APRIL 2025 CLUB PLUS REDS

1. Bonnefond Côte Rôtie “Vignes de Mon Père” 2020
GRAPE: 100% Syrah
TYPE: Northern Rhône red from old vines in Côte Rôtie
YEAR: 2020, ripe and structured
NOTES: Vinous 97. “Deep violet color. Bright and energetic on the intensely perfumed nose, displaying vibrant red and blue fruit, bacon fat and floral scents that take on olive and exotic spice notes as the wine opens up. In a distinctly vibrant style, offering appealingly sweet, mineral-tinged cherry, black raspberry, mocha, salty olive, clove and allspice flavors, plus suggestions of licorice and cola. Finishes extremely long and smooth, with just a hint of fine-grained, polished tannins and resonating floral and spice notes.”
FOOD: Dry-aged ribeye with peppercorn crust
AVAILABLE: $118/bot   ($94.4 with discount)

2. André Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge 2021
GRAPE: mostly Grenache with Syrah, Mourvèdre and others
TYPE: Southern Rhône blend from Châteauneuf-du-Pape
YEAR: 2021, cool and rainy
NOTES: The 2021 vintage was anything but smooth across France, and the Rhône Valley was no exception. But truly great winemakers show their greatness mostly clearly in difficult vintages, and Jacqueline André’s 2021 results put her in that class. Her 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge is elegant and absolutely delicious wine. Grenache always dominates the fruit in her wine, but in 2021 the distinct aromas of dried rose petals join the usual sweet wild strawberries to produce a refined and elegant glass of wine that is strikingly good.
FOOD: Herb-roasted lamb shoulder
AVAILABLE: $65/bot ($52 with discount)

3. Belland Maranges 1er Fussiere 2022
GRAPE: 100% Pinot Noir
TYPE: Premier Cru red from the Côte de Beaune
YEAR: 2022, warm and dry
NOTES: Belland’s Maranges premier cru “Fussiere” is excellent in 2022, with a very attractive texture. It has plenty of substance, with pleasantly ripe tannins and good dark fruit. The fruits are plum and cherry, with a youthful, friendly texture – bring this along to a summer picnic.
FOOD: Mushroom risotto or duck confit
AVAILABLE: $38/bot ($30.4 with discount)