{"title":"Northern Rhône Wine Collection","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNorthern Rhône\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is sacred ground for Syrah and home to some of France’s most dramatic vineyards. From the vertiginous terraces of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCôte-Rôtie and Hermitage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCornas, Saint-Joseph, and Crozes-Hermitage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Syrah reaches extraordinary heights here, delivering wines of perfume, mineral intensity, savory complexity, and remarkable longevity. The region is equally compelling in white, with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondrieu’s Viognier\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMarsanne and Roussanne\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e of Hermitage and Saint-Joseph.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"2023-franck-balthazar-cornas-cuv-e-casimirsomm2602-fbzr23crncsmr-750","title":"2023 Franck Balthazar, Cornas \"Cuvée Casimir\"","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eFranck Balthazar is the man currently holding the keys to the Northern Rhône’s most historic dirt, and for the collector community, this is the moment we’ve been waiting for. While Thierry Allemand’s name carries the weight of a legend and the price tag of a small inheritance, the real energy in the region has shifted toward Balthazar’s cellar. He isn’t just \"another\" producer; as the biological and spiritual successor to the late, great Noël Verset, Franck inherited a 100-year-old lineage of Syrah that has been farmed by hand and horse for generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eNamed after Franck's grandfather, the \"Cuvée Casimir\" is the collection's most approachable entry. Sourced from vines nearly 30 years old planted on granitic soils, this bottling serves as a vibrant introduction to the Balthazar style without the need for a decade of cellaring. It beautifully captures the energy of the vintage through a \"soil-to-glass\" purity that is a hallmark of the estate.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"ul1\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"li1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eTasting Note:\u003c\/b\u003e A vibrant, peppery, and red-fruited Syrah that offers immediate accessibility and fresh granitic character.  \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCritical Acclaim:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"float: none;\" alt=\"Vinous Media\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/vinous_240x240.png?v=1769834033\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e94 Points, Vinous Media:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 2023 Cornas Cuvée Casimir Balthazar opens with expressive notes of orange blossom, fresh violets, black cherry, red plum, stemmy nuances and fine traces of cured meat. On the medium-bodied palate, it shows lifted freshness and impressive clarity. This is a carefully built, densely packed Cornas that I admittedly underestimated when tasting it from barrel at the winery last year. Like the Chaillot Cuvée Hommage from the same vintage, it carries tremendous intensity yet never feels heavy. Simply gorgeous.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/jeb_dunnuck_240x240.png?v=1769834039\" alt=\"Jeb Dunnuck\" style=\"margin-bottom: 16px; float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e94 Points, Jeb Dunnuck:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe classic cuvée from this singular vigneron, the 2023 Cornas Cuvée Casimir Balthazar offers beautiful, ripe, sun-kissed notes of red and black fruits, pepper, roasted meats, and graphite on the nose. It's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with plenty of ripe tannins and a great finish. It freshens up with air and shows more violet and black pepper, has fine tannins, and is just a classy Cornas that I'd be thrilled to drink any time over the coming two decades. Drink 2026-2046.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44877535969334,"sku":"SOMM2602-FBZR23CRNCSMR-750","price":115.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/2023FranckBalthazar_CornasCuveeCasimir.png?v=1772138029"},{"product_id":"2022-domaine-vincent-alexandre-cluzel-saint-joseph-cuvee-du-vignon","title":"2022 Domaine Vincent \u0026 Alexandre Cluzel, Saint-Joseph \"Cuvée du Vignon\"","description":"\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"\u003eDomaine Vincent \u0026amp; Alexandre Cluzel emerged in 2013 when brothers Vincent and Alexandre took the reins of their family’s historic vineyards in the heart of northern Rhône’s Saint-Joseph appellation, transforming modest holdings into a rising star estate focused on estate-grown Syrah. Nestled on the right bank of the Rhône River amid steep, terraced granite slopes, the brothers farm their parcels with meticulous care—pruning severely to limit yields, harvesting by hand, and vinifying with minimal intervention to let the rugged terroir shine through. Their minimalist approach, using concrete tanks and neutral oak for élevage, strips away excess while amplifying the vivid purity of Saint-Joseph’s schistous granitic soils, where Syrah develops its signature blend of dark fruit intensity, floral lift, and peppery minerality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"\u003eThe 2022 Saint-Joseph \"Cuvée du Vignon\" captures a ripe yet balanced vintage in this storied appellation, drawing from the domaine’s high-elevation sites that temper summer warmth with cool nights for preserved freshness. Expect concentrated aromas of blackberry, violet, and cracked black pepper, unfolding into a dense mid-palate of blueberry compote, smoked meat, and graphite-edged tannins that build toward a long, saline finish. This wine exemplifies Cluzel’s rapid ascent: powerful yet precise Syrah that rivals pricier Côte-Rôtie neighbors, offering both immediate hedonism and the structure to evolve gracefully over the next 8-10 years.\u003cspan class=\"inline-flex\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-nbsp\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation inline\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"mb-2 mt-4 font-sans font-semimedium text-base first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+\u0026amp;]:mt-4\" id=\"why-youll-love-it\"\u003eWhy You'll Love It\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"marker:text-quiet list-disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:pt-0 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:mb-2 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:my-0\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSerious terroir, tiny volume\u003c\/strong\u003e: Steep, decomposed granite terraces give you classic Saint-Joseph aromatics—violet, black fruit, pepper—A U.S.-exclusive bottling.\u003cspan class=\"inline-flex\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-nbsp\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation inline\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:pt-0 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:mb-2 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:my-0\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily-run and estate-grown\u003c\/strong\u003e: Two brothers farming and vinifying all their own fruit, with low yields and a focus on purity, not bulk or branding.\u003cspan class=\"inline-flex\" aria-label=\"Cave Cluzel - Pierreclos Imports\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-nbsp\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation inline\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/pierreclosimports.com\/collections\/cave-cluzel\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:pt-0 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:mb-2 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:my-0\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage-fueled intensity\u003c\/strong\u003e: 2022’s warm, generous season delivers concentrated dark berry fruit and supple tannins without sacrificing lift or freshness.\u003cspan class=\"inline-flex\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-nbsp\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation inline\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"mb-2 mt-4 font-sans font-semimedium text-base first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+\u0026amp;]:mt-4\" id=\"how-to-enjoy-it\"\u003eHow to Enjoy It\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"marker:text-quiet list-disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:pt-0 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:mb-2 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:my-0\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eServe smart\u003c\/strong\u003e: Pour at 60–65°F after a brief chill; too warm and you’ll lose the floral lift and mineral snap that make this so compelling.\u003cspan class=\"inline-flex\" aria-label=\"Domaine Les Alexandrins Saint-Joseph - 2020\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-nbsp\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation inline\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/m.lesalexandrins.com\/K94Q1E\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:pt-0 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:mb-2 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:my-0\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGive it air\u003c\/strong\u003e: Decant for 45–90 minutes to let the granite-driven structure relax and the bouquet of violets, blackberry, and smoked meat fully unfurl.\u003cspan class=\"inline-flex\" aria-label='Vincent \u0026amp; Alexandre Cluzel 2021 Saint-Joseph \"Cuveé du Vignon\"' data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation-nbsp\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation inline\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" class=\"inline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.blackwellswines.com\/products\/vincent-alexandre-cluzel-2021-saint-joseph-cuvee-du-vignon\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"py-0 my-0 prose-p:pt-0 prose-p:mb-2 prose-p:my-0 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:pt-0 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:mb-2 [\u0026amp;\u0026gt;p]:my-0\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePair with substance\u003c\/strong\u003e: Think grilled lamb, ribeye, sausages, or anything with char and spice—this Syrah’s dark fruit and peppery core love rich, savory food.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/cruzel_vincnet.webp?v=1783324295\" alt=\"Domaine Vincent \u0026amp; Alexandre Cluzel, Saint-Joseph\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46741084405814,"sku":"SOMM2607-DVI22NRV-750","price":48.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/2022DomaineVincent_AlexandreCluzel_Saint-JosephCuveeduVignon.png?v=1782927269"},{"product_id":"2022-francois-villard-cote-rotie-le-gallet-blanc","title":"2022 François Villard, Côte-Rôtie \"Le Gallet Blanc\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrançois Villard is one of the Northern Rhône's defining modern growers, a former chef who traded the kitchen for the vineyard and, alongside friends Yves Cuilleron and Pierre Gaillard, helped put a new generation of Condrieu and Côte-Rôtie on the map. His style favors precision and restraint over brute power, letting the steep, terraced slopes of Ampuis speak for themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLe Gallet Blanc takes its name from the pale, sun-baked pebbles that cover this stretch of the Côte-Rôtie hillside, and from two of the growers Villard sources fruit from. It's 100% Syrah grown on steep schist and granite terraces in Ampuis and Saint-Cyr-sur-le-Rhône, fermented with a high percentage of whole clusters and indigenous yeast, then aged around 18 months in French oak with only a modest share of new wood so the terroir stays front and center. The result is a Côte-Rôtie built on savory depth as much as fruit: dark cherry and blackberry framed by smoked meat, graphite, and black licorice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy You'll Love It\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClassic, terraced Côte-Rôtie from one of the appellation's most respected modern producers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe nose layers dark cherry and blackberry with violets, smoked meat, and graphite.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe palate is silky up front, with fine-grained, structured tannins and a savory core of black licorice and warm earth.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhole-cluster fermentation and judicious oak keep the wine feeling precise rather than heavy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuilt to age gracefully, with plenty of structure to reward a few years in the cellar.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow To Serve It\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eServe at 60-64°F, cool enough to keep the aromatics lifted without dulling the fruit.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDecant for 30 to 60 minutes to soften the tannins and let the smoky, savory notes open up.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePour into Burgundy stems to give the wine's perfume room to develop.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePair it with grilled venison loin with a juniper and black pepper crust, or other game and smoked meats that echo the wine's savory side.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/Francois_Villard_23.jpg?v=1787129381\" alt=\"François Villard, Côte-Rôtie\" style=\"float: none;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47606998630454,"sku":"SOMM2609-FVI22CRO-750","price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/2022FrancoisVillard_Cote-RotieLeGalletBlanc_dd2707ea-de68-471c-b1e0-12ddcef2a000.png?v=1788369138"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/collections\/Cornas_Vineyards.jpg?v=1788558650","url":"https:\/\/sommselect.com\/collections\/northern-rhone-wine-collection.oembed","provider":"SommSelect","version":"1.0","type":"link"}