If there is one thing that I love about having and running Fass Selections is that I never have stopped learning about wine. Learning was always going to be a part of whatever career I decided on as because early on I was obviously obsessed with attaining knowledge and perhaps even more obsessed with sharing it. Before wine it was going to be art history, selling and extolling the virtues of some unknown Renaissance painter. "You want Da Vinci? Sure, you can spend 45 billion on a Da Vinci, but, what, what if I told you about "Artist X" for 10 billion and is all kinds of more aesthetically pleasing than regular old Da Vinci. Trust me." And that right there is kind of what today's E-Mail is all about. You could get Da Vinci, but today I want to sell you something else. Much cheaper, perhaps better, and just as interesting, if not more because it is somewhat novel.
2013 and 2014 are the two greatest back to back vintages for white wine in the Northern Rhone. 2013 is more big boned and 2014 has more finesse and freshness. Today I have the 2014 Remy Nodin St. Peray "Vieilles Vignes Le Suchat" for as little as $37.99 on a 4-pack. In 2014, I can safely say this CRUSHES the 2012. The 2012 is one of my favorite whites in the book, but 2014, with the extra uptick in acidity, adds another dimension to this wine that was not there in 2012. A little bit of acid goes along way when it comes to Marsanne.
Think of the grandiosity of a Batard-Montrachet, with the complexity of dry Rheinhessen Riesling from a ripe vintage and all the sexiness and texture that comes from 80+ year old Marsanne vines in St. Peray. I think the limestone gives this wine energy and acidity that is so hard to find in White Rhone. It also gives it uncanny freshness. It is crunchy and oh so juicy but exotic as well with terrific ginger and other savory and tea-like and honeysuckle aromas. So much pear and hazelnut on the palate and incredible acidity, structure and length that just echoes on the palate. You have never had anything like this. St. Peray, if grown by the right grower, on the right soils, in the right vintage, can really be one of the world's great white dry table wines and akin to great Hermitage Blanc, which this one is. This is as compelling as a wine as I have sold at Fass Selections. This is a wine that via 3 tiers would make no sense as it would be 50+ for St. Peray (although the 14 is insane and I would easily pay that price). At my price it's worth giving it a shot and I guarantee you will not be dissapointed.
When it comes to Marsanne and specifically Marsanne in St. Peray you want a high limestone content. If one has that high limestone content it magically transforms the wine to something that has average acidity and is perhaps a bit flat if grown on granite. The limestone imparts and electric type of minerality and combined with the moderate to low acidity of old vine Marsanne, you have an absolute dazzling elixir by easily one of the HOT young talents in the Rhone and this is his signature white wine. From Marsanne vines planted in 1936. This is VERY limited. What isn't?
It is from "Le Suchat" which is a small (0.3 hectare, 849 bottles produced) galet (rolled stone) covered limestone vineyard. It is SW facing and is raised in 60% New and 40% 1-4 year old wood.
2014 Remy Nodin St. Peray "Vieilles Vignes Le Suchet" - $39.99 ($151.96 4-pack)
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