Rhone

On another level, the 2018 Cornas Reynard is a tour de force and up there with the finest Cornas to ever pass my lips. Deep purple-hued, with a gorgeous perfume of crème de cassis, blackberries, powdered granite, violets,... Read More

Quince and pear. Rich and ripe but not overly so it's silky on the palate fairly high in alcohol enjoyably full and opulent with a fresh core. Includes a new parcel this year of 70-year-old Marsanne so is now around 90% Marsanne... Read More

A prospective blend assembled from several barrels for my tasting the 2020 Cote Rotie Amethyste—a blend of five lieux-dits—is dark fruited and plummy yet also vaguely herbal and wiry. In the mouth it's medium to full-bodied... Read More

Again a prospective sample blended from several barrels the 2020 Cote Rotie Les Journaries (labeled Maestria outside the United States) is a blend of fruit from La Landonne and Côte Brune. It's full-bodied rich and tannic... Read More

Made from 100% Syrah aged two years in barrel the 2016 Côte Rôtie Les Grandes Places is a sensational effort from one of the great terroirs in the Côte Brune side of the appellation. Loaded with black and blue... Read More

Earthy savory and inviting with smoked meat bay leaf and singed wild herbs infusing a base of plum sauce and cherry. Gains support from fine-grained tannins but a spine of iron gives real form to this layered wine with black olive... Read More

Having bottled Chateauneuf since the end of the nineteenth century and being prominent members in the town since at least two centuries before this, the Avril family of Clos des Papes have made the estate into one of the great... Read More

A blend of 60% Grenache (matured in concrete) and 40% Mourvèdre (matured in new oak) the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina features toasty vanilla-stained aromas of black cherries plums and licorice. Full-bodied richly... Read More

The 2022 is an ambitious Deus Ex Machina and likely to rank among the finest renditions of this cuvée ever made. Dark brooding and vertical the 2022 opens with pronounced crème de cassis melted licorice ripe strawberry and black... Read More

Prominent strawberry jam red and black plum licorice rose petal incense and crushed violets present the 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Combe des Fous. Sexy and layered the 2022 touches the palate with sweet-tasting fruit framed... Read More

There are two new demi-muids of the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Sanctus Sanctorum pure Grenache grown on red clay soils the only Grenache in the cellar that goes into wood for aging. Cedar and menthol notes accent black cherries... Read More

The 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape La Combe des Fous is an assemblage of 60% Grenache (planted in 1905 on sandy soils and typically raised in concrete) 20% Syrah 10% Cinsault and 10% Vaccarese (these are normally matured in oak). In... Read More

The 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape La Combe des Fous is an assemblage of 60% Grenache (planted in 1905 on sandy soils and typically raised in concrete) 20% Syrah 10% Cinsault and 10% Vaccarese (these are normally matured in oak). In... Read More

Black raspberries spring flowers minty herbs and hints of white pepper all emerge from the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape and it's medium to full-bodied with a layered elegant mouthfeel ultra-fine tannins and a great finish. Fermented... Read More

Marked by striking aromas of licorice and violets set against a backdrop of black cherries the 2019 Cote Rotie Les Schistes is the blended cuvée formerly known as "Classique." It's medium to full-bodied taut and crisp with... Read More

The 2016 Hermitage les Bessards is a gorgeous if somewhat easygoing expression of its terroir combining savory notes of asphalt and smoked meat with plum and black raspberries. It shows the classic tannins of its granite bedrock... Read More

Aromas of fresh black/blue fruits pungent flowers olive and allspice on the incisive nose. Weighty yet lively black currant bitter cherry and violet pastille flavors show fine delineation and take on a smoky mineral nuance on... Read More