Rhone Valley Rhone Blend

The 2016 Lirac Domaine du Clos de Sixte is a terrific wine, easily the rival to many Châteauneufs from across the river, starting with its alluring aromas of flowering garrigue and ripe cherries. A blend of 50% Grenache,... Read More

As I stated last year, there is no Hommage a Jacques Perrin in 2006, but Beaucastel’s 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape is performing even better from bottle than it did last year. Its dense plum/ruby/purple color is followed by... Read More

The 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape ratchets up the intensity from the Coudelet, adding more pronounced Mourvèdre-derived notes of truffle and tree bark to go with ripe black cherries and plums, crushed stone and hints of dark... Read More

Pretty dark garnet color with purple reflections. The nose is rich, complex on black fruits (blackcurrant, cherries and olives) with peppery and oral touches due to the high proportion of Syrah. The palate is full, dense, with... Read More

Delicately whiffs of sun-scorched sage and thyme lend a sultry flair to ripe, lush black cherry and berry. A blend of primarily Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre matured in a small proportion of new oak, it's an intensely... Read More

Even better than when I tasted it the previous year, Mont Redon's 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape has turned out remarkably youthful, bursting with scents of purple raspberries, sherbet, violet and cassis. It's full-bodied, supple... Read More

A second consecutive winner from this fine estate, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape is 66% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 6% Cinsault and 3% of the other permitted varieties. Grilled red plums lead off, fleshed out by... Read More

Tasting Notes

Domaine de Beaurenard’s flagship wine is a quintessential blend, reflecting all the diversity of the terroir and the perfect synergy that exists between the soils and the grapes. It offers a supple and refined... Read More

Notes of mulled purple plum, blueberry, rhubarb and rose mingle with wild thyme on the nose. The palate boasts a deep core of blackberries, black cherries, a touch of blood orange, rhubarb and a deep crush of violets. Persistent... Read More

Mostly (66%) Grenache, with smaller amounts of Mourvèdre and Syrah (12% each), and tiny amounts of the other permitted varieties, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Boisrenard is inky in color, with aromas that hint at... Read More

Fresh aromas of crushed strawberries, dried cranberries, dark plums, rosehip and wild mint meld beautifully in the glass. Its acidity strikes brilliantly against a palate of black cherries, blueberries, blood orange, wild thyme,... Read More

Fresh aromas of crushed strawberries, dried cranberries, dark plums, rosehip and wild mint meld beautifully in the glass. Its acidity strikes brilliantly against a palate of black cherries, blueberries, blood orange, wild thyme,... Read More

Varietal Composition: Grenache 80% • Syrah 17% • Mourvèdre 3%

Tasting Notes

Rasteau 2019 offers intense aromas of black fruit and blueberries, lifted by a touch of spice. The palate is rich in fruit with depth... Read More

Rasteau 2020 offers intense aromas of black fruit and blueberries, lifted by a touch of spice. The density and depth of the palate associate fruit and minerality with remarkable persistence.

Blend: 80% Grenache, 17% Syrah, 3%... Read More

The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes (350 cases produced) was made from low yields of 15 hectoliters per hectare. This wine oozes black raspberry and blackberry fruits intermixed with floral, forest floor, garrigue and... Read More

Still in foudre working through the last few grams of sugar when I tasted it in July 2022, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes showcases bold black-cherry fruit that virtually knocked this taster's head backwards.... Read More

Tasted as a tank sample of the final blend, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau is a blend of approximately 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah and 5% other permitted varieties, with about 30% whole bunches used in... Read More

While no 2021 was presented, the 2020 Gigondas is stunningly good and is loaded with notions of red cherries, framboise, sappy flowers, and pepper. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied, flawlessly balanced Gigondas offering... Read More