Boise Coop Wine Shop

A French Pair with Great Pedigrees

• August 28, 2008

2007 Les Heritiers du Comte Lafon Macon, $18.99

Considered one of the finest winemakers in France, Dominique Lafon produces coveted white Burgundies from some of the greatest vineyards in the Cote de Beaune. He is best known for his outstanding Mersaults which garner great reviews and command prices in the hundreds of dollars. But not one to rest on his laurels and always hungry for new challenges, he purchased 35 acres of vines in the Maconnais in 1999. He believes strongly in the potential of the region, but feels that too few vignerons have attempted to realize that potential. Thus, in the same spirit that he runs his renowned Meursault property, Dominique utilizes biodynamic viticulture, intense soil rejuvenation, tight yield control, and rigorous green harvesting to produce some of the most complex, vibrant and impressive wines the region has ever seen. This entry level Macon comes from vines that range in age from 15 to 50 years old. Stainless steel fermentation preserves all the freshness of the lush fruit and a nice minerality comes through on the finish. Taste the style of Domaine Comte Lafon for a fraction of the price of those renowned Burgundies.

2005 Domaine des Tours Reserve, $14.99

Emmanuel Reynaud has been at the helm of the fabled Chateau Rayas in Chateauneuf du Pape since his uncle’s death in 1997, but even before that he was making wine at the family owned estate of Domaine des Tours in Vaucluse. The winery is situated in an old farm building with twin towers on either side, hence the name. When Emmanuel took over in 1989 he modernized the facility installing a new press, stainless steel tanks and new oak casks. Like the vineyards of Rayas, Grenache dominates the vineyards, with vines ranging in age from 30 to 50 years old. Everything is done organically and Reynaud pushes the harvest date back to assure full ripeness of the grapes. Native yeasts are employed with each vineyard lot fermented separately. Blending takes place just before bottling. The result is a Vaucluse of exceptional quality with a beautiful richness. It is an elegantly structured wine, with velvety raspberry fruit up front giving way to spicy cherry and white pepper on the finish. This is one to buy by the case!