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The
wines of Domaine
Cuilleron, Northern Rhône, France
Cave Yves Cuilleron, Verlieu, 42410 Chavanay, France
Tel : 0033 (0) 474 870 237 Fax:
0033 (0) 474 870 562
E-mail: cave@cuilleron.com
Website: http://www.isasite.net/cuilleron/
UK agent: Enotria
 In
the space of a decade, Yves Cuilleron has established himself as one
of the leading lights of France’s Northern Rhône region. He’s a
modernist, but not overly so: his wines straddle neatly the divide
between traditionalists and the new-wave, in the sense that they
retain their sense of place, but express their site in a slightly more
approachable, immediate way.
There's a purity to the fruit, and where new oak is used it isn't
excessive.
Cuilleron took over the family domaine in 1987, and has
since grown it significantly. He owns 8 hectares of the 100 hectares
of Condrieu, which makes him one of the top dogs here. But his reds
also impress – I was impressed by his St Josephs (perhaps the
leading expressions of this appellation, and his Côte-Rôties are pretty good. It’s rare to find a
producer with a set of scores as consistently high as these.
Cuilleron
Condrieu La Petite Côte 2004
This is a delicious, bold peach and apricot-laden white wine, with
a rich texture palate showing nutty, peachy fruit. Very fat with low
acidity and a spicy finish. A brilliant Condrieu. Very good/excellent 93/100
Cuilleron
Condrieu Les Chaillets Vieilles Vignes 2004
Nicely defined stone fruit and pear nose. Nice fruity palate with
lovely definition to the soft, fat, peachy fruit. An interesting wine
that’s not as fat as previous example. Very good/excellent 92/100
Cuilleron
St Joseph Les Pierres Sèches 2004
Fresh, clean bright red fruits nose is perfumed and open.
There’s a bit of meaty richness on the well defined palate, which
has lovely fruit purity. A really nice, transparent wine. Very
good/excellent 92/100
Cuilleron
St Joseph Amarybelle Vielles Vignes 2003
Very fresh perfumed nose showing pure fruit with a minerally,
spicy edge. The palate has high acidity with lovely purity of focused
bright fruit. Savoury, delicious, minerally and earthy. Very
good/excellent 93/100
Cuilleron
St Joseph Les Sérines 2003
Dark, spicy and meaty with lovely bright pure fruit. The palate is
concentrated and intense with nice spicy tannins. Beautiful stuff:
spicy and minerally with real focus – a delicious wine. Very good/excellent 94/100
Cuilleron
Côte-Rôtie Côteau de Bassenon 2004
Slightly shy dark fruits nose, which is a bit meat and spicy. The
palate is concentrated and full with lovely pure, rounded red and
black fruit. Quite elegant with a spicy edge. This is a lovely wine
that needs time. Very
good/excellent 93/100
Cuilleron
Côte-Rôtie Les Terres Sombres 2002
Dark, minerally, savoury nose: focused, spicy and earthy. The
palate is concentrated and earthy with nice savoury spiciness. Quite
drying and earthy on the finish. Good effort from a rubbish vintage.
Very good/excellent 90/100
Cuilleron Condrieu Les Ayguets Récoltes Tardives 2004
This sweet Condrieu is Cuilleron's oddity. It's Deeply coloured. Massively
rich, intense apricotty nose with lemony freshness. Complex and
intense. The palate shows soft, rich, viscous apricotty, peachy fruit.
Complex and intense. Excellent 95/100
Wines tasted 02/06
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