B-21 Top Recommendation
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Described as "impeccable beauties" by Jeb Dunnuck, these highly rated Clos Bellane selections reveal nuanced ripe dark fruit with flinty minerality from the unique northerly terroir of the Vinsobres AOC in the Southern Rhone, crafted by talented winemaker Stephane Vedeau of Ferme du Mont in Chateauneuf du Pape and all offered at exceptional value pricing perfect for mixing a case.
Elevated from Cotes du Rhone Villages to its own AOC status in 2005, the lesser known Vinsobres AOC has been the "secret" source of grapes for top rated Cote du Rhone blends from esteemed producers like Jean-Louis Chave of Hermitage for decades, the northern region bordered by a protective amphitheater formed by Mont Ventoux and the Alpine foothills and attracting high profile producers from the region's warmer, southerly appellations including Louis Barruol of St. Cosme and the Perrin family of Chateau de Beaucastel. Drawn to the estate's high elevation and limestone-rich soils on the Vinsobres plateau, Stephane purchased the Clos Bellane property in 2010, producing a range of terroir driven cuvees that emphasize freshness and balance by keeping extraction to a minimum and aging mainly in a combination of tank, concrete and well used barrels. Situated at 400 meters above sea level with panoramic views of Mont Ventoux and the Dentelles de Montmirail, Clos Bellane enjoys a cooler climate than most of the Southern Rhone, its 48 hectares of organically farmed vineyards planted mostly to Grenache aged 60 years of age and Syrah averaging 30 years of age on mineral-rich, pebbly slopes outside Valreas with an east-facing exposure that enables even ripening while lower night time temperatures preserve the grapes' acidity. Aged mostly in concrete, the entry level 92 pt. 2020 Clos Bellane Valreas Rouge is a 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah bursting with fresh spiced dark fruit and mineral-tinged garrigue on a smooth, satisfying finish. A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, Stephane aged the elegant and powerful 95 pt. 2020 Clos Bellane Vinsobres Saint Jacques in concrete vats for 12 months, yielding aromatic and vibrant dark fruit with hints of graphite and well balanced acidity on a persistent, mouthwatering finish. Crafted from 100% Syrah from the estate's oldest vines, the rich and muscular 95 pt. 2020 Clos Bellane Valreas Les Echalas Rouge matured in a mix of barrels and concrete, yielding rich, aromatic dark fruit hinting of cracked pepper and savory spice with a velvety texture and fine, precise tannins able to age a decade or more.
Summed up as "gorgeous" by Jeb Dunnuck, these meticulously crafted gems from Clos Bellane offer B-21 Southern Rhone fans a chance to be among the first to enjoy this relatively undiscovered estate at a time when new appellations and pioneering producers are few and far between, their exceptional quality and drinkability placing them at the forefront of the emerging Vinsobres AOC and all outstanding values promising Rhone lovers pleasurable drinking for years to come. | 
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