Châteauneuf clone - packed with “sweet, deeply concentrated Chambord and cherry cola flavors” – for under $30!

From the DYNAMITE 2016 vintage, with TRIPLE 92 point scores!?

What else can we do/say?

Not gonna lie, just like the Wine Advocate, we had no clue who Château Bois d’Arlène was until we tasted this.

Oh my… was what greeted us in the bottle.

Then these words by Jeb Dunnuck rang in our ears “The 2016 vintage was truly extraordinary for the Southern Rhône and is a vintage that readers should buy with abandon. This is the greatest young vintage from the Southern Rhône Valley I’ve ever tasted, both in terms of quality as well as consistency. I’ve never seen so many traditional cuvées achieve such high quality nor so many estates produce such truly extraordinary wines.”

Classically proportioned with 2/3 Grenache and 1/3 Syrah, Origine is the flagship cuvée for Château Bois d’Arlène, featuring their oldest vines, almost 70 years old, grown on a clay and limestone-based soil with large round pebbles you’ll recall from Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Deliciously smooth and round. Head-spinning basketfuls of raspberry, strawberry jam and sweet spices define the perfume. Medium-bodied, this melts on the palate, with licorice, plum, and mineral character. While elegant, the tannins make a comeback on the finish, they don’t get in the way of the sweet fruits and savory herbs that linger on and on. For that ‘pick up a lemon, garlic, and herb roasted chicken on the way home’ weeknight, this is your go-to red.

While the origins of the property can be traced back to the 13th century, this is a newcomer that hit the ground running, with the support of truly one of the greatest vintages ever seen around here that blurs the line between neighboring appellations, toppling quality-price ratios. Add to that their extraordinary terroir, and noninterventionist winemaking, this is a winner through and through.

Come to think of it, we should have imported more!

92 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“My first exposure to this producer, the 2016 Vacqueyras Origine was a pleasant surprise. Apricot and red plum fruit shows excellent ripeness in this full-bodied wine. It’s tannic and rich but notes of fruit and anise come through on the finish. Cellar it a few years and then drink it over the next 5-8.”

92 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous

“Brilliant ruby. Spice-accented raspberry and cherry compote aromas pick up lavender candy, floral and smoky mineral nuances with air. Fleshy and broad on the palate, offering sweet, deeply concentrated Chambord and cherry cola flavors and an exotic suggestion of five-spice powder. Spreads out steadily on the juicy, impressively long finish, which is framed by supple, harmonious tannins. All concrete. Drink 2022-2028.”

92 Points – Decanter

“There’s an allspice and cedar edge to the strawberry fruit, yet it’s still ripe, juicy and approachable. Feels like this is the time to drink this, as it’s very harmonious and together, with a gentle tannic undercurrent. It has real character. Drink 2022-2025.”