Perhaps Our Most Unique Northern Rhone Wine - Stunningly Delicious and Under $20 Red - Ultimate Ringer Wine And a Stunning IGP Viognier (Under $20) from the Son of Arguably the Best Maker of White Rhone Wine - Marc Sorrel

So it looks like that day has come. Nicolas Perrin of the famous Perrin winemaking family has

bought the Domaine Les Alexandrins and it is not looking promising that Fass Selections will be working with them anymore as the Perrin distribution network is a huge machine. That's what happens when you are a rebel wine retailer. So this is likely the last offer ever from the Domaine Les  Alexandrins from Fass Selections. It bums me out as it is a terrific estate with amazingly pure wines that reflect the terroir so well. They also have a rebellious streak as I do and that is maybe why we hit it off so well.

We have had terrific success with the Intuition which was the brilliant Gamay from St. Joseph and sold 3 vintages of that wonderful wine. Now enter the 2014 Domaine Les Alexandrins IGP "Eclipse" which can be had for as little as $19.99 on a 4-pack. Before I heard the news about the sale I tasted the wine and immediately inquired if it could be my Red Wine of the Year and wanted to lock some down. I am getting ahead of myself as I am very excited and verklempt about this whole situation. The grape is a highly unusual grape for this area and it is the only known planting of this grape in all of the Rhone. What is it you ask? It is Tannat!! What??!? Yes Tannat from St. Joseph and it is absolutely brilliant. God this wine is good. They made it for the first time in 2014 and only around 700-900 bottles and it is a no brainer at $19.99. It is rich, dark and ripe but also has a wonderful acidic spine but make no mistake this is a hell of a lot of wine for $19.99. Dark color which leads to beautiful aromas of dark fruits and granite. My note just says stupid good. Tannat as one might suspect has some gnarly tannins but this has brilliant tannin management and just takes over your mouth with dark black fruits on a slab of granite with excellent buffering acidity. It is an absolutely brilliant wine and should be bought by the case. It is all one could ask for from a $20 bottle of wine.

I also wanted to offer a terrific white from the Domaine Les Alexandrins, the 2014 IGP "Poupette" which is 100% Viognier for as little as $19.99 a 4-pack. If you haven't heard '14 is a brilliant vintage for Northern Rhone whites and has acid and freshness for days. The knock against Northern Rhone whites is that they are usually a bit ponderous, flabby and lacking acid. Anytime anyone ever tells you that ever again, grab this bottle and pour that person a glass and watch an acid induced smile slowly form across their face. The tropical, floral flavors of Viognier really come through but not in an obvious garish, opulent way but in the typical restrained style of this estate. So pure, so fresh and so deep. It is a a wonderful bottle of Viognier and one must not forget that Guillhaume Sorrel makes this wine and his father is Marc Sorrel who is arguably the best white wine maker in all of the Rhone. And it shows that the talent has been handed down.

Both of these are limited and this is (I really hope not) probably the last ever offer from the Domaine Les Alexandrins. It was wonderful working with them and I wish them continued success.

2014 Domaine les Alexandrins IGP Tannat "Eclipse" - $21.99

 ($79.96 4-pack) 

2014 Domaine les Alexandrins IGP Viognier  "Les Poupées" - $21.99 ($79.96 4-pack)