Doug Powers

9.4

OK, I’ve posted on these “older” Baron Louis CdR from Montfaucon before, not certain the exact year that Rodolphe (Rudi) des Pins sought DOC for this cuvée as Lirac (2014??), but my understanding is that the earlier vintages were also (mostly? all?) Lirac grapes (dating back to 1998, at least, since you KNOW I likely still have a bottle of that 1998)!! Anyway, label says 40% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, 10% Carignan, 10% Mourvedre, 10% Counoise.

At age 18, this would give a heck of a lot of older Gigondas/CdP a run for their money, lovely color, still quite youthful and structured, quite a long finish, my congrats to Rudi (who is my brother’s close friend, but I consider Rudi a friend as well, plus I’ve been in the historic, 1,000-year-old Chateau de Montfaucon on the Lirac side of the Rhone River across from the vineyards of CdP).

A poor man’s CdP, it’s that complex and age-worthy!! — 6 days ago

with Jim

Brian Hearty

9.3

2015.
Our new favorite pairing with mulligatawny soup. We had a great meal with three different Austrian wines at the Oven tonight. — 5 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2023 | minerality, expressive, rondeur and butter — 6 months ago

Martijn

9.6

From a 6 ltr bottle. Party mode!! Thanks @Rob van Kalmthout. Happy B day — a month ago

with Eric

Dylan Thomas

9.2

$30 at my local Gtown wine shop. Chugged down fast. I’d buy it again — 4 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.5

Vintage 2005 gastronomic wine botytris affected honey melon — 6 months ago

Berry Marinussen

9.3

Magnum 2011 — 6 months ago

Mel

9.1

Light and crisp yet smooth. Semi-sweet, maybe pear and mineral notes, very pleasant (not Chuck's favorite) — 2 months ago

Doug Powers

9.1

[40% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, 10% Carignan, 10% Mourvèdre, 10% Counoise] So, quick backstory on this one, the proprietor of Montfaucon and my brother spent a year together at UCD in whatever degrees they each got, but it was Viticulture and Enology, about 35 years ago, which about 20 years ago led to their producer/importer relationship. Anyway, Rodolphe (Rudi) always labeled this as a Côtes du Rhône, but most of the fruit was actually grown within the confines of Lirac. Eventually Rudi decided to join the Lirac grape growers association, and separated this cuvée into Lirac “Baron Louis” and Lirac and Côtes du Rhône. So, bottom line, this 50-90 year-old-vine cuvée (apparently 12 months in small oak barrels, but I’d guess NOT new) Lirac (CdR in this case) has always drank like a mini-CdP, and this 2009 is mature, or close, but still shows great acidity and balance (14% ABV), medium-long finish, very, very fine Côtes du Rhône!! K&L in SF (direct import) and I believe Kobrand on East Coast import these wines!! Finally, for full disclosure, Rudi is a friend, I have NFI, but I do have a lot of his wines in my cellar. Anyway, not sure what vintage was “relabeled” Lirac instead of CdR, but at least starting by 2014 the “Baron Louis” you might see at retail will be “Lirac”!! — 2 months ago

with Jim

Peter van den Besselaar

8.9

Vintage 2023 | — 6 months ago