Not to be confused with the red that I offered previously... Very Limited.. Because you have been a great customer for Rhone whites in this price range, you (and a handful of others) get dibs...

Raymond Usseglio Cotes du Rhone Les Claux BLANC 2019

Sale $19.99

92 pts Jeb Dunnuck

I know… you’re thinking, “This isn't Chateauneuf du Pape!” And you’re right… you’d have to pay more to get this from Chateauneuf!

This is another incredible secret plot of vines… 50 year-old Roussanne, Grenache Blanc and Clairette from a single vineyard (“Lieu dit”) in the commune of Saint Génies de Comolas.

Where? Okay… stick with me… I’ll try and move quickly… Saint Génies de Comolas is located on the western bank of the Rhone River, most of which is located in the Lirac appellation. Lirac is the southernmost village in the Cotes du Rhone region. But this is no mere Cotes du Rhone. In 1947, it was granted status as a “Cru” in the same category as the famed Chateauneuf du Pape. But the connection, and comparison, to Chateauneuf runs deeper – well, it runs as deep as the soil… You see, if you look at a map, Lirac lies nearly due west from Chateauneuf, on the opposite side of the Rhone River, about exactly the same distance from the river and the same elevation. So? So… hello? It’s the soil that makes the wine – and Chateauneuf is famed for its soil that resulted from the Rhone River washing quartz pebbles and clay down from the Alps. The heart of Lirac is composed of the same soil from the same geological age.  

“Okay, Todd. I can see where you’re going… but really? I should believe Lirac is of the same caliber as Chateauneuf du Pape? Then why haven’t I heard of it?”

Fair questions. Yes, Lirac can be produced at the same level as Chateauneuf. But the region is tiny in comparison. In 2013, Chateauneuf du Pape produced 623% more wine than Lirac! When you slice and dice the numbers, approximately only 9,625 cases of Lirac came into the United States last year.

And this wine… well it comes from a vineyard just outside the Lirac appellation. So, really nobody has heard of it.

The soil here is sand with gravel mixed in. Again, look at the map… this is the same soil found in the northeastern quadrant of Chateauneuf. Ch. Rayas, anyone? Theodoric, Cristia, Barroche… some pretty darn pretty wines…

The hallmark of these sandy soils is finesse and elegance. The fifty year-old vines add concentration and complexity. The result is outstanding… and a huge value! “Based on a blend of 40% each of Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, with the balance Clairette and Clairette Rose, the 2019 Côtes Du Rhône Les Claux Blanc is terrific, with a fresh, incredibly pure yet still textured style that will make it incredibly versatile on the dinner table. Notes of white peach, tart pineapple, white flowers, and honeysuckle give way to a medium-bodied, beautifully concentrated white that has an understated elegance, terrific balance, and a clean finish. It’s a seriously impressive white that’s going to keep for at least 3-5 years."


Or reply. The wine is available now in Chapel Hill. Wednesday, as ordered, in Hillsborough.