If you're looking for sternly mineral and long-aging Beaujolais, Roilette is the place to look.
Few Beaujolais come close to Roilette in terms of aging or transformation in the cellar.
It's been three years since we've offered Roilette's Griffe du Marquis. The 2021 is a vintage of Griffe du Marquis that we like so much that we've dedicated a lot of time to tracking down enough quantity for an offer. It was a short vintage, so finding enough was no easy task.
Generally speaking, the 2021 vintage in Beaujolais is a nimble and energetic year for the region. After a series of ripe years, 2021 very much feels like a throw-back vintage.
The 2021 Griffe du Marquis represents the best of the vintage. There's a deep, stony minerality that grips the palate. It is complemented by spice and floral notes. Overall, the wine is clearly built to last.
The first vintage of Griffe du Marquis was 2009. The wine is sourced from the same two parcels of eighty-year-old vines bordering Moulin-à-Vent that go into Tardive. The only difference is that Griffe du Marquis spends time in old Burgundy barrels instead of the larger foudre that Tardive is briefly aged in. There's a long history of aging Beaujolais in old Burgundy barrels, and the wine is Alain Coudert's exploration of this tradition.
Roilette's Tardive has no problem aging for 10 or more years. Now that we've had time to track Griffe du Marquis for a number of vintages, it seems clear that it is also a "long-haul" Beaujolais. One of the striking differences between Tardive and Griffe du Marquis is that the latter shows a little more finesse and lift.
Roilette's wines are some of the most profound and age-worthy Beaujolais around. We created 4-packs because the 2021 Griffe du Marquis is one to track over time. We strongly suggest that you stock up on this soulful value.
To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Joe Salamone
Wine Buyer
Crush Wine & Spirits
$33.95 on 4 or more, discount automatically applies at checkout.