Search results for: 'romagna rhone'

94 Points! The 2023 Côtes Du Rhône La Reserve Blanc is all Clairette Rose, which is a later ripening variety compared to Clairette and a variety that brings a touch more richness and texture. Beautiful notes of honeyed melon, minty, sappy herbs, and spice all define the aromatics. These carry to a medium to full-bodied white that has a layered, balanced profile, beautiful freshness, and one heck of a finish. This is one Côtes Du Rhône Blanc that would have no problem standing in a lineup of top Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc! Drink bottles over the coming 2-4 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

98 Points! Medium gold-hued, the 2024 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Fontaine Blanc offers rich, complex aromatics of ripe orchard fruits, white flowers, almond paste, and hints of fresh croissant. It's medium to full-bodied, with a pure, layered, seamless mouthfeel, and it’s beautifully layered and textured, with integrated acidity and a blockbuster of a finish. Pure gold in white Rhône, I wouldn't push the aging curve here and would drink bottles over the coming 5-7 years, possibly a decade. Don't let that deter you, though. This is absolutely riveting stuff. - Jeb Dunnuck

92-94 Points! A prospective blend of 50% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache and 20% Carignan, the 2022 Cairanne la Brunote offers up notions of black truffles, black cherries and black licorice. Full-bodied and richly concentrated, it's almost creamy in texture, with a lingering finish. Yum. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

#Domaine_Alary_Part_II

94-96 Points! It features stunning aromas of licorice, blueberries and blackberries. Full-bodied, creamy and lush on the palate, it finishes long and silky, with hints of black olive lending a welcome savory edge.- Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

93 Points! The 2022 Cairanne L'Estevenas offers red and black fruits, spring flowers, game, mint, and rose petals in a Côte-Rôtie look-alike. Medium-bodied, focused, and elegant, with beautiful tannins, this 50/50 blend of Grenache and Syrah includes 30% whole clusters and was aged 18 months in concrete, bottled without filtration. Drink bottles over the coming 7-10 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

#Domaine_Alary_Part_II

94 Points! The 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape is pretty and elegant, with a perfumed, red-fruited, spicy, mineral-laced style. It’s one of the more elegant wines I've tasted from Thierry and is medium to full-bodied and has a beautiful sense of elegance, ample tannins, and outstanding length. While it's not massively concentrated, it has a certain tension and vibrancy that makes me think it will age beautifully. I followed this bottle for multiple days, and it gained depth and richness with time in the glass, so don't be afraid to give it some air if drinking any time soon. The blend is 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 9% Mourvèdre, and the rest a mix of permitted varieties from a mix of terroirs; it was partially destemmed and aged 20 months in a mix of foudre, demi-muids, and concrete tanks. - Jeb Dunnuck

99 Points! The 2022 Red Wine Life And Death is Grenache-dominated yet includes 22% Syrah, 13% each of Mourvèdre and Graciano, and 8.5% Petite Sirah, all of which was fermented with 25% whole clusters and brought up in 70% new oak. It offers a sensational perfume of black raspberry and black cherry fruits intermixed with camphor, lavender, white flowers, and peppery, almost garrigue-like nuances. With full-bodied richness, remarkable purity, and a massive, yet somehow elegant, seamless mouthfeel as well as incredible length, it's a masterpiece of a Rhône-like blend from California's Central Coast that could come from nowhere else. The fruit sourcing here is a mix of Bien Nacido, Stolpman, Alta Mesa, Sanger, and Rancho Boa Vista, and the marriage of richness, purity, and finesse is something to behold. This beauty will evolve for 15-20 years if well stored. - Jeb Dunnuck

Brilliant red. Ripe red berries and potpourri on the lively, mineral-accented nose, with suave floral and allspice qualities adding complexity. Juicy raspberry and bitter cherry flavors show excellent precision and vivacity, with a hint of white pepper contributing cut. Asian spice nuances come up on the clean, tightly focused finish, which is given shape by silky, even tannins.

93-95 Points! The 2020 Gigondas Clos Des Tourelles should be a step up. Medium to full-bodied, pure, and remarkably well-balanced, it has a terrific mix of red and almost blue fruits as well as peppery herbs and flowers. Already complex and nuanced, yet concentrated and rich, it’s a serious effort from the Perrin family that’s going to have 15+ years of overall longevity. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! Another ripe, sexy, exuberant Gigondas, the 2022 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes reveals a vibrant ruby/purple hue as well as youthful aromatics of black raspberries, sandalwood, ground pepper, and herbes de Provence-like nuances. This sunny, medium to full-bodied 2022 has sweet tannins, a supple, elegant mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's a beautiful wine in the vintage that I suspect will drink nicely over the coming decade. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Saintes Vierges is another beautiful wine. Ripe cherries, blueberries, rose petals, spice, and hints of spring flowers all emerge on the nose, and it shines on the palate for its beautiful elegance and purity. Medium to full-bodied, with ripe, polished tannins and notable freshness, it's going to evolve for 15 years with no issues. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! The 2023 Red Wine is a fabulous Grenache/Syrah blend. Red-toned fruit, blood orange, dried herbs, lavender and mocha are all beautifully dialed up. Floral overtones add striking finesse and lift. What a gorgeous and vivid wine this is. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

94 Points! The 2023 PharoahMoans Red Wine is a 50-50 blend of Carneros Grenache and Pope Valley Syrah, but despite omitting Mouvèdre, it is the best vintage of this wine this taster has sampled. Pretty florals—violets and roses—join tea-like, potpourri-ish nuances and berry fruit in this medium- to full-bodied wine. Lively, fresh and complex, the palate is framed by silky tannins and displays ample length on the finish. It's a super value, as long as you're not hung up on Bordeaux varieties or fancy mid-valley AVAs. - Joe Czerwinski, RobertParker.com

94 Points! This Rhone-style blend is unusual in Napa Valley and gives dark, earthy, savory flavors on a firm texture. Full-bodied, moderately tannic and restrained in fruit flavors, instead emphasizing singed herb, oak smoke, star anise and espresso flavors. A 50-50 blend of grenache and syrah grapes. Drink now or hold. - Jim Gordon, JamesSuckling.Com

94 Points! Readers should jump on the 2022 Gigondas, a ripe, concentrated, medium to full-bodied Gigondas that does everything right. A blend of equal parts Grenache and Syrah, it has ripe red and black fruits, some peppery herb, licorice, and garrigue nuances, ripe tannins, and terrific balance. It's a classic, incredibly satisfying 2022 that should have an easy 10-12+ years of prime drinking. The tannin quality is really top-notch. - jeb Dunnuck

98 Points! Based on 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre and aged 12 months in foudres, the 2023 Gigondas Les Souteyrades is possibly the most exotic of the lineup from Saint-Damien. Kirsch liqueur, blackberries, exotic flowers, and sappy, garrigue-like nuances all define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a pure, layered, seamless mouthfeel, an incredible mix of richness and elegance, and a gorgeous finish. It's another absolutely riveting Gigondas from this estate that readers should snatch up! - Jeb Dunnuck

#SAINT-DAMIEN

94 Points! Certainly on par with the single parcel releases, the 2022 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes is 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre raised all in larger foudre. It has a gorgeous nose of wild strawberry and raspberry-like fruit intermixed with loads of spice and Provençal goodness. It's medium to full-bodied, has a pure, elegant mouthfeel, sweet tannins, and great finish. It shows the slightly less concentrated style of the vintage yet just shines for its complexity, balance, and length. Drink bottles over the coming 10-12+ years. - Jeb Dunnuck

94 Points! The 2019 Odyssee is an eclectic blend of Bordeaux and Rhone vineyards, made by Pierre Graffeuille (now at Montrose) and Matthieu Dumarcher, composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Medoc, and 25% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre from the Rhone. Medium garnet-purple in color, it springs from the glass with vivacious notes of black raspberries, mulberries, and juicy plums, followed by an undercurrent of crushed blackcurrants, Indian spices, and charcoal with a waft of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with spicy black fruit flavors, supported by velvety tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long with a skip in its step. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

94 Points! Such a fetching nose full of spices, showing lots of cumin, tangy peppercorn to the fresh blackberries and blueberries. Medium-bodied palate with a tangy profile of spice and blue fruit. Tannins are creamy and small-grained, giving a nice, seamless grip to the finale. Cabernet sauvignon, grenache and mourvedre. Irresistible now, but can hold, too. - James Suckling

99 Points! From a warm site and a hot vintage, the 2009 Ermitage le Meal Blanc was harvested on the August 28, and aged in 100% new French oak. Flirting with perfection and a full-bore, exotic, almost over-the-top expression of Marsanne, it has less minerality than the 2010, yet more of everything else with boatloads of caramelized fruits, buttered citrus, white flowers, honey and crushed rocks all soaring from the glass. Rich, layered, exuberant, unctuous and exotic, with stunning freshness despite it's thickness and weight, drink this incredible white anytime over the coming 30-40 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

98 Points! A bigger, richer wine based mostly on Grenache from a single parcel around the estate on the lower plain of Gigondas, the 2023 Gigondas La Louisiane shows darker blackberries and kirsch intermixed with ground pepper, sappy garrigue, and some meaty, spicy nuances that give this an ultra-classic Gigondas style. It's medium to full-bodied on the palate and has a pure, focused mouthfeel, ultra-fine yet building tannins, and integrated acidity. It's a brilliant effort that will stand toe to toe with anything in the vintage and should drink well over the coming 15+ years. - Jeb Dunnuck

#SAINT-DAMIEN

95 Points! A seductive, textural and well-crafted blend of grenache, syrah and mourvedre. It exhibits aromas of currants, dried herbs, roasted meat, mushrooms and orange peel. Medium- to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins. So velvety and refined on the palate. Poised and complete with a bright, succulent and long finish. - JamesSuckling.com

94 Points! Decidedly savory, with tugs of tar, dried sausage and warm soil surrounding plum, melted licorice and anise. Lifted and smooth, with gentle tannins paving the silky finish. Shows depth without heaviness, while sandalwood smoke drifts from beginning to end. Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah. - Wine Spectator

Formerly known as Vignobles Mayard...

94 Points! From the oldest vines of the estate on the La Crau plateau, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Terres De La Crau checks in as 85% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 5% Cinsault. Its medium ruby hue is followed by a spicy, savory, complex perfume of black cherries, blackberries, roasted garrigue, and acacia flowers. I love its complexity, and this beauty hits the palate with a broad, medium to full-bodied, layered, seamless mouthfeel carrying ripe tannins and a great finish. There’s a classic, almost old school-like character here, but it's beautifully balanced, elegant, and pure as well. I love it. - Jeb Dunnuck

The 2014 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réservé Pignan is gorgeous, though readers are well advised to allow it at least five more years in bottle, or else open it a good 12 hours in advance without decanting. Supremely elegant notes of kirsch, stemmy tones and fresh violets mingle with herbal glimmers on the beguiling nose, immediately signaling a red wine crafted by Emmanuel Reynaud. On the palate, hallmark silky tannins and a firm acidic backbone frame the wine, resulting in a refined Pignan that’s quite unlike the broader-shouldered style it can show in warmer vintages. The 2014 is sheer class and finesse, a red Châteauneuf that anyone fortunate enough to taste even once in their lifetime should not pass up.