Leon Stolarski Fine Wines Southern Rhone White Wine

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Domaine Saint Etienne

Michel Coullomb at Domaine Saint Etienne is a grower whose wines have featured on our list for 2 or 3 years now and the quality of the wines he produces is consistently high. He has some excellent terroir, with vineyards situated in rolling hills in the extreme south-west of the Cotes du Rhone appellation. As you can see from the photo, the soil is loaded with the same type of stones ("galets roulés") found in the soil of Chateauneuf-du-Papes, about 15 miles up river. Moreover, I have rarely seen better-kept vines and healthier grapes. Monsieur Coullomb is a tall, gentle, hard-working man, who is passionately devoted to his vines and the art of fashioning honest-to-goodness wines that speak strongly of their Southern Rhone origins.

Domaine Saint Etienne Les Albizzias (White) 2008 - Côtes du Rhône
Domaine Saint Etienne Les Albizzias white 2008 table

Vintage	2008
Region	Côtes du Rhône, south-west of Avignon
Colour/Style	Dry white - medium bodied.
Grapes	A blend of Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.5%
Food	Fish or shellfish with creamy sauces, goat's cheese
Next day	Even better
Drink	Now, or over the next 2 to 3 years
Pale straw colour, this wine is intensely floral and grapey on the nose, with notes of nectarine, apricot, lemon, honeysuckle and fennel. The palate is quite rich and honeyed , yet at the same time very light on its feet, with delicious lemon, orange peel and nectarine flavours, along with some savoury, herby notes and a refreshing backbone of acidity. This is so fresh and moreish, with none of the overt bitter/pithy notes on the finish often found in white Rhones. All-in-all, this is another delicious wine, from a grower who makes lovely wines, year after year

Price: £8.25 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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La Ferme du Mont

Although the majority of the growers on our current list are there because I found them, a few are there because they found me. And this is one such grower. Stéphane Vedeau is based at La Ferme du Mont in Courthézon in the Southern Rhone, around which he farms in various appellations, from Cotes du Rhone through to Chateauneuf-du-Papes. He also has family winemaking connections in the Northern Rhone, as well as Provence, Languedoc and even Spain. So it seems perfectly natural that all of these family members should combine to offer a central point - or "point de collection" - from which their preferred market (i.e. small merchants like us) can choose from a large selection of wines from several different wine regions. For now, I have only tasted some of the wines from La Ferme du Mont itself and a couple of the Northern Rhone reds. And they are are - almost without exception - of a very high quality indeed. So much so that I am very much looking forward to tasting some of the Provence and Languedoc wines in the near future. For now, though, I cannot recommend the following four wines highly enough - they are simply brilliant!

La Ferme du Mont Le Ponnant 2008 Côtes du Rhône
La Ferme du Mont Le Ponnant 2008 table

Vintage	2008
Region	Courthézon, just north of Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Colour/Style	Dry red - medium/full bodied.
Grapes	50% Grenache Blanc, 40% Viognier, 10% Clairette
Alcohol (a.b.v)	13.0%
Food	White meats with oriental spices, fish dishes with sauce
Next day	Still drinking very well
Drink	Now, or over the next 3 years
A lovely pale straw colour, with oranges tinges. The nose has wonderful aromas of honeysuckle, peach, mandarin and lemon, together with distinct notes of clove, cinnamon and herbs de Provence. The palate is really crisp and zesty, with gorgeous fruit salad and lemon zest flavours. There are absolutely no harsh edges in a wine that remains beautifully balanced and refreshing, with none of those painful aniseed flavours you often get in over-blown southern Rhone whites. This really is summer in a glass - and perfect to drink now, though it should age nicely for a good couple of years or more. A beautifully-crafted and lovely wine.

Price: £9.49 (Including: VAT at 17.5%)

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Mailing list

Our list is constantly evolving, so if you would like to receive our occasional e-mail newsletter (around 8 times per year) click the logo >>>>

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Minimum order value, delivery charges and times

The minimum order value is £50 (plus the delivery charge). You may of course choose a mix of any wines in our range. Orders between £50 and £175: delivery charge is £6. Orders over £175: delivery is free! (If your order is over £175, please remember to change the delivery charge in checkout to £0.00). Please note: Delivery to non-mainland addresses (Scottish Highlands and Islands, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, etc.) is usually possible, but may not be on a next-working-day basis. It is also more expensive than delivery to mainland addresses, so will be charged at cost (for orders under £175) but with a small discount for orders over £175 - please call us for a quote.

Warning - you must be aged 18 or over

It is an offence to purchase or attempt to purchase alcohol if you are under the age of 18. (Section 149 Licensing Act 2003). We reserve the right to seek proof of age. Leon Stolarski says "drink less, but drink better!" Please consume alcohol in moderation.