That Condrieu came and went like the 100+ MPH Mistral winds that famously blows through the region.

Wish we had BILLIONS of BILLONS but that’s not the case. There is just enough of this next gem though to roll with for a few more hours…

Are dense, full-bodied, black fruited, spicy, savory monsters with a complex array of flavors and plush velvet tannins YOUR thing? Then THIS is the wine for you.

40% off, and UNDER $50, and double 93-points, as Decanter calls out, “this is a smart buy.”

Côte-Rôtie, for those who have heard, is one of the most thrilling regions in France.

And Christophe Billon? Maybe one of the top winemakers few have heard of.

You see, he’s never been one to draw attention to himself. But during his many years at the legendary Guigal, working with Marcel and Philippe Guigal, they racked up more than a dozen perfect 100-point scores. From Wine Advocate alone!!!

Considering his experience, even at FULL PRICE this wine is a STEAL!

Domaine Christophe Billon’s beginnings date back to 1986, when he inherited a half-hectare plot that was planted by his grandfather in 1942. It took him until 1991, while working at Guigal, to reach the quality and yields from there to start his own label. But he kept his day job. Until 2007, when he finally left focus on his own wines.

He has since acquired small parcels in some of the region’s top sites. Jamet, Rostaing, Gaillard, Gerin, Guigal, Ogier – the region’s top (and oft most expensive) producers – all use grapes from some of the same sites.

“Billon makes a relatively modern, rich, and powerful style of wine that still never loses its Côte Rôtie soul.” as Rhone expert Jeb Dunnuck puts it.

For ‘Les Elotins,’ Billon combines the harvest of four separate parcels that pull together the best of both worlds. You see, Côte-Rôtie is split roughly into two. The Côte Brune is known for more dense, robust wines, the Côte Blonde for more aromatic, and elegant styles. This bottle features half from each variation in terroir marrying the power and the elegance seamlessly.

And the vintage? Dunnuck points out, “2020 is an exceptional vintage for the Northern Rhône. The wines are powerful and concentrated yet hold onto a wonderful sense of purity and freshness. Quality is incredibly high across all the appellations… make no mistake about it, these are ripe, powerful wines.” Adding that “Both Côte Rôtie and Hermitage produced a massive number of legendary wines.”

Swirling this inky bad-boy in the glass reveals just that – power and a wonderful purity. Mouthwatering layers of smoked meats and spices, blackberry pie, dark chocolate, fresh violets… It’s a four-course meal in a glass, full-bodied but never heavy, with powdery fine tannins and crushed stone minerality adding textural depth to its complex flavors.

While not yet a legend, Billon is certainly a legend in the making. AT THIS PRICE?! Snatch them up, before they’re gone!

93 Points – Wine Spectator “Ripe, opulent and chewy, with a dense core of blackberry, baked plum and spice cake flavors. Shows saltiness through its notes of black licorice and balsamic reduction, plus dark chocolate and freshly turned soil accents. Tannins hold a gentle grip through the salty and dense finish. Offers good harmony now; it will be interesting to see this evolve. Drink now through 2030. 350 cases made, 80 cases imported.”

93 Points – Decanter “Blackberry coulis on the nose, this is ripe and juicy, but not overripe. Fine, fresh, fairly light-bodied but with fine tannins, this is an approachable Côte-Rôtie, but also one that feels weighty and serious. Very classic and not far off the quality of his Viallière and Côte-Rozier this year, so this is a smart buy. Schist soils, 30% whole bunch. Spends 22 months in one and two-year-old barrels. Drink 2023-2028.”