Xavier Vignon Arcane VI Les Amoureux 2016

A special blend from the master tinkerer who refuses to settle for status quo and continues to push the boundaries in southern France. This, all from the 2016 vintage, is a blend of five unique sites in the Rhone that Xavier perfectly balances together. There is so much going on, it’s easy to get lost in this intricate blend, but it’s a true classic in the making and well worth the big hype. I just wish I could’ve gotten more than a tiny 10-case allocation!

“Fascinated by blending and tinkering, tasting with him is something like meeting with a benevolent mad scientist—there are so many different experiments to try, it is sometimes difficult to keep up with what is what. Many of his wines are released quite late onto the market, as he prefers to age wines up to three winters before bottling and two winters after bottling. On the other hand, many of his 2016s are already in bottle. “2016 was just like a dream,” Xavier Vignon said. “The best autumn I’ve ever seen.” – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate