As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, DC has a new wine store. Weygandt Wines is the best wine store in DC and in the same league with the best in the country (Chambers Street, Kermit Lynch, K&L, Astor and the Wine Exchange). At Weygandt it’s not the range of the selection (albeit impressive), it’s about a hand-picked selection that is especially strong in terms of French wines. They taste wines each and every day from 4-8 pm — and staff are super friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The experience is further elevated on many Saturdays by the presence of Peter Weygandt. He helped me pick out some wines a couple of weeks ago. He suggested the 2007 Alary Cairanne La Font d’Estevenas (a wine I bought in 05 and 06). He said the 07 was very special, so much so that it was the red wine he selected for his daughter’s wedding this past summer.

The Alary family have been growers for 11 generations. One of their sites is on the choicest parcel of Cairanne, known as the Font D’Estevenas. The Font D’Estevanas site in Cairanne gives its name to two of the domaine’s top wines ( a white and a red). The red is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah planted some 40 years ago from cuttings brought from Hermitage, blended with Grenache and Counoise, some of the Grenache vines being over 100 years old.

Dark ruby in color. Aromatics of ripe raspberry, cherry and kirsch with violets and a little earthiness. On the palate — loaded with deep, ripe red and dark fruit with some rare meat, pepper and graphite. Opulent and textured with silky tannins and a solid finish. I thought this showed better on day 2 and I would definitely hold for 2-3 years at a minimum or decant in the near term. This would stand up against many a Chateauneuf du Pape. Another great wine from the Weygandt portfolio. Recommended.

Not surprisingly, my short list of favorites wines from the Rhône 2007 vintage is dominated by wines imported by Kermit Lynch, Louis/Dressner and Peter Weygandt.

Favorite Côtes du Rhônes 2007
Domaine Gramenon Sierra du Sud
Domaine Gramenon La Sagesse Côtes du Rhône
Les Aphillanthes Côtes du Rhône (Cuvée des Galets & Cuvée 3 Cepages)
Domaine Alary Cairanne La Font d’Estevenas
Domaine Richaud Côtes du Rhône-Villages-Cairanne
Domaine Richaud Côtes du Rhône Terres de Galets
Domaine Gramenon Les Laurentides Côtes du Rhône
Escaravailles Côtes du Rhône