French Wine

Winemaker Description

Deep and dark red. Shiny. Aromas of fresh fruits with red berries and spices. Full, round and racy. Rounded and smooth tannins. A full-bodied, rich and intensely aromatic wine. Full with a long finish and plenty of elegance and finesse due to the well balanced tannins and fruit.

Pair with cold meats, meat, game bird and cheese.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

James Suckling writes:  A juicy, fruity red with aromas of dark cherries, red berries and mild spices. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Bright fruit character on the palate with a playful finish and a touch of spices. Drink now.  - James Suckling 90

Kristen Bieler writes:  Ripe and winey for the vintage, with alluring notes of licorice and steeped cherry on a bedrock of solid crushed iron. Apple wood and incense smoke elements add detail. Cool stone minerality washes through, while a kick of white pepper brings refreshment to the very solid finish. Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah. Drink now.  - Wine Spectator

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  The 2021 Côtes Du Rhône has to be considered a success in this challenging vintage, and it's well worth drinking. Ripe red and black fruits, violets, and peppery notes emerge on the nose, and it's medium-bodied, with a supple, elegant mouthfeel and a good finish.  - Jeb Dunnuck 

Nicolas Greinmacher writes: The 2021 Côtes-du-Rhône is a remarkable result given the challenging vintage conditions throughout the Rhône. Ripe red fruits rise up from the glass. Leafy and spicy undertones add more layers. This is a perfectly balanced 2021 red with absolutely no rough edges.  Drinking 2023 to 2027.  - Vinous

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

Jeb Dunnuck writes 92 Points | Based on equal parts Syrah and Grenache brought up in used oak, the 2022 Côtes du Rhône Mon Coeur is a little gem of a wine offering loads of sweet kirsch and darker berry fruits as well as some peppery Provençal herb and spice-driven aromas and flavors. It's medium to full-bodied, has wonderful purity, and a great finish. It's perfect for drinking over the coming 4-6 years.  Drinking 2024 to 2030.

Kristen Bieler of the Wine Spectator writes 90 Points | Lush and generous, with a lot of intensity and a floral lift to the notes of raspberry coulis and crushed cherry, this turns firm and structured on the palate, with grippy tannins and iron minerality driving the long finish. A hedonist's red, with a lot of warmth, weight and power. Syrah and Grenache. Drink now through 2028. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Wine Spectator 88 Points | Yellow plum and nectarine notes are fresh and juicy in this tasty, medium-bodied white. Round on the palate, with a good spike of acidity, savory herb details and zesty mineral energy. Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier. Drink now. 45,000 cases made, 15,000 cases imported.

Winemaker Description 

 Seductive translucent pale-yellow color with delicate green reflections. This wine opens up with a very expressive nose with beautiful aromas combining floral and mineral notes. Well balanced and dense, the palate has a powerful attack and reveals superb aromas of lemon, bergamot and hawthorn before ending with a long finish.

Winemaker Description

Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhône is produced from 100% Syrah and is from the the stony Villafranchian terraces of the Gard. The vineyards are known for their limestone sand, red clay, and pebbles, which give a freshness and intensity to the Syrah grapes. The wine is partially destemmed, fermented with natural yeasts, and vinified in concrete vats.

This Syrah grows in ideal terroirs of the southern Rhône and shows the varietal’s typical spicy notes of sandalwood, violets, and black pepper.

Syrah, with its deep flavors and firm tannins, is a natural match for grilled or smoked meat and dishes featuring herbs, roasted mushrooms, and onions.  Seared venison or beef with black pepper and thyme or a Moroccan tagine of pigeon or chicken are complimented by the spicy characteristic of Syrah.

Our Professional Review 

Rand Sieger, 67Wine: Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhône is produced from 100% Syrah and is from the the stony Villafranchian terraces of the Gard. The vineyards are known for their limestone sand, red clay, and pebbles, which give a freshness and intensity to the Syrah grapes. The wine is partially destemmed, fermented with natural yeasts, and vinified in concrete vats.

This Syrah grows in ideal terroirs of the southern Rhône and shows the varietal’s typical spicy notes of sandalwood, violets, and black pepper.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Kristen Bieler of The Wine Spectator 90 Points | There's a pure core of fresh blackberry, crunchy plum and violet in this vibrant version, with the subtlest brushing of vanilla. Layers of graphite and fine-grained tannins provide a solid framework. Compact, with savory details emerging toward the solid, medium-bodied finish, which is grounded in salty mineral notes and a waft of alder smoke.

Jeb Dunnuck writes 89 Points | As always, the 2023 Côtes du Rhône leads with its Syrah component and has juicy blackberry fruit as well as ample peppery, violet-like nuances. It's nicely balanced, medium-bodied, and concentrated, with lots to love. -

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Kristen Bieler writes:  An attractive white, with a lush offering of poached pear and fresh apricot flavors set against dried thyme and spicy lime zest acidity. Flinty mineral hints nicely offset the round, ripe palate on the medium finish, marked by floral and green almond notes. Well-done. Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Grenache Blanc. Drink now.  - Wine Spectator

Nicolas Greinacher writes:  Raised entirely in stainless steel, the 2023 Côtes du Rhône Blanc outperforms the 2022 I tasted last year. Vivid apricot, yellow apple and white peach aromas of moderate intensity rise from the glass. Round and concentrated, the sapid 2023 checks out with notable freshness on the juicy close.   Drinking 2025 to 2027.  - Vinous

Stuart Pigott writes:  An aromatic white Cotes-du-Rhone with lots of floral aromas, including pink roses. Ripe and medium- to full-bodied. Long, creamy finish with a touch of fine tannins balancing this neatly. A Cuvée based on Viognier with small amounts of Grenache blanc and Roussanne. Drink from release.  - James Suckling 90 Points 

Winemaker Description 

Freshness on the nose with the distinctive aromas of Viognier; white flowers, apricot, acacia and white peach. On the palate it is fruity with plenty of richness and body. A well-rounded wine with elegance, strength and balance.

Winemaker Description

Beautiful intense and deep red color with purple reflections. This wine opens up with a powerful, very expressive empyreumatic nose with toasted notes, undergrowth and mushrooms such as truffles subtly mixed with aromas of kirsch. On the palate, it shows elegance with fine tannins that balance the opulent notes of very ripe black fruit and typical Syrah spices with a superb long finish. Serve with beef, lamb and poultry.

Winemaker description

Pale yellow-green colour with silver undertones. this wine opens up a nose full of freshness notes crisp-green apples and pears mixed bouquet mountain flowers such as white thorns wild verbena. these aromas linger on the palate very nice balance between juicy fruit great freshness. saline finish bring delicate hint bitterness which gives length savoriness.

Serve with a starter or a cold buffet.

Winemaker Description

Deep color. Very expressive and complex nose with red fruits aromas. The mouth is rich with fines tannins and well-structured with cherry, plum and chocolate aromas. The finish is lightly spicy. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

Jeb Dunnuck writes 88-90 Points | The 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Reserve checks in as 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah that's mostly from the limestone soils in Lirac. Blackberries, ripe cherries, peppery herbs, and floral notes all show, and it's medium-bodied, has a balanced, elegant mouthfeel, fine tannins, and a great finish. Readers looking for an impeccably made, high-quality Côtes Du Rhône to drink over the coming 5-6 years or more should grab some.  - Jeb Dunnuck 

Joe Czerwiński of the Wine Advocate writes | The tank-aged 2022 Cotes du Rhone Reserve Mont Redon is mostly from the Gard, with other components from Valreas and Tulette. Blended just before my summer visit last year, it's 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah, with energetic aromas of black olives, black berries and black cherries. Medium to full-bodied in the mouth, it's round, soft and easy to drink. Enjoy it over the next few years. 

Matt Walls of Decanter writes |   Good depth of colour, really quite dark in the glass. Savoury mulberry, blackberry aromas, good sense of freshness. A very classic expression of Côtes du Rhône with good concentration and structure – no hurry to drink this. The tannins are just a little gruff perhaps, but you wouldn't notice with some hearty food. The word Réserve on the label means the wine is made from bought grapes (possibly supplemented by estate fruit). 

Winemaker Description 

The nose is fruity with aromas of ripe cherries and spices. This wine is medium-bodied with lively acidity and silky tannins.

50% Grenache, 50% Syrah

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

Jeb Dunnuck writes 92 Points | Mostly Grenache and Syrah, the 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Le Temps Est Venu is up-front and loaded with charm, offering lots of black raspberry and redcurrant-like fruit as well as peppery garrigue and spice. It's medium to full-bodied, round, layered, and beautifully balanced. 

Kristen Bieler of the Wine Spectator writes 90 Points | This well-made, characterful Côtes du Rhône brims with juicy cherry and red licorice notes, while mocha, garrigue and grilled mesquite accents linger in the backdrop. Offers a burst of cranberry freshness toward the slightly grippy finish, with iron minerality bringing balance. Very solid. Grenache, Carignan and Syrah. Drink now through 2029.  -

Alistair Cooper MW of Jancis Robinson writes 16/20 Points | Lovely spicy nose – crushed red fruits, juicy and sappy. The palate is rounded and has some firm tannins as well beneath. Textured and spicy and earthy as well with some graphite. Ripe and voluminous. Still needs time.  Drinking 2025 to 2032.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 90 Points | Brimming with red fruit aromas, with notes of spices and dried herbs including laurel. Rich and fleshy, but with healthy tannins and an excellent freshness that drives the very harmonious finish. This producer’s biggest wine is a blend of wines from the left and right banks of the Rhone. Roughly 50-50 grenache and syrah. Drink now.

Winemaker Description

An intense wine with blackcurrant and raspberry notes complemented by notes of white pepper. Powerful and fruity on the palate with lovely roasted notes, and silky, delicate tannins.

Winemaker Description 

Ruby red, nicely bright. Fresh cherry and blackberry nose, notes of cracked pepper. Dark berry and touches of anise flavors, the quality of winemaking is evident. Touches of sweet cherries and raspberry on the palate.  A Parisian brasserie favorite.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

Wine Spectator 89 Points | Gentleness and ripeness are rendered in a lovely way in this version, which offers dusty earth and chalky mineral hints. Shows real depth, with black pepper, pretty lavender and simmering incense notes in the backdrop, anchored by a foundation of iron. Drink now through 2028. 10,000 cases made, 2,500 cases imported. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 91 Points | Candied cherries, sweet cranberries and a touch of stewed herbs. Lightly chewy in terms of tannins, with a fluid center palate and a medium-length finish. A bit overripe, but approachable. A good, simple Chateauneuf that shows early appeal.

Winemaker Description

It is a delicious and supple wine, synonymous with sharing and conviviality, adapting perfectly to meat dishes in sauces or more simply grilled. Its aromas make it a Châteauneuf-du-Pape accessible to many tasters, from beginners to the most experienced. 

Winemaker Description

Certified organic by Ecocert, Perrin Nature is not only an organic Côtes-du-Rhône but also a great wine. Using our experience in organic farming at Beaucastel (one of the first big estates to turn to organic farming 40 years ago), this wine is a beautiful expression of fruit with delicate and soft tannins.

Tasting Beautiful clear and shiny ruby-red color. This wine opens up with a very expressive nose with notes of black fruit and undergrowth highlighted by a beautiful freshness with notes of eucalyptus. Generous and balanced, the palate extends these beautiful aromas supported by an elegant tannic structure, before offering a long finish with delicate notes of aniseed.

Food pairings Roast venison with porcini mushrooms and mocha gravy, dark chocolate mousse and chili.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

Kristen Bieler of the Wine Spectator writes 92 Points | This offers real aromatic beauty, with incense, violets and red currant flavors melded with a layer of finely crushed graphite. Chalk-fine tannins guide the medium-length finish, adding nice chewiness. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Drink now through 2032. 

Stuart Pigott of JamesSuckling.com writes 93 Points | This generous and well-structured 2021 Chateauneuf has excellent raspberry and strawberry aromas for the challenging vintage, plus notes of floral aromas. Surprisingly fine tannins, too. Still very youthful and in need of a bit of time in bottle to reach ideal harmony, but the freshness at the finish is already delightful. A cuvee 75% grenache, 10% syrah, 10% mourvedre and 5% cinsault that were co-fermented, then matured in foudre. Drinkable now, but best from 2024. 

Jeb Dunnuck writes 92 Points |  The 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape is a solid effort in the vintage. A normal blend of mostly Grenache with 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, with a splash of Cinsault, it has a beautiful perfume of ripe cherries, fresh strawberries, sappy green flowers, and peppery garrigue. This carries to a medium-bodied, layered, elegant Châteauneuf with fine tannins, a beautiful overall sense of balance, and outstanding length. It shows the fresh, pretty, nuanced style of the vintage and is a beautiful wine to enjoy over the coming decade. It's in the same ballpark as the 2008.  Drinking 2023 to 2033.

Nicolas Greinacher of Vinous writes 91 Points | Checking in at 14.83% alcohol, the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a refined and predominately red-fruited beauty. Licorice and herbaceous components add more dimension. Framed by gentle tannins and more medium- than full-bodied, the 2021 ends with a bright finish.  Drinking 2025 to 2036.

Matt Walls of Decanter writes 93 Points | A smoky style that’s a touch herbal and meaty. Towards full-bodied, with good weight and texture. Quite a saline expression, ending on crisp raspberry acidity and quite strict tannins. Will always be a lean style, but should make interesting old bones.  Drinking 2025 to 2034.  -

Expert Review 

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  The 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Domaine Du Vieux Lazaret Blanc is a classic blend of 59% Clairette, 35% Grenache Blanc, 5% Bourboulenc, and the rest Roussanne. This vibrant, well-made, medium-bodied white has a great nose of crushed lemon and lime fruit as well as mint, garrigue, and sappy flower-like nuances. It picks up a beautiful sense of salty minerality with time in the glass and is well worth your time and money.  - Jeb Dunnuck 91

James Suckling writes:  A precise, layered and attractive Chateauneuf with aromas of sliced apples, warm herbs, anise, stones and wildflowers. It’s medium-bodied with a succulent development on the palate. There’s a subtle texture, with notes of herbs, flowers, bitter almonds and fresh green pears. Plenty of patina and precision, with a long, flavorful finish. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 93

Winemaker Description 

Clay soils formed from the decomposition of the limestone mother rock and on soils of a sandy texture.

Easily the best wine for pairing with Lobster but also delicious with other seafood, puff-pastries, white meats, or goat cheeses.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Kristin Bieler of the Wine Spectator 91 Points |  Shows good concentration for the 2021 vintage, with red plum and licorice on a foundation of graphite. A thread of singed herbs weaves through the pleasantly just-chewy palate. Savory, smoky and long, with toasty cedar adding warmth to the savory, smoky, long finish, which brings a firming feel. Grenache and Syrah. Drink now through 2035.

Winemaker Description 

The old vines of Domaine Grand Romane are located on the highest part of the family vineyard, 400 m above sea level. Facing northwest, these hillsides dominated by upper Cretaceous sandstone limestone and sandy marl, offer power and concentration. 

On the nose there are aromas of black fruit (blackcurrant and black cherry) and red fruits (raspberry and redcurrant) stewed with a hint of vanilla which meet savory notes of thyme, laurel and black olives on the palate. Powerful tannins fill the mouth with notes of spicy licorice and pepper for a long and satisfying finish. An astonishing balance of complexity, power and elegance. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Boysenberry and juicy plum notes reveal hints of earth, violet and loamy earth in this focused, elegant red, while smoked meat, mocha and graphite move in on the medium-bodied frame. Tangy acidity and fine tannins firm up the finish. Drink now through 2030. 3,300 cases made, 200 cases imported.

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | A completely different beast than the 2021 the 2022 Saint Joseph Offerus comes from a sunny hot vintage and brings another level of fruit and texture. Black raspberries violets ground pepper and scorched earth define the aromatics and this beauty is medium-bodied with a ripe textured mouthfeel ripe tannins and nicely integrated acidity. This juicy fruit-loaded yet still classic incredibly satisfying Saint-Joseph will drink brilliantly over the coming decade. As with the 2021 it needs a fair bit of air to show at its best although don't make the mistake of thinking every Northern Rhône Syrah needs 20+ years in the cellar.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

Jeb Dunnuck writes 91 Points | The 2019 Gigondas is terrific, with a more medium-bodied, elegant style as well as lots of red and black fruits, spice, incense, and garrigue. It's a Southern Rhône charmer yet has balance, fine tannins, and certainly a sense of class.

Joe Czerwiński of the Wine Advocate writes 91-93 Points | Marked by scents of Provence herbs, cherries and blueberries, the 2019 Gigondas is another successful example of this Southern Rhône appellation. Full-bodied and concentrated, it's rich and velvety in feel, with a long finish.  Drinking 2023 - 2030.

James Suckling writes 91 Points | Aromas of black licorice, charred rosemary, coriander and plums. Full-bodied with silky tannins. Generous fruit on the palate with steady balance and intensity.  Drink or hold.

James Molesworth writes Wine Spectator 91 Points | Understated style, with light incense and worn cedar notes running along the edges of the slightly dried currant, raspberry and red cherry fruit flavors. The cedary edge lingers longest in the end. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Best from 2023 through 2030.  

Josh Raynolds of Vinous writes 93 Points | Full ruby color. The deeply perfumed nose showcases cherry, dark berries, licorice, savory herbs and olive notes. Concentrated, spice-laced cassis, cherry-cola and candied lavender flavors smoothly blend depth and vivacity. Polished tannins come in slowly on a very long, penetrating finish that strongly repeats the cherry and floral notes.  Drinking 2025 to 2032. 

Winemaker Description

Domaine d’Andezon is one of the member-estates of Les Vignerons d’Estezargues and is unique in the region. While most of the vineyards in the Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Signargues are heavier clays covered with up to a meter of galets formed at the same time as the famed plateaux of galets in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this isn’t the terroir at Andezon. 

Instead, it is a fine pale sandy and chalky soil that favors Syrah (comprising 90-95% of Andezon in most vintages) in this hot and windy region by giving it an herbal lift and bright acidity.

Kristen Bieler writes:  Seductive violet and cassis aromas introduce this vibrant red, with a spine of graphite and sinewy tannins adding nice length. Syrah and Grenache. Drink now through 2025  - Wine Spectator  

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Alistair Cooper MW of Jancis Robinson 16+ writes | Tasted blind. Good fruit and a very firm tannin structure. Moderate concentration of fruit, and good freshness. Closed and introverted but has lovely balance and length – this might blossom in a few years.  Drinking 2023 -2027. 

Winemaker Description 

The Côtes-du-Rhône Reserve is more serious effort than the regular Côtes-du-Rhône bottling that showcases the estate’s ability to marry richness with finesse. Moderately tannic and endowed with a beautiful structure, this Côtes-du-Rhône develops greedy notes of fresh fruit (crushed strawberry, blackberry) on their crunchiness, supported by a hint of licorice.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  Leading off the reds and mostly Grenache, with small amounts of Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignan, and Cinsault, the 2020 Côtes du Rhône has outstanding aromatics of darker berry fruits, violets, and peppery herbs. It’s balanced, has silky tannins, and is going to represent a great value.  Jeb Dunnuck 90

Joe Czerwiński writes:  A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault, the 2020 Cotes du Rhone features slightly floral, rose-like scents, plus hints of garrigue and black cherries. Medium to full-bodied, it's silky and approachable, a charming, fruit-forward wine to drink over the next 5 years or so.  Drinking 2021 to 2026.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 

James Suckling writes:  The floral side of the grenache grape gives this generous but very nicely balanced Cotes-du-Rhone a lot of charm, and when it leaps onto your palate it steadily gains in depth, thanks to the gentle tannins that build nicely. Wet-earth and warm terra-cotta notes add interest at the polished finish. Drink now.  - James Suckling 91

Kristen Bieler writes:  Ripe and rich, with up-front blackberry and warm plum paste interwoven with singed alder, cured meat and a spicy kick of anise and pepper to close things out. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2025.  - Wine Spectator 

Winemaker Description

In France’s Northern Rhone Valley, there are few names as revered as Graillot. It was in 1985 that the late, legendary Alain Graillot, who after working with the venerable Jacques Seysses at Domaine Dujac, came back to his home in Crozes-Hermitage to start his own domaine. With each passing year his devotion to the art of making hauntingly delicious Syrah from his organically farmed, stone-laden vineyards, was rewarded with an ever growing and highly dedicated following around the world. Alain’s sons Maxime and Antoine have been in charge since 2008, continuing the legacy set forth by their father. All the work is still completely the same as it ever was: hand-harvesting, organic farming, whole-cluster fermentation, and aging the wines primarily in 1-to-3 year old barrels purchased from some of the top estates in Burgundy.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 94 Points |  "A textural, balanced and harmonious red with such patina already. The nose shows notes of dark cherries, fresh plums, forest floor and warm spices. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Dense and velvety, with a kick of peppercorns. Juicy, vivid and fresh finish. Drink or hold."

Expert Ratings

Matt Walls, Cat Lomax, Tanguy Martin of Decanter writes 91 Points | Open, expressive and lively. The palate is laced with savoury herbaceousness, green tea and apricot. Plump, ripe and lush on the finish.  Drinking 2023 - 2025.

Josh Raynolds of Vinous writes 91 Points | Deep violet color. Lush, spice- and smoke-tinged dark berries and a floral nuance on the fragrant nose. Juicy and seamless in the mouth, offering appealingly sweet blueberry and cherry flavors and hints of candied licorice and smoky bacon. The blue fruit note resonates on a long, smooth finish, where subtle tannins add final grip.  Drinking 2025 - 2033.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 91 Points | Candied cherries, sweet cranberries and a touch of stewed herbs. Lightly chewy in terms of tannins, with a fluid center palate and a medium-length finish. A bit overripe, but approachable. A good, simple Chateauneuf that shows early appeal.

Winemaker Description

The nose is warm and shows an attractive complexity characterized by understated red fruit and spice along with leather and tertiary notes. The palate is composed and lighter in weight, exhibiting a mix of red cherry and spice. There is a fine, balanced structure. This is an elegant, not heavyweight style expressing Cinsault and Grenache in particular, with the emphasis on finesse rather than power.

Winemaker Description

One of the most coveted brands in the Rhône Valley, Maison Ferraton offers us this fabulous cuvée at entry-level prices! At the blind tasting, among many others of its Denomination of Origin, this wine surprised all our experts with its irresistible value for money! 

Its tannins and fruitiness make it a cuvée to be discovered immediately!

The domain is mentioned in the Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France 2021 (RVF) and rated 3 stars in the Guide Bettane et Desseauve 2021.

Tasting Notes

Deep and intense garnet, with violet reflections. Fresh notes of black fruits, including blackberry and blackcurrant. A well-balanced, savory density complemented by a pleasant freshness. The finish lingers with rich black fruit aromas.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

Our Professional Review

Bart of 67Wine.com writes | A delicious blend of organically grown grapes: 60% Grenache grown on upper south-southwest facing pebble slopes, and 40% Syrah grown in clay. Deeply colored with an enticing bouquet of blackberries, cherries and intense mineral notes. Velvety yet ample and rich in the mouth with supple tannins and an energetic lift on the delightful finish. This is a wine at the peak of its perfection to drink now. A great complement to country cooking and comfort foods. Certified organic.

Expert Review - Vintage 2018

Anna Lee C. Lijjma of the Wine Enthusiast writes | Notes of incense and preserved black plums introduce this smoky, spicy blend of  Grenache and  Syrah. While full in body, it's a briskly composed wine highlighting tart blackberry flavors and a lingering earthen finish. Best now–2026. 

Critic Notes

Alistair Cooper MW of Jancis Robinson writes 16.5 Points | Tasted blind. Pure strawberry fruit on the nose, rosemary and thyme. Sweet and supple mid palate with a lovely savoury meaty note behind. Excellent energy drives this wine, juicy, fresh and really appealing!   Drinking 2024 to 2030.

Matt Walls of Decanter writes 91 Points | Fine and pretty, precise red berry fruits. Brisk, balanced, and drinkable. Enjoyable zingy acidity. Small but perfectly formed for a 2021 Gigondas. Mostly destemmed, natural yeasts, no acidification.  Drinking 2023 to 2028.

Nicolas Greinacher of Vinous writes 91 Points | The 2021 Gigondas Cuvée Tradition 1871 checks in at a moderate 13.7% alcohol. Cropped at 26hL/Ha, it offers shy red fruit aromatics but really comes alive on the palate. Solid flavor concentration flawlessly matches the energizing acidity, all tucked into a corset of gently sculpted tannins. The finish of this 2021 red is distinctively elegant. This spent one year in a combination of concrete tanks and foudres.  Drinking 2024 to 2031. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Joe Czerwinski of the Wine Advocate writes 90 Points | An 80-20 blend of Grenache and Syrah, the 2022 Vacqueyras Vieilles Vignes boasts concentrated aromas of cherry-berry fruit on the nose. Aged in both wooden and concrete vats, this full-bodied wine is impressively supple and creamy textured in the mouth, then plush and silky on the finish. Sure, it could be more complex, but it's a delicious wine to enjoy over the next several years.  

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Josh Raynolds of Vinous writes 92 Points | Bright ruby. Displays ripe, spice-accented cherry and dark berries, along with hints of succulent herbs and spices. Juicy and expansive in style, offering well-concentrated red and blue fruit flavors and a touch of cracked pepper. Creamy tannins sneak in late and add a gentle grip to a long, spice- and floral-driven finish. All de-stemmed fruit and raised in concrete tanks.

Jeb Dunnuck writes 92 Points |  Not yet bottled, the 2020 Gigondas offers more dark fruits as well as masculine notes of ground pepper, crushed stone, and sappy garrigue. Medium to full-bodied and nicely structured, it’s another rock-solid wine from this estate. The blend is 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, destemmed, and aged in concrete tank.

Jancis Robinson 16 Points, James Lawther MW writes:  Fruit bright and lifted on the nose. Supple and round on the palate. Firm, chalky tannins. Clean and fresh on the finish with some persistence.  55% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre. Organic.  Drinking 2022 to 2028.

Producer Description 

Intense, brilliant garnet color. On the nose, aromas of garrigue develop alongside spices and black fruits. Fleshy and dense palate, with notes of jam, ripe fruit, and spices.

The Domain: The history of Mas des Restanques began in 1995 with the union of our two family lands. After several years in a cooperative cellar, we took the plunge, created our own cellar, and released our 1st vintage in 2007.

We began orienting the domain towards Organic agriculture in 2009 and were certified by "Ecocert" in 2012. In 2019, our son Philippe joined us on the estate to continue the tradition while bringing new perspectives to the business. As a family, we put all our efforts into vine cultivation in order to offer consumers the best grape sources. Then, the low yields on clay soils limestone, thoughtful work of the harvest, and the development of our wines bring to our cuvées character, strength, and balance.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

93 Points James Suckling | A well-crafted, aromatic and textural red.  It shows notes of dark berries, game, wild herbs, grilled meat and baking spices with some cloves.  Medium-bodied with fin tannings.  Layered and highly textural.  Spicy and well composed.

89 Points Wine Advocate | In a lighter year, the 2021 Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Maclura is a juicy, fresh, fun blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% each Cinsault and Mourvèdre. Notes of struck match and black olive lend a savory cast to the black cherry fruit, so it's not a simple, one-note wonder but a medium to full-bodied wine of reasonable complexity.

Producer Description 

Born under an Osage orange tree, the Cuvée Maclura Côtes du Rhône calls for the greediness of the fruit revealing a blend of spices with delicate tannins. Designed with respect for the traditions of the south, this cuvée is like our grandmothers’ cuisine : generous and full of life.

Winemaker Description 

The Côtes du Vivarais is an AOC situated on the western side of the Rhône in Ardèche.  This region is renowned for producing wines with high mineral content due to the limestone and clay-rich soils.  Alain Gallety, a pioneering winemaker, founded this domaine with the goal of finding the perfect soil for his wines. He is now a respected figure in the expansive Côtes du Vivarais. The entire range of wines, from the entry-level to the single vineyard cuvées, is exceptional.  Alain Gallety embarked on his viticultural journey with his father in 1974 in an area that was later designated as the Côtes du Vivarais appellation in 1999. Today, Alain and his son David-Alexandre manage the 15-hectare organic domaine.

"We love this Rhône white for its distinct weight with enhanced mineral notes, keeping the wine from being flabby. Citrus and orchard fruit are prominent flavors that make this wine versatile with many dishes."

Pairings: White fish, Roast turkey, Veal piccata, and the hen & potato stew
Grapes: 50% Grenache Blanc 40% Marsanne 10% Roussanne
Soil: Clay
Viticulture: Organic (Practicing)

• All grapes harvested by hand

• All grapes are fermented together in stainless steel tank

• Wine ages in stainless steel until bottling, 4 to 8 months after harvest

• Bottled unfined and unfiltered

Winemaker Description 

A powerful and well built wine, a deep ruby colour with violet tints. Complex nose of vanilla, fruits and griotte-cherries.

The attack is rich and firm; the mouth expresses long lasting nuances of vanilla and pepper. This is a smooth and rich wine with a very good length. 

Winemaker Description

On the palate, it reveals a fresh attack followed by an ample, structured, long-lasting finish. The wine unfurls in successive stages and ends with top-quality tannins produced by whole cluster fermentation. It features aromas and flavors of smoked ham, violet, graphite, graphite, and licorice.

Expert Review

Winemaker Description 

Classic of Rhone Valley without adding sulfur since the grape harvest to the bottling. This aim of this choice is to recover the natural expression of the terroir and to enhance the southern Côtes du Rhône grape variety.

The color is dark. The nose proposes stone fruits fragrances in particular black cherry.
The mouth is based on fruits and spices. Smooth, the tannins are fused with a beautiful maturity.