rhone

More savory than fruit-driven this shows racy acidity driving jasmine and white tea flavors laced with delicate white nectarine and melon notes. Builds in savory salty density on the silky palate. Persistent finish. Cinsault Grenache... 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

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 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

This 41 hectare estate is run by brothers Vincent and Pascal Maurel. It is in fact one of the oldest estates in the region having been founded in 1900 and having bottled wine since 1910. About two thirds of the vineyards are located... Read More

An embryonic wine but clearly has the depth for ageing. Rich and powerful on the nose with mealy waxy citrus notes. The oak is present but integrated and lends a Burgundian touch. The palate is round and refined with a little... Read More

More concentrated with a touch more wood influence than in the regular cuvée the 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Prestige is mainly barrel-fermented Roussanne bolstered by smaller proportions of Clairette and Grenache. Scents... Read More

Aime Sabon established this estate in 1973 when he took over from his father who had spent a lot of time and effort improving fruit quality but always sold the fruit to the local co-operative. The operation of the estate is now... Read More

Aime Sabon established this estate in 1973 when he took over from his father who had spent a lot of time and effort improving fruit quality but always sold the fruit to the local co-operative. The operation of the estate is now... Read More

Aime Sabon established this estate in 1973 when he took over from his father who had spent a lot of time and effort improving fruit quality but always sold the fruit to the local co-operative. The operation of the estate is now... Read More

From vines planted in 1900 the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes leads with aromas of cola raspberries and dried spices. There's none of the chocolaty excess seen in the regular cuvée but this full-bodied wine reflects... Read More

Marcoux's 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is full-bodied dense and tannic. Hints of crushed stone and dried garrigue appear on the nose alongside blackberries and black cherries. It's basically pure foudre-aged... Read More

Full and broad with a well-structured framework for the green plum and citrus cream flavors while subtle fleur de sel and buttercream notes stream along. The texture starts out glycerol smooth then is propped up by chalky slightly... Read More

The 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Colombis is all old-vine Grenache vinified entirely as whole clusters and matured in demi-muids. On the nose there are some minty-stemmy notes but also wonderful suggestions of garrigue and vibrant... Read More

Readers will note that the score range I've provided for Chave's 2020 Hermitage is much broader than typical. That's because my ratings for the numerous barrel samples tasted varied considerably with one lot scoring... Read More

Among the finest expressions of the challenging 2021 vintage with finessed ripeness and understated polish. Earthy and salty offering sanguine animal notes and well-integrated white pepper freshness. Cashmere tannins are softened... Read More

Among the finest expressions of the challenging 2021 vintage with finessed ripeness and understated polish. Earthy and salty offering sanguine animal notes and well-integrated white pepper freshness. Cashmere tannins are softened... Read More

The 2022 Hermitage from Jean-Louis Chave is broad and deep bursting with aromas of smoke licorice and dark wild berries mingled with delicate notes of fresh thyme and spices. Full-bodied dense and powerful layered and concentrated... Read More

The 2022 Hermitage from Jean-Louis Chave is broad and deep bursting with aromas of smoke licorice and dark wild berries mingled with delicate notes of fresh thyme and spices. Full-bodied dense and powerful layered and concentrated... Read More

Complex layers of heady apple and quince unfurl alongside toasted hazelnut acacia and smoked green herb notes in this concentrated gorgeous white. Saline bitter mineral elements cut through for a chiseled finish which stretches... Read More

2022 was the earliest harvest in the estate's history. Jean-Louis Chave harvested the Roucoule and Péléat plots on August 23-24 while Maison Blanche and Ermite were picked on August 28. The 2022 Hermitage Blanc reveals a... Read More