2015 Château de Montfaucon "Baron Louis" Lirac

2015 Château de Montfaucon "Baron Louis" Lirac SKU #1402274

Price: $19.99

Add To Waiting List

Professional Reviews

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
93
The rich, tannic 2015 Lirac Baron Louis spent a year in barrel, a year in tank and a year in bottle prior to release. It offers up scents of leather, cedar and vanilla, but it balances out the oak with dark fruit notes of cola, plum and spice. It's full-bodied and velvety on the palate, while hints of licorice emerge on the lengthy finish. This wine has clearly emerged as one of the top Liracs. (JC)

(11/2018)

K&L Notes

An 88-acre estate, Château de Montfaucon sits just across the Rhône River from the esteemed vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It is owned and operated by Rodolphe de Pins, a U.C. Davis graduate and former member of the winemaking staff at Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe. Over the years, Château de Montfaucon has developed a HUGE following among both our staff and customers. Who is the Baron Louis? A seminal figure in the history of Montfaucon, he was responsible for restoring the château on the estate, saving it from complete ruin at the close of the 19th century.

Staff Reviews

By: Keith Mabry
7/31/2019
K&L Staff Member

Our relationship has been long and fulfilling with Chateau de Montfaucon. We were one of the first retailer/importers to bring in the wines, and from the word "GO" they have never disappointed. Winemaker and proprietor Rudi des Pins has always said the "Baron Louis" is one of the prestige wines from the property, and has always held it back for a couple of years before release. He feels it allows the tannins and fruit to better integrate. The 2015 just arrived and it is a "benchmark wine" for Montfaucon. From a spectacular vintage, it is full-bodied, lush, and harmonious, with fine and supple tannins. Classic Lirac aromas of black currants, raspberries, anise, and cedary spice deliver so much for such a reasonable price. This is a wine that always does well with a little more bottle ag, and winemaker Rudi occasionally offers some library wines to us for sale around the holiday season. Based on the quality, I guarantee we'll see this offered again in another decade, but why wait when you can have some on your table or in your cellar now!
By: Kaj Stromer
7/31/2019
K&L Staff Member

This is serious wine built to compete with first-rate Chateauneuf-du-Pape or top Gigondas. This well-structured blend of 60% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, 5% Carignan, and 5% Mourvedre is harvested from the best parcels of old vineyards on the estate. The resulting wine is truly magnificent. While most 2015s have come and gone, the “Baron Luis” is held back and aged at the winery for three years before release. The result is a much better integrated wine on release. You can enjoy this young with a hearty hour in your decanter or else put it away in your cellar for several winters. You’ll be duly rewarded.
By: Thomas Smith
7/30/2019
K&L Staff Member

The Montfaucon Cotes-du-Rhone was one of the first wines I truly fell in love with at K&L. The value is tremendous and Montfaucon quickly became one of my favorite producers. A few years later I had the opportunity to try several vintages of the Baron Louis going back to 2005. Oh my god. It turned me into an absolute believer. This is one of those rare wines that drinks beautifully on release, and can age beautifully as well. The 2015, already a phenomenal year for Southern Rhone, shows a smoky, black-fruited and richly aromatic nose. The fruit here is open and full, without begin over-the-top opulent, full of blackberry and brambly goodness. Accessible and yet age-able, bold and yet balanced, this is a serious wine that deserves attention.
By: Greg St. Clair
7/30/2019
K&L Staff Member

This is a big, powerful, brooding wine, muscular dark, with lots of fruit curled up inside. On the palate the wine shows its size and well-developed frame that speaks to a couple of years in the cellar or with some hearty dishes like Cassoulet. This wine has a history of development down the line so pop a couple of bottles in your cellar if you’re into brawny and bold!