ARCANE/är'kan/: secret; understood by few.
No secret to B-21 Southern Rhone fans and collectors, this selection of stunning Arcane wines from the masterful Xavier Vignon offers a range of one of a kind, impeccably crafted cuvees sourced from the Southern Rhone's top terroirs and representing some of the region's best values, now offered at unbeatable pricing perfect for mixing a case.
Arriving in the Rhone Valley in the mid-1990's and consulting for such luminaries as Marcoux, Raymond Usseglio and La Nerthe, the combination of Xavier Vignon's insider access to some of the oldest vines across the valley and creative passion for the region's varied terroirs and grapes inspired him to create the series of Arcane wines, naming each unique release after a card in the Tarot deck with matching illustrations on the labels. Xavier's meticulous winemaking requires some detailed descriptions for full appreciation, so let's dive in.
- Sourced from 100% Mourvedre from vines up to 100 years of age planted in 17 diverse zones including some in Chateauneuf du Pape, the richly concentrated 94 pt. 2015 Arcane XV Le Diable underwent Xavier's signature extended maceration before aging in 70% in concrete and 30% in new Austrian oak barrels for 15 months, yielding vibrant fruit with lush tannins and perfectly balanced acidity, its name Le Diable translating as the Devil and referring to being seduced by worldly goods.
- A multi-vintage, organically grown blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah from the AOC's varied north and south terroirs, Xavier aged the full-bodied 92 pt. N/V Xavier Vignon Cairanne Arcane La Temperance Organic in a mix of stainless steel and his patented Vinarius system of submerging small barrels in a wine-filled 7,000 liter wooden vat to prevent any oxygen from contact with the wine, yielding a "rich and fleshy" blend according to James Suckling with a "dark, earthy finish that pulls you back to the glass for more," La Temperance representing balance, moderation, and harmony.
- Declared "a beautiful, full-bodied, elegant wine that might just be one of the greatest red wines to come from Beaumes de Venise" by Jeb Dunnuck, the 95 pt. N/V Xavier Vignon Arcane XVII L'Etoile is a co-fermented blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre harvested from 2015 through 2017, aged in a mix of barrels and concrete tanks for 15 months yielding elegant layers of fresh fruit with nuances of pepper and spice, L'Etoile translating as "the Star" and representing inspiration and a bright future.
- A multi-vintage blend from five of the Southern Rhone's greatest recent vintages beginning in 2010, the bold and powerful 96 pt. NV Xavier Vignon Vin de France Arcane Le Fou was sourced from 85% old vine Grenache from different clones grown mostly throughout Chateauneuf du Pape blended with small amounts of Mourvedre, Syrah and Caladoc (a cross of Grenache and Malbec) and aged in a mix of French and Austrian oak barrels, truncated wooden vats and concrete vats, revealing "a full-bodied, layered, powerful yet seamless style" according to Jeb Dunnuck with "silky tannins, and a big finish" built to evolve over the next decades, , Le Fou or "the Fool" representing a leap of faith and an invitation to adventure.
- Described as "maybe the best Cotes du Rhone Villages I ever tasted" by the Wine Advocate's Joe Czerwinski with "the stuffing to go another 10 years," the impressive 96 pt. 2015 Xavier Vignon Arcane XIX Le Soleil is a blend of 80% Grenache from 100 year old vines with 10% Mourvedre over 80 years old and 10% Syrah over 50 years old and aged 15 months in one-third each of new barrels, concrete tanks, and stainless-steel tanks, called "an inky colored beauty" by Jeb Dunnuck "that's better than most Chateauneuf du Pape in the vintage," named the Sun to represent good fortune, happiness and joy.
- Sourced from parcels in Lirac, Vacqueyras, Gigondas, Rasteau, and higher elevation sites in Beaumes de Venise, the 2016 Xavier Vignon Arcane VI Les Amoureux delivers "sheer deliciousness" according to the Wine Advocate's Joe Czerwinski, describing it as "a stunning effort, showcasing raspberry and strawberry fruit, a silky-creamy texture and lush, mouthwatering flavors," the blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and 5% each Cinsault and Caledoc aged in concrete vats and classified as a Cotes du Rhone while built for extended aging, the Lovers card representing harmony and perfection.
- Last but certainly not least, the lush 94 pt. 2016 Xavier Vignon Arcane L'Hermite is a blend of 80% Grenache from 100 year vines, 7% Mourvedre and 5% Syrah co-fermented in concrete and aged in truncated wooden vats, with 4% each Muscardin and Picpoul Noir aged in small untoasted barrels, the blend aged partly in Xavier's Vinarium system and cellared for an additional four years in bottle, yielding a harmonious and balanced Gigondas described by Jeb Dunnuck as "elegant, seamless and silky" that promises to reveal its layered complexity over the next decade, L'Ermite or "the Hermit" representing seeking knowledge from within.
Crafted as singular releases with the goal of capturing the perfect intersection of time and place in the vineyard, these one of a kind wines from Xavier Vignon represent a range of truly exceptional Southern Rhone gems at incredible value prices, and while their tarot namesakes may not reliably predict the future, Xavier Vignon's Arcane label guarantees Southern Rhone fans some seriously enjoyable drinking every time a cork is pulled.
The 2016 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Papesse is brilliant stuff, and just about jumps out of the glass with its bouquet of both red and blue fruits, lavender, herbes de Provence, and ground pepper. A wine that just about screams "Provence" with its complex, satisfying aromatics, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, incredibly elegant mouthfeel, fine-grained tannins, and a great finish. It's powerful yet shines more for its polish, elegance, and complexity, and is a complete, nuanced Châteauneuf du Pape that will continue drinking fabulously well over the coming 15-20 years. This is 100% Grenache that was aged in one-third each of truncated vats, concrete tanks, and stainless steel, with a small portion in 200-liter barrels.
95 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Nov 2022)
The full-bodied, voluminous 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Arcane La Papesse shows a surprising degree of elegance for such a big wine. Remarkably dark and youthful in appearance, it gives up hints of leather, cedar and dried spices, all set against a backdrop of black cherries and plums. The tannins are fine and silky on the mid-palate, fading gently into soft dustiness on the lingering finish. Impressive, with at least a decade of aging potential still ahead of it.
94 points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate (Sep 2020)
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