Since 2019, Xavier has produced a single-vineyard Côte-Rôtie from Le Mollard—the site in which the majority of the domaine’s holdings in the appellation are planted. This cuvée is both a vineyard and a barrel selection: Xavier employed a half-hectare 1981 planting of Syrah (with 6% interplanted Viognier), and then chose the five best barrels to bottle separately as Côte-Rôtie “Le Mollard.” Two of the five barrels were new (but seasoned first with a Viognier fermentation to reduce the oak’s impact), and the other three were four- and five-years-old. Vinified with 50% whole clusters, this presents an expansive, meditative nose of warm stones, elegant spice, and refined, precise fruit—a fully formed and utterly gorgeous aromatic profile even at this youthful stage. Though larger-scaled than those of the basic Côte-Rôtie, the tannins here are astonishingly precise—pointillistic in feel rather than monolithic—and integrated beautifully into the wine’s mouth-filling, energetic palate.

*Due in Early Summer