Rhone (Rhône)

• Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Cornas
• Crozes-Hermitage
• Gigondas
• Hermitage
• Lirac
• Saint Joseph

Another classic Gigondas producer.  From the stellar 2016 vintage.  Purple/ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with earthy black cherries and roasted herbs.  Great texture.  Black cherry fruit, cinnamon and herbs over char and earth.  Tight complexity.  Nice finish.  This is packed tightly and slowly unwinds in the glass.  It probably needs another five to seven years to mature and should be good for ten to twelve after that.  If drinking soon, decant for a few hours.  It drinks great on its own this calls out for something fatty; lamb stew would work well.  

Great showing for this wine.  In a recent tasting of Gigondas wines, this finished as the groups favorite wine.  It was the oldest wine in the tasting suggesting that ten years is a very nice sweet spot for the better wines of Gigondas.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, coffee with underlying herbs and earthiness.  Medium bodied.  Tart black cherries on the palate with underlying minerality.  Also spices with a hint of lavender.  Light tannins.  Nice finish.  This is drinking at peak now but should give at least five to seven more years a

A classic Gigondas producer.  A blend of 78% Grenache, 14% Syrah, with the rest made up of Cinsault and Mourvèdre.  Ruby in color (a bit lighter), mostly clear and bright.  Lovely nose with raspberries and bitter cherries.  Some herbs come out with air.  On the palate, a slight cough syrup quality, but very tasty.  The alcohol is a bit noticeable at first but it blows off with some air.  Light tannins.  Cherry, bitter cherry and raspberries over a bit of alcohol and char.  Some herbs and spice mix in as well.  Long finish.  This should improve over the next few years and drink great for ten

Brézème actually sits between the Northern and Southern Rhone Appellations and is the only Cotes-du-Rhone appellation with its own AOC.  This is their white coming from a biodynamically farmed vineyard.  The wine is made in a natural way with little sulfur and from vines planted in 2009.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is interesting as it shows a persistent vanilla streak.  I don't think the wine sees any oak as it aged on its lees in concrete.  There is also a white raisin note and slight citrus (tangerine).  Medium bodied.  On the palate, there is a slight cider/oxidized no

There is good news and bad news about this wine.  The good news is that it is one of the least expensive Chateauneuf du Papes in the marketplace.  The bad news is that in reality, there are lots of Cotes du Rhones that are better for less money.  That said, it is certainly a fine wine to drink.  It is a blend of 60% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 15% Cinsault, and 10% Syrah.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has tart cherries, cranberries with a bit of pepper.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the cranberries dominate with a touch of rhubarb.  One dimensional.  Easy drinking. 

For fans of the Viognier grapes, no appellation is better in my opinion than Condrieu.  When allowed to express itself and not over burdened with oak, this is a gorgeous yet delicate wine.  Light golden in color.  The nose is so pretty with white flowers, quince and peach.  On the palate, this dances across the tongue.  It is delicious with the quince and peach coming thru along with underlying minerality.  While this should drink well for another five years, this is a wine that rewards drinking young.  The freshness and energy fade in the bottle and while still good, it loses a bit.  Great

A tremendous Chateauneuf year in and year out.  This is drinking great right now.  80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 5% Vaccarese and miscellaneous grapes.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries, plums, spice/garrique, slight bacon fat and dried flowers.  On the palate, this is just approaching prime.  Lush black cherry fruit with plums and underlying spices and earthiness.  Great texture.  Complex.  Vibrant.  Long finish.  This drinks great on its own and works well with a diverse set of roasted foods.  It should drink well for the next ten to twelve years.  

Yes, this is young, but I have a few and wanted to try this.  It was well worth opening, but it did need some air.  Consumed over two days, it was better on day 2.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is great with black raspberries, roasted meat and herbs, slight bacon fat, and a slight floral (lavender?) note.  Full bodied.  Deep with firm tannins.  On the palate, lots of boysenberry fruit with some earthiness and char.  Long finish.  This needs about five to seven more years to get closer to peak.It should be good for another twelve to fifteen after that

Some people will tell you that Chateauneuf du Pape does not age.  Well, this is a top wine from a top vintage and at age 19, it is doing just fine with years left.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose is great with black cherries, slight cherries, hints of garrique and spice, and just a bit of woodiness.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this has fresh and vibrant black cherry fruit with some cherries but also some dried red fruits.  Nice layering of fruit and earthiness.  Good finish.  This should be consumed sooner than later but it still should drink well for another three to five years.  This w

This is a Syrah from the Northern Rhone Valley in France.  Crozes-Hermitage is a great source of values and this is one of the best wines made.  At age ten, this is cruising along and just entering adulthood.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black olives, slight bacon fat and spice.  Pretty classic.  On the palate, this shows a tight complexity that unwinds in the glass.  Layers of black raspberries with an earthiness and a meatiness to it.  Delicious.  Long finish.  This should drink well for the nest ten years.  A nice match with brisket or roasted chi