born under the sign of fire, 2003 is a vintage of ... · 2003 rhônein-bond born under the sign of...

RH0105/1 January 2005

A First Offer of

2003 Rhône In-BondBorn under the sign of fire, 2003 is a vintage of outstanding quality

producing ripe, sumptuous, round and silky wines

A vintage of excellent whites and soft, seductive reds

THE VINTAGEFrom the middle of May to the end of August, not a drop of rain fell anywhere in the Rhône valley.Temperatures soared from June through to mid-August. Even in the northern Rhône, daytime temperaturesfrequently exceeded 40º centigrade, and at night often remained at around 30ºC. In such conditions, manygrape varieties would have simply wilted away. That 2003 is a great vintage is due to Rhône varietals beingperfectly adapted to the Mediterranean climate.

THE NORTHYields were down by a third in 2003 thanks to a sharp April frost. They were further reduced throughevaporation so that overall the northern Rhône only produced half its normal crop.

The extreme summer heat forced the pace and grapes raced ahead to attain perfect ripeness a month early.Many growers cancelled or shortened their holidays but Jean-Louis Chave kept to his wedding plans and onlyreturned at the end of August just as the first, welcome drops of rain began to trickle down onto his parchedvines.

The wines are extraordinary. Ripe and sumptuous, they have round, silky tannins. High alcohol is a featureof the vintage as is low acidity, yet the balance is perfect. Their opulent, ripe flavours make most very accessibleto drink young but the grandest wines from the best vineyards will doubtless need longer.

OrdersbyPost,Fax

and Website only

by5pm,Friday 28thJanuary2005

La Chapelle at Hermitage

THE SOUTHHigh temperatures are not uncommon in the south but conditions in 2003 were especially ferocious. The harvestwas protracted, starting in August for most of the whites and ending as late as October for the grenâche whichripened only with difficulty. 2003 is an uneven vintage because so many growers took fright and harvestedtoo early. At their best though, the wines are majestic with immense reserves of power. In style they have thegenerosity and richness of 1989 with the fine structural backbone of 2001. The village wines are especially goodand with prices remaining stable these represent unbeatable value for money.

LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLONWhat really comes through in 2003 is the value of terroir. As with the Rhône, the great winemakers of theLanguedoc overcame the difficulties of the vintage to produce superb wines. In Collioure and Banyuls forexample, there was no drought and the vines were protected by sea breezes. The 2003 vintage is truly excitingat Mas de Daumas Gassac where the tiny Gassac stream never ran dry, or again up in the high Roussillon whereGérard Gauby has made the best wines of his career.

THE WHITESNow here is the real surprise of the vintage. The 2003 whites are excellent without any of the heaviness that onemight have imagined. Indeed they have great elegance and refinement notwithstanding their obvious power andlevels of concentration. The 2003 Rhône whites are worthy of serious consideration.

When demand exceeds supplyDemand for the top wines is likely to be high. We share out oversubscribed wines as widely as possible downto a minimum practical level per member. For oversubscribed wines, all orders are entered into a weighted ballotreflecting the member’s general support of The Wine Society. Should you be unsuccessful we will endeavour toprovide your preferred substitute as indicated on the order form. Allowing substitution and/or suggesting apreferred alternative will help to increase the likelihood of receiving similar wines should you first choice beoversubscribed. Nominating a substitute has no effect on the likelihood of receiving oversubscribed wines andwe will only substitute with wines that we believe to be of similar quality to those requested.

How this offer worksOrders by post, fax and website will be accepted. If you would like to order via the website, visitwww.thewinesociety.com and follow the on-screen instructions. You need a password to access the sitewhich can be requested online and will be posted to you the following working day. Your order should arriveat Stevenage by 5pm, Friday 28th January, 2005 and will be processed thereafter. As mentioned above,we may have to ration supplies in order to satisfy as many members as possible.

Members whose orders have been received by 5pm, Friday 28th January, 2005 will receive confirmation oftheir purchase by Friday, 18th February, 2005 at the latest. Members whose orders have been received after thistime will receive notification by Wednesday, 2nd March, 2005.

Notification by emailThe Society is now able to send transactional correspondence including notification of wines allocatedfor opening offers, and subsequent invoices, by email. For full details please visit www.thewinesociety.comand click on My Details then Preferred Contact Method.

If you wish to receive email notifications for this and subsequent opening offers, and have not already notifiedus, please see the order form for instructions.

What the price includes• Prices shown include delivery to a UK address. They do not include excise duty or VAT.• Payment of duty and VAT, at the prevailing rate (currently £14.71 duty per 12-bottle case and 17.5% VATpayable on wine and duty) will be requested once the wines arrive at Stevenage. This is expected to beautumn 2005 for the whites and spring 2006 for the reds.

• Once the wines arrive in the UK, members may opt to have them delivered within the UK or storedin duty-paid Members' Reserves.

NotesMembers, especially those living overseas, should note that only unmixed cases may be exportedor transferred to an outside bond.

Wines are offered in cases of 12 or six bottles as indicated.

Please note that these wines cannot be collected from our showroom in France.

This offer will close at 5pm, Friday, 28th January, 2005. For information regarding this offer after this dateplease contact us on 01438 740222.

Please read the full terms and conditions for this offer set out on the enclosed order form or on our websitebefore placing your order.

2003 SOUTHERN RHONE REDS IN-BOND

RH12901 Laudun, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Château Courac £39.00An outstanding-value village red made with 60% syrah, this is deeply colouredand packed with rich, raisiny fruit. 2006–2011.

RH12911 Cairanne, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Le Nonce, Mayard £46.00Delicious, intensely fruity and ripe-tasting southern Rhône red with the taste ofthe sun. 2006–2009.

RH12801 Rasteau, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Chapoutier £52.00From mostly grenâche with a little syrah, this is already quite round and smoothwith a lovely taste of ripe cherries. 2006–2011.

RH12921 Vinsobres, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Domaine Jaume £59.00This popular estate has made a cracker in 2003 from equal proportions ofgrenâche and syrah raised in barrel for a year. This is rich with good depth offlavour. 2006–2012.Magnums available.

RH12961 Rasteau l’Andéol, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Perrin £59.00Pierre Perrin of Beaucastel has made some lovely Côtes-du-Rhône in this vintage.The Rasteau is typically rich and full, and excellent value for money. 2006–2010.

RH12971 Beaumes de Venise, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Jaboulet Aîné £59.00This village, next door to Gigondas, is about to be granted cru status inrecognition for its superb reds. Jaboulet’s selection in 2003 is deliciously richand fruity. 2006–2011.

RH12931 Cairanne Ventabren, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Domaine des Escaravailles £62.00Thick, concentrated and fruity southern Rhône. This is a new supplier with verywell-sited vines on the best slopes in Cairanne and Rasteau. 2005–2011.

RH12941 Rasteau, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Domaine dela Soumade £62.00André Roméro was one of the star performers of the2003 vintage. This cuvée, with 80% grenâche, is naturallyfruity and rich. 2006–2009.

RH12951 Rasteau La Ponce, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Domainedes Escaravailles £65.00An excellent cuvée of Rasteau made from very old vines,some of which are 100 years old. grenâche with a highpercentage of syrah, the balance here is excellent and therich fruit flavours have an intriguing spicy edge.2006–2012.

RH12981 Vacqueyras, Saint Roch, Clos des Cazaux £65.00Good value, richly-textured, concentrated southernRhône that will have much appeal with two to threeyears bottle age. 2006–2012.Magnums available.

RH12991 Vacqueyras, Les Christins, Perrin £65.00Pierre Perrin gets his Vacqueyras from a cousin who owns six hectares ofparticularly well sited vines. The blend here is 80% grenâche and 20% syrah,all from old vines. The wine has a great deal of concentration and bold, almostchocolatey flavours. 2006–2012.

RH13001 Vacqueyras, Jaboulet Aîné £69.00The Jaboulet Vacqueyras made from almost 100% grenâche has more of thecharm normally associated with this cru. Deliciously round and fruity. 2006–2012.

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André Roméro, one of 2003’sstar performers in Rasteau

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RH13011 Vacqueyras, Les Templiers, Clos des Cazaux - £69.00Exceptionally for the south, syrah is the dominant grape here. The flavours areintense, and baked, more black olive and herbs than spice. A great success.2007–2014.

RH13021 Séguret, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Domaine de Mourchon - £73.00Here too syrah is an important element, making up 40% of a blend that alsoincludes some marvellously ripe grenâche. The Mourchon vines are situatedhigh up in the Dentelles de Montmirail range on the border with Gigondas.2007–2012.

RH13031 Gigondas, Tour Sarazzine, Clos des Cazaux - £80.00Jean-Michel Vache started picking when most of his neighbours had finished.The result is that he picked fully ripe fruit and has made a dark and broodingwine full of promise. 2007–2014.Magnums available.

RH13041 Saint-Gervais, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Domaine Sainte Anne £45.00 -If left long enough, the mourvèdre grape had the potential to do great thingsin 2003 as this wine shows. Here the variety accounts for 50% of the blendand the wine is rich, raisiny and spicy. 2008–2013.

RH13841 Vacqueyras, Vieilles Vignes, Lesec £45.00 -From a majority of old-vine grenâche, this is full bodied and sweetlyflavoured with a lovely touch of spice. 2008–2014.

RH13061 Gigondas, Cros de la Mûre £52.00 -The talented Eric Michel owns a tiny vineyard high up in the hills behind thevillage of Gigondas which he picks late, after his Côtes-du-Rhône. This paidoff in 2003 as grenâche in Gigondas took ages to ripen. Thick, fragrant andvery powerful. 2006–2013.

RH13121 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Château Mont Redon - £105.00Proper Châteauneuf, but sensibly priced. This is from a large property thatmakes just the one wine which it successfully sells around the world.Delightful with sweet-tasting cherry-like fruit. 2007–2017.

RH13051 Rasteau, Cuvée Prestige, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages, Domaine de la Soumade £55.00 -Made from older vines and with more use of oak than Roméro’s first cuvée.This is full of the flavours of overwhelmingly ripe grenâche. Very intenseand long. 2008–2012.

RH13071 Gigondas, Domaine des Pallières £55.00 -This famous Gigondas property is now owned by the Brunier family of VieuxTélégraphe. There has been a good deal of investment made here, especiallyin the cellar. This is full, strong and weighty with considerable tannin forbackbone. 2007–2013.

RH13081 Gigondas, Château de Saint-Cosme - £110.00Louis Barruol was spectacularly successful in Gigondas producing winesthat are very intense, densely fruity and very full bodied. 2006–2014.

RH13101 Gigondas, Domaine du Cayron £59.00 -Not surprisingly, the vintage suited arch traditionalist Michel Faraud toperfection. This is fabulously rich and powerful, almost linctus like. Bottledstraight from the cask without any filtration. 2007–2015.

RH13131 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Les Sinards, Perrin - £120.00Essentially, this is the second wine of Beaucastel but with the addition ofbought-in grapes. The blend is more grenâche-based than Beaucastel andthe wine is ready sooner. This is full flavoured with lovely soft, grainy fruit.2006–2011.

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RH12721 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine Font de Michelle - £125.00Jean and Michel Gonnet have made a delicious 2003 which is gloriously richyet soft and well polished. 2007–2014.

RH13091 Les Garrigues, Côtes-du-Rhone, Domaine de la Janasse £65.00 -For a taste of this extraordinary vintage, try this big-boned, concentratedcuvée. It is made from 100% grenâche, all from north-facing old vines.2008–2014.

RH13851 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Les Cèdres, Jaboulet Aîné - £135.00Weighing in at 15 degrees of alcohol, this is Jaboulet’s best Châteauneuf inyears. With round and sweet-tasting fruit this is almost linctus-like.

RH13141 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine de la Roquette - £140.00From the same stable as Vieux Télégraphe, this is deliberately made to bedrunk younger. The blend is 70% grenâche, 20% syrah and the rest mourvèdre.This is fine, elegant, supple Châteauneuf for early to mid drinking. 2007–2014.

RH13151 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Bosquet des Papes - £140.00Evidently, Maurice and Nicolas Boiron thrive in big cauldron-like vintages.Their 2003s are indeed very successful, none more so than their classic blendwhich is one of the stars. 2007–2016.

RH13161 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Le Crau de Ma Mère, Mayard - £145.00This is the estate owned by the influential Mayard family, a brother and twosisters, who together run the broking business and manage this small estate.The wines are highly polished, smooth and rich tasting but with the extradimension that the 2003 vintage bestows. 2006–2014.

RH12811 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, La Bernardine, Chapoutier £75.00 -Chapoutier’s vines in Châteauneuf are cultivated bio-dynamically. Old vinesof grenâche here make a wine that is round, sweet and full of charm.2007–2014.

RH13111 Gigondas Les Grandes Bastides, Tardieu-Laurent £75.00 -Very thick, dense and packed with ripe fruit. One for the future. 2007–2015.

RH13171 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Les Pierres Dorées, Patrick Lesec £85.00 -This fashionable négociant has also made very good 2003s. TheirChâteauneuf which is 70% grenâche and 30% mourvèdre has plenty of rich,even sumptuous-tasting fruit. Very long and sweet tasting. 2008–2016.

RH13181 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Bosquet des Papes, La Gloire de Mon Grand-père £100.00 -In the best vintages, the Boirons make a small quantity of pure grenâche.The 2003 is on a suitably big scale with a deep, tannic structure and almostPort-like fruit. 2009–2017.

RH12571 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe £100.00 -A dramatic vintage for Vieux Télégraphe, immensely structured with plentyof rich, ripe fruit. For the long haul. 2010–2021.Magnums available.



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The Jaboulet Family Daniel Brunier of Vieux Télégraphe

RH13191 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine de la Janasse, Cuvée Chaupin £115.00This is a very full-bodied Châteauneuf, made from 100% grenache planted ona north-facing slope right in the face of the Mistral. For all its power, this wineretains its freshness and sense of balance. 2009–2018.

RH12731 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine Font de Michelle Cuvée Etienne Gonnet £115.00Raw power wrapped in velvet, this is a wonderful multi-dimensionalChâteauneuf. 2009–2020.

RH12621 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Clos des Papes £130.00Vincent Avril is keen as ever to point out his low yields. Big efforts in thevineyard do not go unrewarded as this Châteauneuf is clearly in a class of itsown. 2011–2022.Magnums available.

RH12591 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Château de Beaucastel £140.00Stylish rather than massive, this vintage of Beaucastel with its high percentageof mourvèdre will need many years to come round. 2012–2023.

RH13201 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Le Bosquet des Papes, Chante Le Merle £140.00This is dense, immensely powerful and brimming with rich, raisiny fruit andrepresents a small cuvée of two of the best casks. 2011–2020.

2003 LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON REDS IN-BOND

FC11711 Faugères, Maison Jaune, Domaine Alquier £45.00Jean-Michel Alquier has made a wonderful series of big-hitting wines in 2003.His Maison Jaune, which is half grenâche with the rest made up of syrah andmourvèdre, has a lovely heart-warming concentration of ripe fruit. 2006–2011.

FC11721 Collioure, Cuvée Majenca, Domaine Madeloc £49.00Pierre Gaillard, maker of stylish Côte-Rôtie, has extended his realm to includea large estate in Banyuls with widely scattered plots of vines planted from sealevel to about 2,000 feet. He makes three Collioures; this is 40% grenâche, 40%mourvèdre and 20% carignan and in 2003 seems the most attractive with lovelydepth of fruit, plenty of weight and a satisfyingly rich finish. 2006–2011.

FC11731 Faugères, Les Bastides, Domaine Alquier £55.00For this cuvée, Jean-Michel Alquier selects his best wines, especially syrah whichis the dominant variety, and raises them in wood for over a year. This is deep,almost black, with enormous reserves of power and great finesse and is ratherlike a northern Rhône wine in style. 2008–2016.

FC11741 Collioure, La Séris, Domaine de la Rectorie £59.00What makes Collioure so special, quite apart from the stunning beauty of thevineyard, is the fine quality of its wines. Even in the cauldron vintage of 2003,the wines retain their finesse and delicacy. This blend of carignan and grenâchewill be delicious in a couple of years time. 2006–2013.

FC11751 Banyuls, Domaine de la Rectorie £59.00This is the sweet, fortified wine from this very fine estate, bottled young likevintage Port in order to retain its fruitiness. This is fruity when young, butdevelops greater complexity with age. Drink with chocolate-based puddingsor blue cheeses. 50cl. 2006–2015.

FC11761 Corbières, Pièce de la Roche, Château La Baronne £65.00A famous and large property with outstanding vineyards in the Montagned’Alaric district of Corbières, it has completely restructured itself and is nowfocusing its energies on making wines of very high quality and expression.This is a cuvée of 100% carignan with real brilliance and poise. 2006–2012.

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FC11771 Corbières, Aric, Château La Baronne £65.00Made from roughly equal thirds of syrah, mourvèdre and carignan, this is fullerand rounder than ever. 2006–2013.

FC11781 Collioure, Coume Pascole, Domaine de la Rectorie £65.00Collioure with a touch of Rhône-like grandeur thanks to a large percentage ofsyrah. This is marvellously rich and ripe tasting. 2008–2016.

FC11791 Le Soula, Domaine Gauby £69.00Gérard Gauby makes the wine at Le Soula and the style is Gauby through andthrough with the accent on refinement rather than brute force. Here though thegrapes, carignan, grenâche, cabernet sauvignon and a touch of syrah, come fromprecipitous and remote vineyards some 1,800 feet up in the hills. The 2003 is anotch up on previous vintages. 2006–2012.

FC11361 Prieuré, Saint Jean de Bébian, Coteaux du Languedoc, Lebrun & Lecouty £69.00What makes Bébian quite so special is the vineyard planted with Rhône varietiesand, above all, the soil which is poor and stony. The wine is appropriatelyMediterranean; generous in its rich, herby fruit. 2008–2017.

FC11461 Mas de Daumas Gassac £75.002003 is a great vintage for this iconic estatein the Languedoc. Despite the heat, the littleGassac river, unusually, didn’t dry up so therewas no drought. The vines ripened slowlyand evenly producing grapes with immensereserves of colour but without excess tanninsand with enough sugar to produce a wine ofperfect balance. 2009–2018.

FC11531 Côtes du Roussillon Villages, VieillesVignes, Domaine Gauby £82.00Whereas most of his neighbours were producing Port-like wines, Gérard Gauby,working bio-dynamically, produced wines that are elegant and refined. 2007–2014.

FC11541 Côtes du Roussillon Villages, Muntada, Domaine Gauby £199.00With its dominance of syrah, Gauby’s Muntada could lay claimto a prestigious appellation in the northern Rhône. 2010–2018.

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Mas de Daumas Gassac nestled in the dramatic Languedoclandscape

The Guibert family of Mas de Daumas Gassac

The gate to the vineyard at Mas deDaumas Gassac



2003 NORTHERN RHONE REDS IN-BOND

RH13211 Syrah, Domaine André Perret £25.00 -This fine Condrieu producer also makes lovely reds including this delightfulvin de pays which ripened fully in 2003. 2006–2009.

RH13231 Brézème, Côtes-du-Rhone Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Pergault £30.00 -The vines from Brézème actually overlook the Drôme rather than the Rhône.The reds are made from syrah and most resemble the wines of Cornas. This2003, blended by the talented Eric Texier is rich and raisiny. 2006–2011.

RH12821 Crozes-Hermitage, Les Meyssoniers, Chapoutier - £79.00Lovely, fragrant syrah nose, rich and sweet on the palate, this is a conspicuoussuccess from this famous négoce house. 2007–2013.

RH13241 Crozes-Hermitage, Les Grandes Bastides, Tardieu-Laurent - £95.00There is a much more structured and tannic feel to this Crozes that comesfrom two favoured slopes to the north and east of the appellation. Sweettasting, thick and chewy. 2007–2013.

RH13251 Saint-Joseph Le Grand Pompée, Jaboulet Aîné £52.00 -From steep granite slopes, this is a most exquisite syrah, rich yet lively.Probably best drunk young whilst the fruit is still foremost. 2006–2010.

RH13261 Crozes-Hermitage Tour d’Albon, Delas - £104.00Part aged in wood, this soft, fruity Crozes is well mannered enough to beenjoyably drunk young. 2006–2009.

RH13301 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert, Jaboulet Aîné - £109.00Maybe there is a shared memory among the members of this illustrious familyfor other great hot vintages, but what is certain is that they made very specialwines in 2003. Thalabert, brimming with super ripe fruit, is exceptional.2008–2016.Magnums available.

RH13831 Saint-Joseph François de Tournon £55.00 -A whopping 2003, very dense and thickly textured with layers of sweet,raisiny fruit. 2007–2011.

An amphitheatre of steeply-terraced vines in Hermitage Jean-Louis Chave’s Offerusis delicious,sweet-centred syrah


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RH13291 Saint-Joseph Clos des Martinets, Domaine Gilles Barge £55.00 -Rather lovely, balanced northern syrah somewhat in the style of Côte-Rôtie.2007–2009.

RH13221 La Rosine Syrah, Domaine Ogier £55.00 -A serious proposition from this excellent Côte-Rôtie producer is this syrahplanted on steep terraces that curiously escaped classification. The 2003 isquite delicious. 2007–2011.

RH13281 Saint-Joseph Offerus, Jean-Louis Chave - £120.00Sweetly centred syrah that will give great pleasure over the next five yearsor so. 2006–2009.

RH13311 Crozes-Hermitage, Cuvée Gaby, Domaine Colombier £60.00 -Made with great care, Colombier wines have great finesse and rich, fleshyfruit with some complexity. 2007–2014.

RH13321 Saint-Joseph, Clos de Cuminaille, Domaine Gaillard £62.00 -Gorgeous, deep-coloured syrah, partly raised in new oak and in the styleof a Côte-Rôtie but at nearly half the price. 2007–2012.

RH13331 Saint-Joseph, Domaine Florentin £62.00 -From a highly individual estate that has just about accepted twentiethcentury technology, this is a wine full of character and flavour with goodkeeping potential. We were able to choose our barrel and selected onefrom vines grown on steep terraces planted on granite. 2008–2014.

RH13341 Saint-Joseph l’Olivaie, Domaine Coursodon £62.00 -Jerôme Coursodon is one of the most talented growers in this partof the Rhône. His cellars are just a hundred yards away from thoseof Jean-Louis Chave and there is some of the Chave finesse to be foundhere. 2007–2014.

RH13351 Crozes-Hermitage, Cuvée Christophe, Domaine des Remizières £65.00 -Classy, full-flavoured Crozes, beautifully crafted and richly flavouredwith good use of oak. 2008–2014.

RH13361 Cornas, Domaine de Rochepertuis £65.00 -Jean Lionnet has the look of a benevolent Roman Emperor and his wines,from the forbidding terraces of Cornas are as generous and true to typeas they are good value. 2008–2015.Magnums available.

RH13371 Cornas, Jaboulet Aîné £79.00 -There is a wealth of rich, plump fruit in this cuvée of Cornas. 2009–2015.

RH13381 Saint-Joseph Les Royes, Domaine Courbis £79.00 -Les Royes is a magical amphitheatre of vines set on limestone ratherthan granite and produces fine delicate wines with great charm andfinesse. 2008–2013.

RH13391 Cornas, Domaine Durand £82.00 -The Durand brothers, Eric and Joël own a fine vineyard of small andwidely scattered plots covering some of the best sites in Cornas. This isfull flavoured and generous with a certain degree of intensity. 2008–2014.

RH13401 Cornas, Champelrose, Domaine Courbis £82.00 -This vintage of Champelrose includes rather more new wood in the blendthan usual. It is a fine and fragrant Cornas for relatively early drinking.2007–2012.

RH12831 Cornas, Chapoutier £90.00 -The best Cornas produced by Chapoutier in years, this is full with plentyof grip and a lovely long and fruity finish. 2009–2014.

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RH13421 Cornas, Patou, Domaine Dumien Serrette £90.00A wonderful Cornas brimming with sweet blackcurrant fruit flavours and someelegance. Dumien’s wines seem to be gaining in depth and finesse with eachvintage. 2009–2015.

RH13431 Côte-Rôtie, Domaine Guy Bernard £95.00The best value in Côte-Rôtie, this is soft but with some density and plenty ofripe-tasting fruit. 2008–2013.

RH13441 Cornas, Chante Perdrix, Delas £95.00Jacques Grange, winemaker at Delas made a brilliant Cornas in 2003 that capturesthe drama of the vintage without losing any finesse. 2009–2014.

RH13451 Cornas, Domaine du Tunnel £95.00Stephanne Robert has made good 2003s from his tunnel-like cellars in the middleof Saint Péray. This has finesse and elegance and is fine for earlier drinking.2007–2011.

RH13471 Côte-Rôtie, Duplessy, Domaine Barge £100.00Soft and sweet-flavoured Côte-Rôtie with much charm and elegance. 2007–2012.

RH13481 Côte-Rôtie, Domaine Niéro £100.00Delightful, sweetly flavoured and gentle. Lovely for early drinking. 2006–2009.

RH13461 Côte-Rôtie, Domaine Burgaud £102.00Bernard Burgaud, a part-time teacher of catechism, makes rich and chunkyCôte-Rôties that usually need a little longer to unravel. The 2003 is meaty, almostunctuous and without any heaviness. 2009–2016.

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Gilbert Dumien-Serrette, whose winesseem to be gaining in finesse with eachvintage

Gilles Barge on his mono-rail on some of the steepestslopes in Côte-Rôtie

RH12381 Seyssuel ‘Sotanum’, Gaillard, Villard & Cuilleron £105.00The three enfants terribles of the northern Rhône joined forces to replant long-abandoned terraces above the city of Vienne. With every year, these vines areyielding better and better fruit and the 2003 is no exception. This is superbly rich,dark and sensuous. 2008–2012.

RH13491 Côte-Rôtie, Domaine Gaillard £109.00Pierre Gaillard makes a deliciously fragrant, soft-tasting Côte-Rôtie with a largepercentage of viognier in the blend. 2009–2015.

RH13511 Côte-Rôtie, Clusel Roch £112.00This sought-after estate made small quantities of sweet and thickly textured winesthat will need time to show at their best. 2009–2015.

RH13501 Côte-Rôtie, Côte Brune, Domaine Gilles Barge £115.00Côte Brune has a high percentage of iron in the soil and the wines tend to be moremasculine in style. Gilles Barge’s Côte Brune is quite exceptional with a hugeamount of matter and great depth of flavour. 2009–2016.

RH13521 Hermitage Marquise de la Tourette, Delas £125.00A keeper with a finely knit structure, ripe tannins and great length of flavour.Winemaker Jacques Grange compares this with the 2001 but with an extra dimension.2009–2016.

RH13531 Cornas, Les Terrasses de Serre, Domaine du Coulet £130.00Matthieu Barret used to deliver his grapes to the co-operative but then decided torestructure his vines on bio-dynamic lines working with Chapoutier. Incredibly lowyields produced wines of great concentration and character. 2009–2015.

RH12841 Côte-Rôtie, Les Becasses, Chapoutier £135.00Michel Chapoutier’s Côte-Rôtie has great class in 2003. This is finely etched andelegant with terrific presence and a long, fruity finish. 2009–2013.

RH13541 Côte-Rôtie, Seigneur de Maugiron, Delas £135.00Jacques Grange worked for Chapoutier before taking up his post at Delas. Not to beoutdone by his former employer, he has made a lovely, refined Côte-Rôtie along deep,sensuous lines. 2009–2013.

RH13551 Hermitage, Bernard Faurie £142.00Fabulous, thick, dark, chocolatey Hermitage from this most traditionalist grower.Bernard still maintains the tiny cellar beneath his house in Tournon. 2010–2018.

RH13561 Côte-Rôtie, Domaine Ogier £149.00A blend of 60% Côte Blonde and 40% Brune, this is a lovely well-balancedCôte-Rôtie combining Burgundian elegance with Mediterranean power. 2009–2015.

RH12751 Hermitage, Domaine Marc Sorrel £149.00Immensely powerful Hermitage for the long haul. 2011–2018.

RH13571 Côte-Rôtie, René Rostaing £149.00This is a big, concentrated Côte-Rôtie full of dark, damson fruit for the mid term.2008–2012.

RH13581 Hermitage, Cuvée Emilie, Domaine des Remizières £165.00Philippe Desmeure’s Hermitages are on a very big scale, weighing in at over15 degrees of alcohol. Despite the weight, the balance is perfect with heaps ofdelicious cherry fruit and a finish that is always uplifting. 2010–2018.

RH13591 Cornas, Domaine Saint Pierre, Jaboulet Aîné £159.00Extravagant and luxurious with enormous concentration, fat and staying power.2010–2020.Magnums available.

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RH12851 Hermitage, Marquis de Sizeranne, Chapoutier £165.00From a blend of Bessards, Greffieux and Hermite, three of the best climats ofHermitage, this has a classy, fragrant nose and is fine and penetrating on thepalate with heaps of spicy blackcurrant fruit. 2011–2019.

RH13601 Hermitage, Domaine Colombier £165.00Florent Viale picked quite late in order to ensure that the tannins were fully ripe.This is an Hermitage of sumptuous richness which for all its power never losesthe refinement characteristic of true Hermitage. 2012–2021.

RH13611 Cornas Sabarotte, Domaine Courbis £170.00Yields at Courbis’ parcel of Sabarotte had been greatly reduced by hail well beforethe heat struck so the wines are especially thick, tarry and concentrated. 2010–2018.

RH13621 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne, René Rostaing £190.00Complex, massive and packed with dark liquorice fruit. 2010–2016.

RH13631 Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde, René Rostaing £215.00Exquisite, ample and immensely concentrated. 2012–2020.

RH12761 Hermitage Gréal, Domaine Marc Sorrel £325.00Amonster of a wine packed with black cherry and chocolatey fruit. 2012–2023.Magnums available.

RH13641 Hermitage La Chapelle, Jaboulet Aîné £350.00Some of the wines that will go into the blend were still fermenting over a yearafter the vintage, such is the power and richness of the 2003 Chapelle. This willbe on a monumental scale. 2013–2030.Magnums available.


Marc Sorrel, a master of powerful HermitageDesestret, Père et fils made elegant white SaintJoseph in this cauldron vintage

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2003 RHONE AND LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON WHITES IN-BOND

RH13651 Crozes-Hermitage Mule Blanche, Jaboulet Aîné £45.00A great Mule vintage, this has 14 degrees of alcohol with both weight and fruit,and an attractive finish. 2005–2009.

RH13661 Saint-Joseph Blanc Grand Pompée, Jaboulet Aîné £50.00If anything this is finer and more subtle than ever with a lovely seam of freshacidity to balance out the obvious power. 2006–2010.

RH13671 Saint-Joseph Blanc, Domaine Sainte Epine £50.00A remarkably delicious Rhône made from 100% marsanne. This is elegant withthe flavours of crushed ripe pear, honey and a twist of lemon. 2005–2010.Magnums available.

RH12791 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc, Domaine Marc Sorrel £55.00More powerful still and packing in at nearly 15 degrees, this is full with lots ofsubstance and a long ripe finish. 2006–2011.

RH13681 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc Domaine Roure, Jaboulet Aîné £59.00Again, 100% marsanne, this is intense and, like the Sorrel, high in alcohol.The 2003 white Roure has wonderful, fruity aromas with great minerality on thepalate. 2007–2013.

RH13691 Saint Péray Cuvée Prestige, Domaine du Tunnel £59.00This is one of the top wines in this little-known appellation. Made from 20%roussanne and 80% marsanne, half fermented and raised in wood, this is fruityand refined, perfect for early drinking. 2005–2009.

RH13701 Saint-Joseph Blanc, Domaine Florentin £67.00Highly individual, not to say eccentric white, this was matured in wood for twowinters and is full of flavour and length. A very traditional wine, this is perfectwith food. 2006–2013.

FC11821 Le Soula Blanc, Domaine Gauby £67.00An amazingly fresh white from the Roussillon, this is reminiscent of Meursault.The wine is made by Gérard Gauby using a thoroughly eclectic mix of sauvignonand grenâche supported by roussanne, marsanne and chenin blanc. 2007–2011.

RH13721 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Texier £75.00Another Burgundian look-alike though somewhat headier in style and made fromclairette and bourboulenc with a touch of roussanne and grenâche. 2006–2012.

FC11531 Domaine Gauby, Vieilles Vignes £82.00Despite the heat, Gérard Gauby achieved a sense of great poise and purity in allof his wines and especially in the whites which have delicacy and minerality.The blend is maccabeu, grenâche, viognier, malvoisie and chardonnay. 2007–2014.

RH13731 Condrieu, Domaine du Chêne £82.00The Rouvières made hardly any Condrieu in 2003 and this has the weight andconcentrated flavours derived from low yielding vines. 2005–2008.

RH12741 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe £85.00Full bodied, weighty white Châteauneuf which is unusually fine in 2003.2005–2010.

RH13741 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine du Pegau £85.00Full flavoured, waxy, honeyed white Rhône to savour with food. The blend is60% grenâche, 20% clairette and the rest bourboulenc and roussanne. 2005–2012.

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RH13751 Condrieu, Côteau de Chéry, Perret £95.00Liquorous, unctuous Condrieu on a grand scale. 2006–2011.

RH13761 Condrieu, Domaine Benetière £100.00In Pierre Benetière’s tiny cellars, one tends to talk as much about rugby as wine.His Condrieu is every bit the elegant fly-half. 2005–2009.

RH13781 Hermitage Blanc, Marquise de la Tourette, Delas £110.00Winemaker Jacques Grange is of Burgundian stock and it shows in the way hemakes his whites which have the restrained elegance and refinement of winesfrom further north. 2008–2016.

RH13771 Condrieu Le Grand Vallon, Domaine François Villard £112.00There is a lovely seam of minerality beneath the rich and opulent fruit.Very limited quantities. 2006–2011.

RH13791 Condrieu, Cuvée de Chéry, Domaine Niéro £115.00Full-bodied, concentrated viognier from very low yields. 2006–2009.

RH12871 Hermitage Blanc Chante Alouette, Chapoutier £120.00There is a view that Michel Chapoutier’s best wines are his whites, and certainlythis is a special Chante Alouette with great finesse and depth of flavour. 2008–2017.

RH13801 Condrieu Deponcins, Domaine François Villard £120.00The vines here come from the heart of the appellation on mica-rich granite closeto Grillet. The style is fine and mineral, and, rare for Condrieu, needs a little time.2007–2012.


Michel Chapoutier amongst his vines

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RH13811 Condrieu, Guigal £120.00Marcel Guigal makes more Condrieu than anybody else. His 2003s are beautifully-crafted and unctuous, revealing lovely tangy layers of ripe apricot fruit. 2005–2008.

RH12631 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Clos des Papes £125.00Vincent Avril uses all six white varieties in equal proportion, blocks the malolacticfermentation and does away with oak. The result is that Clos des Papes remainsvibrant and fruity. The 2003, from very low yields, packs quite a punch however.2006–2015.

RH13821 Hermitage Blanc, Chevalier de Stérimberg, Jaboulet Aîné £140.00Opulent and outstanding white Hermitage from Jaboulet with the full weightand magnificence of this extraordinary vintage. 2008–2020.

RH12781 Hermitage Blanc, Domaine Marc Sorrel £145.00Hugely powerful, weighty and extremely long. 2009–2017.

RH12601 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Château de Beaucastel £169.00This is made from 80% roussanne, partly aged in barrel, and is fat, fine andrichly-honeyed. Either drink young (2005-2007) or keep until 2010–2017.

RH12611 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Roussanne Vieilles Vignes Château de Beaucastel £220.00The roussanne for this cuvée is different, coming from a specific plot of80-year-old vines. The 2003 is a wine of superb refinement and purity of fruit.Despite its undoubted strength, there is no hint of heaviness. Drink whilst youngand fruity or keep. 2010–2020.

RH12771 Hermitage Blanc, Rocoules Domaine Marc Sorrel £300.00Made from 60-year-old vines, mostly marsanne, from one of the best white climatsof Hermitage. The concentration of fruit and depth of flavour are remarkable.2008–2017.

Tain l’Hermitage dominated by the vine covered hill of Hermitage

Registered Office The International Exhibition Co-operative Wine Society Limited,Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 2BGEnquiry Line Tel 01438 741177Order Office Tel 01438 740222Enquiry Line & Order Office Fax 01438 761167E-mail [email protected] www.thewinesociety.com

2003 LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLONref OC1466 at £120.00

A 12 bottle case containing three bottleseach of the following four red wines

Faugères Maison Jaune,Domaine Alquier

Collioure, Cuvée Majenca,Domaine Madeloc

Mas de Daumas GassacCorbières, Aric, Château La Baronne

2003 SOUTHERN VILLAGESref OC1476 at £55.00

A 12 bottle case containing two bottles eachof the following six red wines

Vinsobres, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages,Domaine Jaume

Beaumes de Venise, Côtes-du-RhôneVillages, Jaboulet Aîné

Laudun, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages,Château Courac

Cairanne, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages,Le Nonce, Mayard

Vacqueyras, Saint Roch,Clos des Cazaux

Rasteau, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages,Chapoutier

2003 CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPEref OC1496 at £132.00


Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine dela Roquette

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine Fontde Michelle

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Le Crau deMa Mère, Mayard

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, ChâteauMont Redon

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Les Sinards,Perrin

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Les Cèdres,Jaboulet Aîné

MIXED CASES

2003 NORTH AND SOUTHref OC1486 at £120.00


Saint-Joseph Sainte Epine, DesestretCornas, Chapoutier

Crozes-Hermitage, Domaine deThalabert, Jaboulet Aîné

Cairanne Ventabren, Côtes-du-RhôneVillages, Domaine des EscaravaillesGigondas, Château de Sainte-CosmeChâteauneuf-du-Pape Le Crau de

Ma Mère, Mayard

Orders for this offer must be received in Stevenage by 5pm, Friday 28th January, 2005; orders received afterthis date will be processed after the main allocation of stock, generally two weeks later. For details of priceand availability thereafter please contact us on 01438 740222.

Drinking wine bought from The Wine Society should be a pleasurable experience. If at any time you aredissatisfied, we would like to hear from you. Contact us and we will be pleased to help.

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