Category: News

Mounir Saouma disagrees with what he calls “the standard vintage talk” about 2015, which is hardly the first time this iconoclast has taken a contrarian view of a new crop of wines. His describes 2015 as “a fragile jewel: it’s too easy to lose the aromatic complexity of the wines.” Too many of his colleagues,…

Micro-négociant and éleveur extraordinaire Mounir Saouma describes 2014 as “a fantastic vintage for white wines in the old style, with low alcohol, high acidity and low pH. The wines are crisper than the fatter 2013s.” Saouma noted that the grape skins in 2014 were ripe even if they didn’t show that quality early on. “But…

Josh Raynolds just published his report on 2013 , 2014 and few 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape for 150 producers and few hundreds of Cuvées. We have a honored position with 3 wines in the top 8 of his report . This makes us “again more” responsible of our work by just seeing the names around.…

Josh Raynolds just published his report on white 2013 , 2014 and few 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape , 150 producers, few hundreds of Cuvées. We are happy to see our three vintages of Magis in the TOP Seven wines of his report . Châteauneuf-du-Pape : Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Enters the 21st CenturyApril 2016 by Josh Raynolds…

Rotem & Mounir Saouma deliver a trio of Châteauneuf-du-Pape knockouts Châteauneuf-du-Pape Omnia 2013: 94 pointsAlluring, with cinnamon, black tea and violet aromas leading the way for a rich, yet silky and refined, core of raspberry, plum and red currant coulis flavors. Best from 2018 through 2028.—J.M. Châteauneuf-du-Pape Arioso 2012: 97 pointsThis is cut from different…

2014 Lucien Le Moine Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru(I tasted samples from white soil on the north side of the appellation and from redder soil on the Chambolle side, then an approximation of the final blend): From white soil: Bright, dark red. Musky aromas of raspberry and crushed stone. Penetrating, sharply delineated flavors of red cherry, red…

As usual, my visit to Maison Lucien Le Moine, conveniently located opposite the fantastic La Dilettante bistro, whose lasagna I highly recommend, was later than other growers. That is because Mounir’s approach towards élevage means that the wines tend to ferment at a sauntering pace and occasionally contain more gas. Before tasting his portfolio, which…

Mounir Saouma told me that the 2013s began appetizing and flashy, with low sugars and aromas of crystallized fruits, but are now gaining in depth, size and personality. « The alcoholic fermentations lasted until August of 2014, » he told me, « and we are now seeing the impact of the small crop. It’s really a vintage with…

ROTEM & MOUNIR SAOUMAChâteauneuf-du-Pape White Magis 2012Score: 96 Very bright, with a piercing lemon chiffon note followed by shortbread, white peach and verbena accents. The long finish has a bright stony edge and a light talc hint that lingers while the fruit plays out. Remarkably youthful and thoroughly distinctive. Drink now through 2025. From France.—J.M.…