Xavier Vignon’s Arcane l’Etoile, a multi-vintage blend from 2015, 16 & 17 drawn from several plots in Beaumes-de-Venise, is a dark and alluring wine with saturated blackberry, dark chocolate and strong espresso notes. Not soft, but also fairly mild in acidity with moderate tannin towards the finish. But this is no plush southern Rhône wine and feels almost slightly off-balance at the moment - austere, even - and perhaps needs a few years to harmonise. Quite a hot finish. Potential, though.
Xavier Vignon’s Arcane l’Etoile, a multi-vintage blend from 2015, 16 & 17 drawn from several plots in Beaumes-de-Venise, is a dark and alluring wine with saturated blackberry, dark chocolate and strong espresso notes. Not soft, but also fairly mild in acidity with moderate tannin towards the finish. But this is no plush southern Rhône wine and feels almost slightly off-balance at the moment - austere, even - and perhaps needs a few years to harmonise. Quite a hot finish. Potential, though.
1 person found it helpfulSep 28th, 2020GSM and the S was co-fermented with Viognier. Classic Southern Rhône, if on the fruitier/jammier side. Very, very nice.
GSM and the S was co-fermented with Viognier. Classic Southern Rhône, if on the fruitier/jammier side. Very, very nice.
Apr 17th, 2021Didn't decant, and it started soft and supple, luscious. As it breathed, it dug its heels in a bit-- tannins came out and a bit of roughness. No question, it is French, and high quality. I feel like maybe the 3 different vintages shimmer in and out of focus or something. I do not have a uniform impression of this one. Fun.
Didn't decant, and it started soft and supple, luscious. As it breathed, it dug its heels in a bit-- tannins came out and a bit of roughness. No question, it is French, and high quality. I feel like maybe the 3 different vintages shimmer in and out of focus or something. I do not have a uniform impression of this one. Fun.
Feb 26th, 2021