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Here’s an exciting duo of top scoring Northern Rhone wines from one of the region’s rising stars, the enticing 92 pt. 2020 Guy Farge Saint Peray white and the robust 93 pt. 2020 Guy Farge Saint Joseph Terroir de Granit red offering lush, layered complexity that promises pleasurable drinking for years to come at a fraction of the price of higher profile producers and a perfect opportunity to mix a case at extraordinary value pricing.
Perched on a rugged slope with panoramic views of the Rhone and the village of Tain L’Hermitage, the winery of Domaine Guy Farge is headquartered in an unassuming building in Saint Jean de Muzols, its small tasting room overlooking the vast river valley known for producing some of the world’s greatest wines and now run by Guy's son, Thomas Farge. Dating back to the 1920’s, the Farge family has been renowned for growing quality grapes in the region, a reputation that has continued to rise with Thomas' implementation of sustainable viticultural practices since taking the reins including farming their 22 acres of estate vineyards organically and plowing the steep parcels with horses. Located in the most southerly appellation of the Northern Rhone, Guy Farge’s vineyard in Saint Peray is a small hillside parcel with a mix of the same varietals used to craft white Hermitage, the vines averaging 40 years of age planted in clay and calcareous limestone soils that contribute to its characteristic minerality. Fermenting the unique blend of 90% Roussanne and 10% Marsanne with indigenous yeasts, Thomas aged the intensely aromatic 2020 Guy Farge Saint Peray Grain de Silex on the lees in stainless steel vats with a small portion in older barrels, yielding “one of the finest vintages of this cuvee I’ve tasted” according to Jeb Dunnuck with richly textured, mouth coating fresh fruit and zesty, mineral-driven acidity that begs for another sip. Produced from the terraced, rocky vineyards near the winery from vines averaging 60 years of age, the classically styled 2020 Guy Farge Saint Joseph Terroir de Granit was aged in used 400-liter barrels for 12 months, revealing juicy ripe dark fruit hinting of cracked pepper and smokey flint with elegant, integrated tannins, described as “a serious Northern Rhone red” by Decanter’s Matt Walls that’s built to age a decade or more.
For fans and collectors of Northern Rhone wines seeking a great deal and anyone looking to discover the authentic wines of the region, these artisan-crafted cuvees from Domaine Guy Farge boast the enticing flavors and rich complexity of wines more than double the price, a terrific opportunity to enjoy two stunning values that represent the best of their appellations without breaking the bank. |