MCF Rare Wine

Clos de la Roilette - A Classic is a Classic
 
The other day, I was chatting with one of my colleagues, who's from my generation in the business, about how (and perhaps it's because we're getting into the 'old guy' stage of our careers) the wines we once cherished as new and exciting, are now seen by the next generation as wines that...

...well...

...the 'old people' drink.

I'm fine with that...but I'm gonna choose to call them 'classics', instead.

One of the producers whose label immediately pops into my mind when I consider this admittedly amusing category would absolutely be Clos de la Roilette.

Once a niche wine, found only at stores with the most hard core geek-centric selections, it's become pretty ubiquitous at most serious shops.  I remember trying to sell people on a Cru Beaujolais as a 25 year old, and having them look at me completely befuddled, and then politely saying 'I like a nice Shiraz or Merlot'.

Indeed, times have changed, but the beauty of these two wines from Roilette have not - they're still benchmarks for classically structured, ageworthy Fleurie.

And here we have the newest release of both their flagship Fleurie Cuvée Tardive and, my favorite Beaujolais for cellaring, the Fleurie Griffe du Marquis.

So, whether you consider yourself an upstart, or one of 'the olds', I think we can all appreciate a classic...

...and Clos de la Roilette is a classic...

(Now get off my lawn...)

CLOS de la ROILETTE
Fleurie Cuvée Tardive 2023 - made from the estate's oldest vines (80+ years old), this is as sturdy/Burgundian as Gamay gets.  It's darkly pitched, savory, herbaceous and intensely mineral, with a vertical structure that will easily handle 7-10 years in the cellar.  Like I said, a classic.

Fleurie Griffe du Marquis 2022 - as I said above, this is my favorite Beaujolais on the market for cellaring.  It's the exact same juice that goes into the Tardive, but they age it in used barrique, and for an extra year.  The resulting wine has that same muscular frame and dark, mineral earthiness, but it's broader, richer and more refined.  Give it 3-5 years minimum in your cellar and you'll understand why I love it so...

You may order by calling 212.255.8870.

Matt Franco
MCF Rare Wine, Ltd
249 West 13th Street NYC 10011
212.255.8870

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