NV Xavier Vignon Arcane L’Etoile Beaumes de Venise 750 ml

Praised by Rhône expert Jeb Dunnuck as “something profound” and “another elegant, finesse-oriented wine” of “both richness and freshness,” L’Étoile is one of Xavier Vignon’s best-ever values. It’s a veritable star, and a Rhône steal that’s second to none. 

This stunner hails from the hamlet of Beaumes de Venise, an oft-overlooked village whose high-elevation vineyards mirror the terroirs of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas. In price, however, Beaumes de Venise bears little similarity to its prestigious neighbors. 

This is more than one of the most spectacular values in the Rhône: It’s a wine that defines its region. Dunnuck said it “might just be one of the greatest red wines to come from Beaumes de Venise.”

An assemblage of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and a splash of Viognier, L’Étoile comes from three of the best vintages in the history of the Southern Rhône: 2015, 2016, and 2017. Vignon is a magician in the cellar, and in his hands the best elements of each season—concentration-inducing heat, steady temperatures, and perfectly balanced acidity—fuse to create a powerful yet graceful wine that’s impossible to put down. 

Vignon sourced the grapes from high-elevation sites that share traits with the best appellations in the Southern Rhône. He left the juice on the skins for over a month during fermentation before aging the wine in a combination of concrete vats and French and American barriques.

Suave and brooding, the high-elevation plantings and spindly, ancient vines have taken center stage, accounting for the luscious, dark-red-fruit opulence and fine acidity that culminates in what Dunnuck calls “a beautiful, full-bodied, elegant wine.” 

From one of our greatest member-favorite winemakers, we call it as sure a bet as you’ll find in the wine world.