Longtime favorite and highly recommended Rhône duo
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Here at the shop, a lot of wines have come and gone over the years. Some stick around for a vintage, two or three, and some barely make it past a month or two. This is a great deal on two everyday wines that we’ve regarded as favorites for close to 20 years. When I heard that the tariffs did begin in October, I immediately placed an order for these to secure them at pre-tariff pricing.
St. Hilaire d'Ozilhan -- Cotes du Rhône AOC
Superb values from one of the Co-ops in the region
St. Hilaire d’Ozilhan is a village located in the Gard, a department between the Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Costières de Nîmes appellations. The sleepy village is comprised mostly of vineyards, dotted with medieval ruins on the hillsides.
The Co-op of Hilaire d’Ozilhan was formed in 1929 in order to organize the village’s wine production, and over the years it has grown to 60 members. In 1956, the group was awarded the Côtes du Rhône appellation for their Prestige blends.
The Co-op is currently under the direction of winemaker René Blisson, and the property was recently awarded the certification of Agriculture Raisonnée for it’s nature-friendly and near-organic cultivation and winemaking.
Staff and customer favorite for 15+ years
The 2018 Prestige White is a blend of 40% Grenache Blanc, 36% Viognier, 15% Clairette and 9% Roussanne, grown on a soil of marl with scattered sand and pebbles. In the glass, a lovely pale golden yellow color opens to a highly expressive floral nose with notes of citrus, melon, and apple. The 2018 release is a bit richer and more expressive than the last vintage we received, making this a terrific white for grilled fish and chicken dishes.
The 2015 Prestige Red is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, grown on a soil of limestone scree and ancient alluvia. In the glass, the bright garnet color opens to a nose of red berry mingling with notes of garigue. The extended bottle age of the 2015 release results in a velvety smooth mouthfeel with plummy red fruit notes and just a hint of spice and smoke. Pair this with grilled pork and chicken, however, it will do nicely as well with lighter steaks and chops.
These wines pack a ton of quality and are super versatile — the red and white Prestigeare a great choice for all your autumn fare and will be the star of the party at holiday events with friends and neighbors.
St. Hilaire d'Ozilhan
"Prestige" White and Red- Can't make it in? Call 828-253-0060 with your credit card number.
We'll hold your purchase in our temperature controlled cellar for pickup at your convenience
or we'll arrange for delivery.