Le Prince de Courthézon Prestige 2018

The southern Rhône is home to France’s richest reds. And this new release hails from Thierry Ferlay, a Châteauneuf star who’s won more gold medals than any other winemaker in the region. And, thanks to a newly forged partnership with Philippe Cambie – Robert Parker’s 2010 Winemaker of the Year and recipient of 15 100-point scores for his wines – we’re expecting that medal tally to skyrocket even further.

Thierry crafted this limited-edition Côtes-du-Rhône to celebrate the exceptional 2018 vintage. He hand harvested his best parcels of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre from 50-plus-year-old vines (which have miserly yields, but ultra-concentrated flavors). Previous releases have won gold medals at many of France’s top wine shows, and the 2018 (a dead-ringer for Châteauneuf-du-Pape) continues the tradition.

In the glass, look forward to sumptuous red and black fruits (cherry, blackberry, plum) balanced by an intriguing minerality, silky-smooth tannins, and touches of black pepper/vanilla on the unforgettably long finish. Thinking about a dinner match? We suggest a sausage-based dish (sausage and mushroom gratin, for example) or traditional cassoulet.

Limited production and what’s sure to be very high demand mean you should place your orders now to avoid missing out.