2018 Chateau de Vaudieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

I don't recall ever tasting a wine from this producer before. This is a blend of 80% Grenache noir 20% Syrah. Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose seems older with dust, dried cherries but also some black raspberries and garrigue. Medium bodied. On the palate, black cherries and dried fruits. Moderate finish. This seems like a wine to drink in the near term, maybe over the next three to five years. It will work well with pasta or stews.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2018

Current Price:

$40.00USD

Rhone Valley & Spanish Rhone-style Wines Tasted at the 2008 Hospice du Rhone Events

The Rhone Report: About Rhone and Rhone-Style Wines and Winemakers is part of an ongoing series. Last month we reported on American Rhone-style wines we tasted at the 16th annual Hospice du Rhone events in Paso Robles, California from May 1 to 3, 2008. We noted that this event was an opportunity to consider Rhone-style wines from a fresh perspective because, unlike most tasting opportunities, these events included Rhone-style wines from the Rhone Valley itself (51 wineries), elsewhere in France (4 wineries) as well as from Spain (4 wineries), Australia (17 wineries), South Africa (6 wineries), Chile (2 wineries), Argentina (1 winery) and the United States. While this was a California-dominated event, and while many of the Rhone Valley’s best producers weren’t represented, there was still sufficient European and other entries to make for interesting comparisons and contrasts.

Read full article

2018 Château Fortia Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée du Baron, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2018

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$37.00USD

This is a luxury cuvee for this wine who make a few different CdP's. It is a blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 20% Mourvedre. Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has raspberries, black cherries, garrigue, pepper and black olives. Full Bodied. On the palate, this is drinking well now. Very concentrated notes of black cherries and black raspberries with underlying pepper and smoke. This has a long finish. It will improve over the next five to seven years but either way will drink well for the next twelve to fifteen years. Great on its own, but better with grilled

2018 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2018

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$40.00USD

This is a blend of 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 9% Mourvèdre, and the rest Cinsault, Terret Noir, Muscardin, Picpoul, Vaccarèse, and Counoise. It was very tight and most likely shut down at this point. Inky purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose shows some cherries and black raspberries with dust and slight garrigue. It does have a wonderful texture which is often an indication in wines that are shut down of future greatness. On the palate, it comes off a sweet cherry pie filling at the moment. This should be cellared for another five to seven years and then drink over the next eigh

2018 La Bastide Saint-Dominique Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Secrets de Pignan, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2019

Score:

Grade:

Current Price:

$60.00USD

This is 100% Grenache from organic grapes grown in Pignan. Purple in color with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright. The nose has black cherries and spice/garrigue. Full bodied. On the palate, black cherries and some plums with underlying spice and char. Nice energy and balance. Long finish. This needs more time to mature and open and surely will improve with five to seven more years. It drinks well now though and will continue to do so for another twelve to fifteen years. It will work well with lamb stew and other slow cooked, savory dishes.

2018 Domaine de Ferrand Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage:

2018

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$50.00USD

This is a blend of 90% Grenache and 10% a field blend. It is quite tight and shut down at the moment so if drinking soon, give it about six hours of air or more. Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose has cherries and garrigue. With air a bit of lavender comes out. On the palate, this has a lovely silky texture. The fruit is quite tight but there are black cherries and black raspberries with a bit of black licorice and anise. Everything feels right about this wine but it just isn't showing much at the moment. Give it another five to seven years and then it should be o

2018 Chateau de Vaudieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Food and Wine Pairing Tool

Related Articles

Rhone Valley & Spanish Rhone-style Wines Tasted at the 2008 Hospice du Rhone Events

2018 Château Fortia Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée du Baron, France, Rhone, Wine Review

2018 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

2018 La Bastide Saint-Dominique Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Secrets de Pignan, France, Rhone, Wine Review

2018 Domaine de Ferrand Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review