2018 Bernard Magrez Le Prélat Laudun Côtes-du-Rhône Villages France 750 ml

One of our secrets to finding the best values is to look at the names behind the label—or in today’s case, on it. Great producers make great wine, and we’re always searching out humbly-priced bottles from names that are usually associated with the pinnacle of drinking.

You rarely see this level of nuance, complexity, and precision in a Côtes-du-Rhône of this price—then again, you won’t see another one with Bernard Magrez’s name on the label. 

It’s a steal for a wine from Magrez, who “built an empire based on high quality,” in the words of Robert Parker. With friend and 100-point consulting winemaker Michel Rolland at his side for over 20 years, Magrez built a reputation on his attention to detail and a spare-no-expense attitude. That extends from the vineyards he buys all the way down to the barrels, which are often custom-made for his estates and remain spotless in the cellar—there’s even no tolerance for spilling wine.

That attention to detail comes through immediately after the wine is poured, as the nose is delightfully layered. Bold aromas of baked black cherries, crisp bacon, wild lavender, and thyme come in waves, redolent of Southern France in the summer. The palate is polished to perfection, with silky tannins and a bold rush of fruit buttressed by exotic spices and dusty herbs. 

It’s a classic Côtes-du-Rhône, taken up a notch because each little detail has been elevated. Like a great French restaurant making bœuf bourguignon, the recipe should be easy to copy, but other efforts just seem to fall short—a testament to the accumulation of skill at each stage of the process. Magrez lives by this principle and Le Prélat transcends its appellation and price as a result.

It all starts with top vineyards in the town of Laudun, one of just five villages elevated above the rest of the Côtes-du-Rhône in the original drafts of the appellation. There, a blend of Grenache, known for supple red fruit, is paired with Syrah, which contributes dark plum flavors and a powerful backbone. 

Tiny amounts of Carignan and Mourvèdre add nuance and intrigue, and the wine is fermented in temperature-controlled concrete tanks, which helps create its plush texture and pure fruit flavors. Finally, an extremely gentle pressing with a pneumatic press ensures the tannins are soft, making for a wine that we’ve been compulsively opening over the last few weeks.