93-95 JD / 17.5+ JR Looking at the 2019s, all of which are still aging in barrel, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Sablons can be thought of as the entry level Grenache. Destemmed and aged in older barrels, this...
96 WA / 96 JD / 96 WS / 94 JS The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac is 100% Grenache, but this parcel is located on the western edge of the appellation, in what Chapoutier describes as a hot, dry location—even in the...
97 WS / 96+ WA / 95 VM Sleek, with mouthwatering red currant, raspberry and cherry preserve flavors forming the core, while a dusting of cocoa, a snap of red licorice and a long, lingering iron spine complete the picture...
96 JD / 95 WS / 93 WA / 93-95 VM The 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Combe des Fous shows the seamless, silky side to the vintage, and has closed down slightly since I tasted it from barrel. Its big, intense nose of black...
96 JS / 93 JD / 90 WA / 93-95 VM Aromas of dried roses, garrigue herbs and red fruit with terrific purity and freshness. Lithe raspberries on the bright, even and crisp palate. Fabulous, fresh acidity, depth, length and...
97 JD / 95 WA / 95 JS The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Les Hautes Brusquières (60/40 Grenache and Syrah) comes from a cooler terroir near the Mount Redon plateau and was brought up in oak tronconique...
95 JD / 95 WE / 93 WS / 93 WA / 92 DE / 92 JS Moving to the Châteauneuf-du-Pape from bottle, the 2016 vintage was described as having the power of 2010 and similar to yet fresher than 2007. The 2016...
98+ JD / 98 WE / 95 DE #2 Jeb Dunnuck Top 100 2021#10 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 2021 I was able to taste the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Chaupin on two occasions, rating it one point higher on one of those as...
93 DE / 93 WS / 92 WA / 93-95 VM Vieilles Vignes means just that, the majority of the fruit from vines planted in 1920 and 1965. Pale red hue with a hint of evolution. The wine is busy and fresh on the nose with...
98+ WA / 98 WE / 97+ JD / 97 DE / 95 WS Black cherries, blackberries and garrigue all appear on the nose of the dense, concentrated 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes. Yes, the wine boasts some formidable tannins, but...
93 RP / 93 WA The first vintage for the cuvee, the stacked 2009 Cotes du Ventoux Il Etait Une Fois (80% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, and 5% Syrah, aged all in new oak) is a full-bodied, sexy, opulent and mouth-filling southern...
90 WA Medium garnet in color, this 2009 has fragrant aromas of kirsch, mulberries, spice cake, Indian spices and black pepper with hints of earth, iron ore and lavender. Very full, rich and concentrated, it presents medium...
91+ WA Medium garnet-purple colored, the nose is of warm berries, black cherry compote and dried Provence herb aromas with hints of cumin seed, cardamom and violets. Full, opulent and seductive on the palate, it is superbly...
95 WA / 93 VM The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Origines (1,500 cases produced) is a blend of 50% Grenache, a whopping 30% Mourvedre and 20% Syrah with the latter two components spending time in new oak barrels. All of the...
100 RP / 100 WA / 97 WS Another perfect wine, the 2009 Hermitage Ex-Voto is surprisingly supple and more approachable than the two single vineyard 2009 Cote Roties, La Turque and La Landonne. The massive Ex-Voto boasts...
90-93 WA 90-93 Points Wine Advocate: The 2011 Cornas reveals supple, silky tannins as well as the essence of blackberry and licorice notesintermixed with hints of beef blood and flowers. It is fruit-forward, soft and...
96 JD / 95 WA / 96-98 VM Fermented in concrete vats and then aged in concrete and neutral oak barrels) Lurid ruby. A heady, expressive bouquet evokes fresh raspberry, cherry compote, potpourri, licorice and Asian spices,...
96 WE / 94 WA / 93+ JD / 92 VM While demure on first whiff, this bold, concentrated wine seems to amplify in richness and extract on the palate. Ripe black cherry, fig and mulberry are lavish and spicy, streaked by layers...
94 JD / 92 VM / 92 WA / 92 JS This terroir always delivers a wild, opulent, gamey style of wine, and the 2017 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert doesn’t disappoint. Loads of chocolaty black fruits, ground pepper,...
94 WA / 94 WS / 93 VM Usseglios 2012 Chteauneuf du Pape Cuvee du Mon Aieul is a beautiful wine that comes mostly from three terroirs: Les Grand Serres (96-year-old vines) in the south, la Crau (78-year-old vines) in the...
16 JR / 89 WA 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 2% Cinsault, 2% other. Dark crimson. Big broad and glossy on the nose. Lots of sweet, ripe fruit flavours nicely shoehorned into a suitable corset. Dry finish...
93 JD / 93 VM / 92 WA Moving to the 2016s and starting with the 2016 Côte Rôtie Ampodium, this beautiful, silky, incredibly elegant wine has classic notes of red and black fruits, spring flowers, hints of bacon...
92-94 VM / 93 WA / 93 WS Primary black/blue fruit, violet, allspice and olive qualities on the highly perfumed nose, where a smoky mineral nuance adds energetic lift. Sweet, deep-pitched blueberry, cherry and fruitcake...
96 JD / 95 WA / 95 WS / 93-95 VM My favorite in the lineup is the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Amiral G., and like all the cuvées here, it has a voluptuous, sexy, yet elegant style. Black raspberries, framboise,...
93 WA / 93 VM From just over a hectare in the lieux-dits of les Beaumes and Péleat, Yann Chave's 2017 Hermitage is another successful wine. There's a slightly herbal element that stands out, bringing a pronounced...