2016 Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Le Secret des Sabon, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$157.00USD

Pop and pour on day 1 and it was a bit disappointing.  Good, not great.  Recorked and tried again on day 2.  So much better.  At eight years from vintage, that is surprising and impressive.  Purple in color with some ruby hues.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is deep with black raspberries, gravel/asphalt, some garrique, and slight dried floral notes.  Full bodied.  Light to medium tannins.  Very lively.  On the palate, this is complex.  Layers of black raspberries, black cherries, spice and char.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  This is delicious.  Great on its own, this would be great w

2020 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc La Crau, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

As many times as I have had the red, I am not sure I ever had the white.  Tasted blind, I guessed Hermitage.  It is a blend of 45% Clairette and 30% Grenache Blanc, with the Roussanne and Bourboulenc.  Light golden in color with some green flecks, clear and bright.  The nose has lemon, wax, vanilla, oak and spice.  With air a slight tropical fruit.  Full bodied.  Viscous.  Nice mouthfeel.  On the palate, lemons with almonds turning slightly bitter on the finish.  Long finish with some heat.  A very nice white Rhone.  Young but drinking well.  It needs a bit of food to sort out the rough edg

2016 Clos de l'Oratoire des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

This is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5%Cinsault and 5% Mourvèdre.  It is drinking quite well now.  Deep garnet in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight cough drop note, wild herbs, char and some black raspberries.  Very nice creamy texture. Good balance.  On the palate, this is very tasty.  Black cherries, black raspberries and char.  Complex and deep.  Long finish.  This is just getting to peak but should drink well for another seven to ten years.  Great on its own, this should work with a  lots of foods.  Lamb of beef stews would be perfect.  

2010 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$90.00USD

Just a beautiful vintage for this wine.  Charvin tends to be more "feminine" or "elegant" but the vintage is not and the resulting wine made for a particularly nice combination.  Deep ruby in color, with some darker hues, mostly clear and bright.  The nose is pretty with cherries, some black cherries, floral notes and spice.  Great, almost plush texture.  Plenty of depth.  Light tannins.  Great energy and balance.  On the palate, this is complex and also delicious.  Cherries, black cherries, spice, slight leathery note and char.  Long finish.  This is close to peak and just gorgeous.  Drink

2011 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2011
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$96.00USD

A blend of 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, and 4% Mourvedre plus another 10% in various permitted varietals.  Not the best vintage, but this wine rocked.  At age 13, it was close to peak.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has black cherries, herbs (Garrique), slight black pepper and spices.  Great texture.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is vibrant and complex.  Also delicious.  Cherries, black cherries and spices.  Deep.  Long finish.  Great on its own, this will work well with meat dishes.  Cassoulet is classic.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

2005 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

The wines of Pegau can reach great heights, but they often have a lot of barnyard notes which are not for everyone.  I love them.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  Most opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, cigar, cedar and yes, barnyard.  Medium bodied.  Lower acidity.  On the palate, black cherries with some earthiness.  Complex.  Getting pretty close to peak.  Long finish.  This is great on its own, but probably better with food.  A nice beef stew would be classic but it would work with a bowl of chili, too.  Drink over the next five to ten years.  

2003 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

Found this lost in my cellar.  From an historically hot vintage, I had little hope for this wine, but opened it anyway.  I was wrong again.  What a lovely CdP.  This is not their luxury cuvée, so perhaps that helped get the less ripe grapes, but at age 21, this bottle was excellent.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, some black raspberries, "purple" flowers, slight barnyard and spice.  Medium to full bodied.  Wispy tannins.  lovely, juicy texture.  On the palate, black cherries with depth and complexity.  Good finish.  The bottle

2016 Domaine de Cristia Châteauneuf-du-Pape Renaissance, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$88.00USD

This is 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvedre from very old vines.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The boisterous nose has black raspberries, plums and black cherries with spices and roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Great texture.  On the palate, this is young and raucous with big fruits; black raspberries, raspberries and black cherries along with char and spice.  Energetic acidity.  Long finish.  Delicious on its own, this needs bigger foods right now but will settle down soon.  For now, it would work well with some spicy Indian cuisine.  Drink over the next twelve to fifteen years.  

2010 Domaine de Cristia Châteauneuf-du-Pape Renaissance, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2010
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$100.00USD

This is a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, ad 10% Syrah.  Purple in color with ruby hues, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries, black pepper, black cherries and garrique.  Full bodied.  Great plush texture.  Excellent balance.  Very concentrated.  On the palate, this is delicious.  It has shed some youth for maturity but should continue to develop.  Black raspberries, plums and black cherries with some char.  Long finish.  Delicious on its own, this worked very well with Sheppard's Pie.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  

1999 E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, Rhone, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1999
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+

Nice to revisit this.  Back in the day, this was our house wine ($20), but then it was awarded the Wine Spectator WOTY and overnight, the price doubled and that was that.  New vintages are around $65, so it hasn't gone up a lot in 20 years since.  Too bad, because while this might not be a top CdP, it is a very nice wine and this one has held up great.  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, and Provencal spice.  Light to medium bodied.  Tannins completely integrated.  On the palate, cherries with some char.  Moderate finish.  Drink up if you have any.  A nice wine

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