2020 Rhone Wine

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

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

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

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

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

Tasted from tank the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape looks to be another highly successful vintage. It boasts this cuvée's usual complex florals allied to red raspberries and cherries but it doesn't come across quite as concentrated... Read More

Just to the west of town, this Domaine has since 1998 been under the stewardship of brother and sister team of Marie and Francois Giraud, whose lineage in winemaking on their father’s side stretches back six centuries. Their... Read More

Just to the west of town, this Domaine has since 1998 been under the stewardship of brother and sister team of Marie and Francois Giraud, whose lineage in winemaking on their father’s side stretches back six centuries. Their... Read More

Isabel Ferrando informed me during my visit that she planned to eliminate the Reserve Auguste Favier and Collection Charles Giraud bottlings folding those lots and the "tradition" Saint-Prefert Châteauneuf into a single combined... Read More

This earthy sanguine version is an excellent expression of place. Fruit and spices keep pace with the smoke graphite and olive tapenade notes plus a hint of truffle. Creamy in feel with all of its elements integrated seamlessly.... Read More

I loved the 2020 Condrieu. It’s made in a more vibrant reductive racy style that carries classic white peach tangerine and apricot aromas and flavors. Brought up all in amphora this pretty bright elegant Condrieu is ideal for... Read More

Toasted grain and grilled pineapple appear on the nose of the 2020 Hermitage Blanc les Dionnières. Made from 70-year-old vines barrel fermented and with the malolactic fermentation completed this is a rich full-bodied Hermitage... Read More

A blend of 80% Grenache with 10% each Mourvèdre and Syrah the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve marries hints of dried flowers with black cherries and a touch of cocoa. Full-bodied and concentrated this is less flattering to taste... Read More

The full-bodied 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape le Secret de Sabon offers up stunning aromas of roses raspberries black cherries pine sap and garrigue. Silky and elegant it finishes long and mouthwatering. Almost entirely Grenache from... Read More