Domaine Michele & Patrice Rion, Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts, 2023 so050421 robert moncuit or Poulsard—wines that whisper rather

or Poulsard—wines that whisper rather than shout

Franck Balthazar’s Cornas “Cuvée Casimir” comes from old Syrah vines on the granite slopes of Les Mazards and La Lègre

5 hectares of south-east-facing vines planted in 1985 on sandy clay over soft tuffeau limestone

primary fruit beginning to cede to sous bois

and speaking in the language of crushed limestone and ripe red fruit rather than brioche and toast

Domaine Michele & Patrice Rion, Vosne-Romanee 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts, 2023 so050421 robert moncuit or Poulsard—wines that whisper ratherLes Beaux Monts is a Premier Cru straddling Vosne Romanee, and Patrice Rion's parcel sits high on the north facing slope with a south east turn, on shallow soil over Comblanchien limestonevines his grandfather planted back in 1970. Vosne Romanee is the most aristocratic address in the Cote de Nuits, and Beaux Monts delivers that combination of perfume, minerality, and tension. Rion ferments with some whole clusters and ages in a good chunk of new oak,