2015 Xavier Vignon Cairanne 750 ml

“Outstanding” “Seamless” and “A No-Brainer”

"It’s a no-brainer purchase that will offer tons of pleasure through 2025," said Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate about this wine, rating it 91-93 points. The sun-soaked hillsides of the town of Cairanne lie between the Rasteau and Châteauneuf-du-Pape Crus of the Southern Rhône. From Cairanne’s chalky white soils, one of our all-time favorite winemakers, Xavier Vignon, coaxes Northern Rhône Syrah power and structure, blended with the rich, dark-berry, chocolaty undertones of Grenache and Mourvedre. No wonder Robert Parker has called him “easily one of the best winemakers in the Southern Rhône.” Xavier has authored more than a dozen 100-point wines, and his latest offering — the 2015 Xavier Vignon from the “Cairanne” Cru is “outstanding,” and “seamless,” according to the Advocate. Packed with pleasure at just $18.99 per bottle.

The Southern Rhône’s 2015 reds are marked by a near-perfect, long, and hot growing season. Wine Spectator gave the vintage an early rating of 94-97 points, and The Wine Advocate crowned it “a beautiful vintage for Southern Rhône lovers that will be a treasure trove for the actual wine drinkers out there.”

On such treasure is Xavier’s Cairanne, which delivers all the juicy depth and aromatic complexity you’d expect of sun-drenched fruit drawn off some of the region’s highest-elevation vineyards sites around the quaint village of Cairanne. In typical Xavier style, the wine was aged entirely in cement tanks and calls to mind the flavors and structure of great Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but without the need to cellar for year to enjoy. Pop these corks now.

Jonathan Cristaldi
Editor-in-Chief, Wine Access