KYSELA PERE ET FILS, LTD.

"Juicy white peach, minty herbs, orange blossom, and spice notes all shine in the 2023 Lirac Cuvée De La Reine Des Bois Blanc, a beautifully balanced, elegant, layered white based on 30% Grenache, 20% Clairette, and 15% each Viognier, Roussanne, and Marsanne, as well as splashes of Picpoul and Bourboulenc. It would easily compete with any number of top Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc."

- Jeb Dunnuck (Importer Highlight: Fran Kysela ; July 2024), 94 pts

"This old vine Garnacha Blanca and Clairette led blend sees some skin contact and partial fermentation and aging in wood. The result is an impressive, multi-faceted wine revealing a perfumed bouquet and beautifully balanced and fresh, densely flavored wine with elements of white peach, pear, citrus along with herbal notes. A hand picked blend of biodynamically cultivated 30% Grenache, 20% Clairette, 15% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, 15% Marsanne, and 5% Picpoul and Bourboulenc from 40 year old vines grown on galet roules. Fermented in 90% stainless steel and 10% used casks; 205 of the wine aged in oak barrels for 6 months. - Don WINKLER"

- International Wine Review (Kysela Père et Fils Importer: 30 Years Importing High Quality, High Value Wines ; July 26th 2024), 94 pts

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- Wine Enthusiast (August 27th 2024), 92 pts

"Aromas of fresh citron, white pepper, bay leaves and fresh herbs. It’s medium-bodied with a creamy texture. Round with volume and a saline character towards the finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold."

 - James Suckling (July 3rd 2023), 92 pts

"The 2022 Lirac Blanc La Reine des Bois shows a bit more honeyed richness on the nose and a touch of apricot-like Viognier character. Medium to full-bodied, it's a plusher example, round in the mouth and long on the finish. - Joe CZERWINSKI"

 - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (September 29th 2023), 91 pts

"I loved the 2021 Lirac Blanc, one of those whites that truly over-delivers. Beautiful notes of pear, white flowers, citrus, and some salty, mineral-like nuances define this beauty, and it's medium-bodied, with terrific balance, integrated acidity, and a great, great finish. Bravo. Drink this over the coming 2-4 years.”

- Jeb Dunnuck (November 2022), 94 pts

"There's a touch of oak on the nose and palate that helps to frame the tangy citrus notes, and lends a touch of spice, but it's far from overwhelming. Full-bodied, classically Lirac in its breadth on the palate. Ends on a nip of grapefruit bitterness. Good acidity. Also contains Marsanne, Viognier and Piquepoul."
- Decanter (October 1st 2022), 92 pts

"Brimming with stone-fruit aromas with a touch of mango, this is a rich but very clean and crisp dry white from the Southern Rhone. Good concentration and a touch of positive tannin help it carry the generous body and 14.5% alcohol. From organically grown grapes. Drink now."

 - James Suckling (March 2022), 90 pts

"Iconic grapes of 35% Grenache, 25% Clairette, 10% Viognier, 15% Roussanne, 10% Marsanne, and 5% Picpoul from 40-year-old vines make up this organic Southern Rhône white. A floral bouquet of white tea and jasmine make their designs on a defined slate mouthfeel. Lime pops with a tart center, along with notes of peach and gingerbread on a keen, edgy finish."

- The Somm Journal (Feb/March 2022), 94 pts

"This spry, perfumed and dry white opens with streaks of orange blossom and sun-drenched white peach. Vinified predominantly in stainless steel (with just 10% in neutral oak casks), it offers juicy stone-fruit and citrus flavors accented by hints of crushed stone and fresh herb. Best enjoyed now–2026. - ANNA LEE C. IIJIMA"

- Wine Enthusiast (April 2022), 91 pts

"A mix of most of the permitted white varieties (mostly Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne), the 2019 Lirac La Reine Des Bois Blanc is thrilling stuff, and I’d certainly put it up with any of the top Châteauneuf du Pape whites out there. Light gold hued with a clean, classy bouquet of crushed citrus, spiced pear, white flowers, and honeyed minerality, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, beautifully integrated acidity, and a great, salty, lip-smacking finish. It’s well worth seeking out and is ideal for enjoying over the coming 2-4 years (although I suspect it will last even longer).”
- Jeb Dunnuck (October 2020), 94 pts

"Plumes of spring blossom and grapefruit zest perfume this exuberant dry white. A rich, full-bodied blend of six regional white grape varieties, it's buoyantly peachy but maintains a fresh mineral balance. At peak now but should hold through 2024. - ANNA LEE C. IIJIMA"
- Wine Enthusiast (December 2020), 93 pts

"The oak in the 2018 Lirac Blanc La Reine des Bois has been pared back to only 10% (used barrels), allowing more melon fruit to show through than in the past. A blend of 35% Grenache, 25% Clairette, 15% Roussanne, 10% each Marsanne and Viognier and 5% Picpoul, it's full-bodied, round and honeyed. Soft and approachable, it should be consumed over the next year or two. Tasted twice (once blind), with one sample lacking fruit and length (sub-threshold TCA?).- Joe Czerwinski”
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #245, October  2019), 91 pts

Go to Domaine de la Mordoree Lirac Blanc La Reine des Bois

"Light gold-colored, the 2018 Lirac La Reine Des Bois Blanc offers classy notes of apple blossom, mulled pears, and honeysuckle. It's clean and medium-bodied, with good depth of fruit, integrated acidity, and a clean finish. It's not one of the stronger releases here, but it’s still a solid effort.”
- Jeb Dunnuck (August 16th 2019), 89 pts

Go to Domaine de la Mordoree Lirac Blanc La Reine des Bois

"Honeyed pineapple marks the nose of the 2016 Lirac La Reine des Bois Blanc. This rich, tropical fruit-laden wine somehow manages to maintain a sense of balance despite the almost overwhelming sensory overload, finishing long and dry. - Joe Czerwinski”
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue 233, October 31st 2017), 92 pts

Go to Domaine de la Mordoree Lirac Blanc La Reine des Bois

"I continue to be impressed by this cuvée and the 2015 Lirac Cuvee de La Reine des Bois Blanc is another beautiful wine. Offering terrific notes of stone fruits, citrus blossom and a hint of freshly peeled apples, it has medium to full-bodied richness, integrated acidity and a great finish. This puppy has the freshness and purity to stand on its own, as well as the richness and depth to shine on the dinner table. - Jeb Dunnuck"

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #227, October 28th 2016), 92 pts

Go to Domaine de la Mordoree Lirac Blanc La Reine des Bois

"Bright, green-tinged straw. Fresh melon and nectarine scents are enlivened by suggestions of honey, chamomile and candied orange. Fleshy, expansive and dry, offering juicy pit fruit and melon flavors and a subtle touch of succulent herbs. Smoothly combines heft and vivacity and finishes long, seamless and floral, displaying a lingering hint of poached pear. - Josh Raynolds"

- Vinous (June 2016), 90 pts

Go to Domaine de la Mordoree Lirac Blanc La Reine des Bois

"A smokin’ white, the 2014 Lirac Cuvee de la Reine des Bois Blanc sports a light gold color to go with tons of citrus blossom, crushed rock, hints of peach, and more brioche and nuttiness (even though this was raised all in stainless steel) developing on the finish. It has terrific freshness, good overall richness and an impeccably balanced feel, all of which will allow it to drink nicely for 2-4 years. - Jeb Dunnuck"

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #223, March 2016), 91 pts

Go to Domaine de la Mordoree Lirac Blanc La Reine des Bois

"This lively white shows enticing yellow apple, melon rind and white peach flavors, liberally laced with honeysuckle and quinine notes. Energetic finish. Drink now. 1,250 cases made. - JM"

- Wine Spectator (October 31st 2015), 90 pts

Go to Domaine de la Mordoree Lirac Blanc La Reine des Bois

"Pale yellow. Lively aromas of green apple, lemon zest and jasmine, backed by a subtle mineral note. Dry and racy on entry, offering bitter pear skin and citrus fruit flavors and a touch of anise. Closes on a spicy note, showing good length and a lingering ginger quality. - Josh Raynolds"

- Vinous (June 2016), 89 pts

Go to Domaine de la Mordoree Lirac Blanc La Reine des Bois