2019 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Cuvée Classique Ampodium, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

Young, but a wonderful Cote Rotie.  Purple in color, slim ruby rim, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries and black raspberries, black olive and black pepper with a bit of smoke, Full bodied.  On the palate, black raspberries, black raspberries and black pepper.  Medium tannins.  Deep but primary.  This needs a five to ten more years of good cellaring. Drink for twenty after that.  If drinking soon, it should be with food.  Cassoulet is the choice.  

2020 Domaine de Grangeneuve L'Initiale H, France, Rhone, Grignan-les-Adhémar, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is from the northernmost AOC in the southern Rhone Valley in France.  It is a blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries and black raspberries with spice and slight floral note.  Full bodied.  Nice balance.  On the palate, lots of deep black cherry fruit.  A bit chunky in a rustic sort of way.  Good finish.  This is a nice value wine that will work well with a pizza or or burger.  Drink over the next few years.  

2020 Domaine de Châteaumar Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Vincent, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$19.00USD

One of my go value wines.  Just about every vintage in the southern Rhone is good these days, so this is usually good, too.  Certainly 2020 fits right in with prior vintages.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls.  The nose is nice with black cherries, char, spice and slight floral notes.  Medium to full bodied.  Nice texture.  This drinks easily with lots of black cherry fruit and underlying char.  Nice finish.  I suppose it will age for five to seven years, but I usually just drink mine right away.  Nice on its own, this is great with chili, or stew.  

2015 Jean-Michel Stephan Côte-Rôtie, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is a more easy going style of Cote Rotie.  Purple in color with ruby swirls, opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, slight bacon fat, white pepper and some violets.  Full bodied.  Nice acidity.  On the palate, black cherry fruit with black pepper.  Long finish.  Light tannins.  This is drinking well now and should continue to drink well for another ten to twelve years.  It will work better with food than on its own.  A brisket sandwich would work well.  

2001 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$129.00USD

This wine was bought on release and is exactly where it should be at age 21.  Deep ruby in color with just a bit of browning at the edges.  Clear and bright.  The wine initially has some bottle funk but that blows of to reveal a classic CdP nose.  Cherries, spice, slight barnyard, a bit of dried cherries and roasted herbs.  Medium to full bodied.  Great energy and balance.  on the palate, this is complex and layered.  Cherries, fresh and dried, earthiness and char.  Nice balance.  Good finish.  This is fully mature and probably needs to be drunk soon as it starts to fade.  Still, another fi

2017 Les Vins de Vienne Condrieu La Chambée, USA, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is a bigger version of Condrieu than the more floral versions.  It sees 9 months of French Oak sitting on its lees.  100% Viognier.  The nose has vanilla, citrus and lemon verbena.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is slightly sweet.  Light tannins.  Slight almond notes.  Moderate acidity.  Nice finish.  Does bigger equate to more serious?  Not necessarily, but this is drinking quite well at age 5 and should continue to drink well for another five to eight years.  This will work well with Foie Gras for those who eat that but also pasta prima vera.  

2007 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2007
Score: 
97
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$180.00USD

Wow!  This is in a great place.  Purple in color with some ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  Great nose of black raspberries, roasted meats and herbs. Full bodied.  Great balance.  On the palate, this is delicious and complex. Layers of black raspberries with underlying minerality and slight char.  Tannins are mostly resolved but still present.  Long finish.  This is at peak but will go another decade at this level.  Great on its own, this would work well with braised beef.  

2016 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$140.00USD

One of the top producers in Chateaneuf and one with out a luxury cuvee.  This is a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah.  Served pop and pour, this took about 30 minutes to really open and then drank beautifully.  We shared the bottle with friends while listening to Latin jazz at an outdoor café.

2001 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$129.00USD

Ruby in color with a touch of browning, clear and bright.  The nose is classic with cherries, slight barnyard and spice.  The tannins seem resolved and this is at peak.  Layers of fruit and tertiary notes.  Complex.  Cherries, earthy dried fruit and flowers.  Good acidity.  Slight barnyard on the palate.  Good finish.  This is exactly what this wine should be at this point.  If you live that, you will love this.  Better with food such as a stew or vegetarian chili.  Drink over the next five years.  

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