Wines Like Billon's Are the Reason I'm in the Wine Business Just a Brilliant Technical Winemaker Who Doesn't Market Himself The Wines are Classic, Terroir-Driven and Just Spot on Well Made
(They're Also Incredible Values)
I adore the wines of Christophe Billon. He is, in my opinion, one of the most talented winemakers in the Northern Rhone. He is easily a top 10 winemaker in Cote Rotie. And, because he is a modest man and does not market himself, the wines are ridiculous values.
One of the thing about great winemakers is that they take what the vintage gives them. If a vintage is made for early drinking, they do not oak the wines to death so that they are undrinkable for a decade. If a vintage creates wines with the stuffing for ageing, they will be made for ageing.
We all know that 2015 is a vintage of the century. In Cote Rotie, the traditional wines that we sell will need some time in the cellar before they can be optimally drunk. I've been stressing that people will drink too many in their youth and like Mighty Mouse, I have an offer that will "save the day." I have two incredible late release 2014 reds that are in their drinking windows that you can drink while the 2015s age.
The 2014 Maryline & Christophe Billon Cote-Rotie "Les Elotins" can be had today for $39.99 on a 4-pack. The wine is delicious and classic Billon. Superb ready to drink Cote-Rotie. Gamey, floral, spices and deep black berry and black cherry fruit. Great nose. Fresh and so deep with lovely fruit. Juicy and fresh with lovely tannins. This is a really elegant classy wine. It's more elegant and classic than wines from the more robust vintages like 2015. It's a wine that Syrah lovers will really want to drink because it is a wonderfully well made example of supremely balanced, nuanced Syrah where the fruit is a platform for the aromatics to shine though. Superb and wide open. It can age and improve for four years. It got 89-91 from Jeb Dunnuck and I think it is more 91! Below is the review.
"Possessing a classic feel in its black raspberry, violets, crushed rock and bacon fat-scented bouquet, the 2014 Côte Rôtie Les Elotins is medium-bodied, elegant and silky, with a pretty, nicely balanced profile that will allow it to evolve gracefully. Coming mostly from the Côte Rozier (this is the Côte Brune side of the AOC), it incorporates 5% Viognier, was completely destemmed and will see 26 months in one- to two-year-old barrels." - 89-91 Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
I also have the 2014 Maryline & Christophe Billon Terres de Viennea "Le Batie" for $34.99 a bottle on a 4-pack. My considered advice is that you do not sleep on this offer. This wine is not some knock back IGP wine. Not at all. This is essentially a wine that is from an ancient appellation across the river from Cote Rotie. It's basically Cote Rotie's brother from another mother. The Vienne area has a river and on one side are the Cote Rotie vineyards and the other side is Vinene and vineyards there. These wines have their own character that is unique and different than Cote Rotie. More sauvage and animal but just as floral. This is from a site in Vienne that has very hard granite. Also 100% destemmed which adds to the early allure of this wine. This wine is ridiculous. It is full blown baby Cote-Rotie. Floral, ripe, gamey, and just plain beautiful. So many cherries bordering on black cherry. Sappy and dense with terrific volume and amplitude and even some ripe tannins but all perfectly balanced. Tangy and complex but really shows amazing palate presence for a wine of this price point. Completely and utterly thought- provoking Syrah.
Next up is the 2015 Maryline & Christophe Billon Condrieu "Les Matisses" for as little as $37.99 on a 3-pack. You will not find a better value Condrieu anywhere in the United States. This vintage of this wine is remarkable. This is a true "Lyle wine" in that I have an irrational belief in the greatness of this wine and will back it up with even more irrational metaphor. Something about Viognier on steep hills of granite I truly love when done by an artist such as Christophe Billon who knows how to keep the wood under control. The wine has personalty for days. It's like a little Yorkshire Terrier with around eight too many bows in it but you still love it and smile at the owner, because that dog can't help it! That is this wine. It's that little Yorkie. It's Condrieu, this ain't Mosel trocken Riesling. It's fleshy, floral, rich, ripe, CUTE, and fresh Condrieu. It can't help itself. It's ostentatious because that's what it is, but get beyond that and it has freshness, purity, precision and a ton of dry extract. It's an amazing wine and Yorkie metaophors don't do it justice. Just try it.
Floral like only Condrieu can be. Well integrated oak. Nice mineral background. Great acidity, purity and stunning balance. Persistent and long. Awesome. Great finesse. So complex. Big and floral nose. So fat, yet poised. Lovely and deep. Palate is deep, ripe, yet, fresh poised and complex with an array of tropical fruits. Endless persistence. Best one of the 4 vintages I've offer (12, 13, 14 and 15).
2014 Maryline & Christophe Billon Terres de Vienne "Le Batiem" - $34.99 ($131.96 4-pack)
2014 Maryline & Christophe Billon Cote Rotie "Les Elotins" - $41.99 ($159.96 4-pack)
2015 Maryline & Christophe Billon Condrieu "Les Matisses" - $39.99 ($151.96 4-pack)
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