95+ John Gilman - View from the Cellar

"Pierre-Marie Chermette's Fleurie "les Garants" is a stunning young example of the 2011 vintage, with an almost "meaty" character to the fleshy and bottomless fruit here that is truly exceptional. This is a classic 2011 Cru, with its concentration of fruit utterly transparent at the same time, rather than driven by ripeness that takes center stage over the base of soil tones. The Les Garants lieu a dit is a southwesterly-facing vineyard on pink granite flecked with both mica and quartz, and this superb base is the focal point of this lovely bottle, which was raised in ten percent new oak barrels and the rest in foudre. The stunning nose is very pure and sappy, but also classic and soil-driven in its aromatic melange of pomegranate, red plums, complex soil tones, fresh herbs (mostly redolent of mustard seed and lavender), raw cocoa, incipient notes of gamebird, a bit of youthful pepperiness and a whisper of cedar in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and stunning in its purity, with a rock solid core of fruit, ripe, moderate tannins, laser-like focus and absolutely stunning length and grip on the primary and very, very promising finish. This will be a great wine, and while it is a superb drink already (I finished the sample bottle in no time flat!) it would be an absolute crime to drink this wine before it has had at least a couple of years in the cellar to allow its secondary layers of complexity to emerge. This is brilliant Fleurie in the making! 2014-2035." (09/12)

90 Wine Enthusiast

"Contrary to its flowery name, Fleurie can produce firm and tannic wines, and this selection is a case in point. It is a solid and chunky effort that is laden with tannin and bitter cherry flavor. The tight acidity needs time to settle down, so give it a couple of years." (03/13)