sacrilege VDP is a blend of two barrels of Cote Rotie (100% Syrah) and three barrels of 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme. Exotic and perfumed, with both Southern Rhone aromas and gamey, meaty Cote Rotie qualities, it gives up notions of blackberry, black raspberry, smoked meats, violets and licorice. Picking up a salty minerality with time in the glass, this full-bodied, seamless and lengthy effort is already approachable and delicious, yet should have 15 years or more of total longevity. I don’t know what the release price will be, but it’s certainly one costly Cotes du Rhone to make! Drink 2015-2027. Consulting at a number of top estates (Marcoux, Grand Veneur, Raymond Usseglio, etc.), Xavier Vignon (along with Philippe Cambie) is one of the leading oenologists in the Southern Rhone – and you only need to taste his own negociant wines to understand why. I was blown away by these current and new releases. Across the board they showed beautifully made profiles, with not only loads of fruit and texture, but superb balance and classic Southern Rhone characters. In fact, each of the wines showed what I think of as textbook characteristics of the terroirs from which they come. In addition, the prices remain remarkably low, and these wines are a treasure trove for the savvy buyer. Importer: Sussex Wine Merchants, Moorestown, NJ; tel. (856) 608-9644; Ingenium Wines, Huntsville, AL; tel. (256) 684-2543
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
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.