It is VERY Rare That I'll Send out a Solo E-Mail on a Wine Like This - Special Vintage, Special Wine

One of the things I love about my travels to Tain l'Hermitage and learning about the wines is that I am thrilled to sell today, the 2015 Domaine de Colombier Crozes-Hermitage Blanc. This is $26.99 each for a 4-pack. 
each Cuvee is special and there is a story behind each wine. I have said on and on about how great 2015 is in the Northern Rhone and these whites are. The Reds of the vintage are still mostly in barrel, but certain people are starting bottling or will start in the coming months. I will admit even before 2015 came along I had long begun my love affair with the whites of the Northern Rhone, so when I tasted the 15's out of barrel I had a range of what to expect having tasted White Rhone out of barrel for 3 years prior. Still, I cannot emphasize enough how great a vintage this is for the whites. I will try to tell as many stories as I can about this vintage, because the wines are so special and so undervalued. Along with the undervalued aspect this is a vintage that Viale Florent of the Domaine de Colombier says it is not realistic to think that a similar vintage or better will appear again in his lifetime which provides a great buying opportunity.. That is an amazing quote. The Greek says right now since I was there in March that the 2015's are tasting like a cross between 2003 and 2010. That is high high praise. When tasted as a barrel sample this wine literally touched my soul. When I think of Crozes-Hermitage Blanc this wine is what I will think of. This is the benchmark. The peak of how great the convergence of value, an undervalued appellation and a once in a lifetime vintage can be.

I'm a wine geek at heart for those who know me well and for me, the prospect of selling the best Crozes-Hermitage Blanc ever is much more interesting than selling high end Bordeaux or billion dollar Burgs. When I'm dead and gone, people can say Lyle sold the best Crozes-Hermitage Blanc for $27 and he didn't have to, he could have taken a much easier route, but he always followed his palate and looked for new and interesting things so that people keep coming back. The worst thing for me, and it hurts so much, is seeing a bad Delectable review or someone texting me they don't like a wine. It hurts. Because I care so much. I agonize over what wines to sell. I want every one of them to be the best for the money. Sorry for that digression, but wines like this are kind of what I am about and what this company are about. And I won't sell as much as a Meursault, or Pinot Noir, or Volnay but that doesn't matter to me, what matters is that I believe in this wine enough to sell it. And believe me this is a hand sell if there ever was one.

I'm going to pretend that you have just walked into my brick and mortar store and I am going to try and sell you this wine.

Lyle: Hello, do you need any help? Any recommendations?

You: Well, actually yes, I need a bottle for dinner tonight. I know wine very well and always have something in hand for the occasion but tonight I'm going to my friend's house and he is similar to me and I just want something awesome and different that won't break the bank. I've heard you're the guy to see. And nice sneakers by the way.

Lyle: Thanks, they are New Balance. Anyway, as soon as you started speaking I was already thinking about what I have in stock and there is only one choice. I mean it's just not even funny how good this wine is. It is the best of its kind and it's under $30. Under $30?? Best of its kind? Do you hear me? I mean, c'mon! It is made from 100% Marsanne planted in the 1970's and is from the 2015 vintage in the the Northern Rhone. It is the 2015 Domaine du Colombier Crozes-Hermitage Blanc.

You: Hmmmmmmm......Crozes-Hermitage Blanc? I don't know about that. Are you sure? I've had some flabby Northern Rhone whites before, and some nice ones but the nice ones are few and far between. I thought you like wines with face melting acidity?

Lyle: Oh I love face melt wines, don't get me wrong, but there's many ways to make a face melt. 2015 is a once in a lifetime vintage, this wine is unreal in the combo of richness, texture, ripe fruit and terrific acidity that is not face melting because it does not have to be. The wine has balance like you would not believe. It floats. And floats. And lasts and lasts, and is so juicy and rich, and just explosive as that is what 2015 Northern Rhone is about. The nose has white peach which is crazy vivid and also flowers galore. It is just the perfume of Marsanne magnified to 1,000. I've never had a Crozes Blanc that comes close. I've actually had a lot of Crozes Blanc and am qualified to say that. Many aren't.

You: Lyle, there is a reason someone I know has called you the greatest salesman on Earth? Because I need a four pack of this wine and you haven't even gotten to the palate yet. How is that palate?

Lyle: An amazing tidbit about Colombier is that they also grow apricots, peaches in all the great terroirs they grow grapes in. It definitely comes through on the palate is a rush of apricots, peaches, and a near tannic intensity like really good Marsanne can get. It is long and deep and so long. Did I tell you how long it is?

You: I'm sold sold! Just shut it already!

2015 Domaine du Colombier Crozes-Hermitage Blanc - $28.99 

($107.96 4-pack) (LIMITED)