Today I bring you what George "The Greek" Lelektsoglou calls "The Most Democratic FineWine in the World." Why is that? Because, obviously everyone can afford it. Sometime the toughest wines to get are inexpensive wines from a once in a lifetime vintage. It's a very good and complex wine but obviously inexpensive enough for serving at parties or on a random Tuesday with pizza. Buy as much as you can get.
Today's wine, the 2015 Compagnie l'Hermitage Cotes du Rhone Villages "Terres des Garrigue" for as little as $17.99 a bottle on a 4-pack. That is a criminal price.
Let me explain all the ways that this is a value.
1) The wine is made by George "The Greek" Lelektsoglou, who if you are familiar with the Fass Selections e-mails, is a friend or Fass Selections and also owns the most important wine store in the Northern Rhone. Growers fights amongst each other to get a sacred spot in his store. He is the King of the Rhone. He discovered and introduced everyone who is anyone to the Northern and Southern Rhone critics, consumers and influenced generations of young winemakers. Based on his encylopedic knowledge of the terroir of the Rhone, he selects the grapes for this wine and directs its vinifcation.
2) The age of the vines is between 40-80 years old and is sourced from the village of Visan.
3) It's stunning, complex wine. Chewy tannins, raspberry berry fruit, lavender and herbs on the nose. So precise. Such a nice stony earthy background this is all put on. The freshness and depth is the giveaway that we are into something special here.
4) This was in the running for red wine of the year but there is not enough.
5) It's so popular in France that George sold almost 40,000 bottles in 3 weeks.
6) It's from the insane 2015 vintage.
7) It's only $17.99 each on 4.
You cannot understate the importance of George Lelektsoglou in the history of the Rhone. My favorite story of his, as George was a Greek immigrant who came to Tain l'Hermitage over 30+ years ago, was to sell one bottle of wine he had to open three. The Northern Rhone has come a very long way since he first arrived. So this wine I was careless on but all is not lost. They made around 80,000 bottles and when I got around to wanting to sell it, Charlie, George's son, who works side by side with his father, said it was all sold out but he could see what he could do. This was in a span of 3 weeks. I found out the wine was available finally and then 80,000 bottles gone. I bet he only had to open 2 or 3 bottles to sell 80,000 as his reputation is gold up there in Tain l'Hermitage. Charlie, got back to me and told me that he saved me X amount of cases. I replied to that email quicker than any in the history of Fass Selections because this wine is stupid good for little to no scratch.
I rarely if ever sell wines from the Southern Rhone and if I do they are usually incredibly good. The 2014 Visan from George, the 2014 CDP "Pignan" and the CDP's and Gigondas from Domaine St. Gayan. I'm really picky.
I won't ever sell a CDRV from 100% Grenache. I've met few if any I truly enjoy. Today's wine is only 50% Grenache and the rest being Syrah and Mourvèdre. The Grenache is tank fermented which gives it terrific freshness. This is key as sometimes barrel fermented Grenache can be plodding and just a hot mess. The Syrah is fermented half tank and and half barrel which gives the wine terrific body and depth. The Mourvèdre also gives the wine body and depth. There is only a light percentage of Mourvèdre in this wine.
The wine is just a stunning everyday wine which is why 80,000 bottles sold in 3 weeks. In 2015 the deep, intense fruit allied with the startling freshness from the vintage and how the wine was fermented makes this a wine that everybody can get behind. Thus, why it is the most democratic fine wine in the world. This is limited.
2015 Compagnie de L'Hermitage (Lelektsoglou) Cotes du Rhone Villages "Terres des Garrigues" - $19.99 ($71.96 4-pack) (LIMITED)
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