Red 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 2020 

Jeb Dunnuck writes | Leading off the 2020s, the 2020 Côtes Du Rhône is up-front, ripe, and textured, with pretty, medium-bodied aromas and flavors of cherries, flowers, and peppery herbs. It has a soft, elegant mouthfeel and is undeniably delicious.

Joe Czerwinski writes |  Significantly impacted by its elevated Syrah content, Guigal's 2020 Cotes du Rhone boasts expressive aromas of blackberries and blueberries, backed by ample black cherries. It's full-bodied yet supple and fluid, easy to drink and enjoy, with enough black olive and earth notes to ground it and keep it from being a simple fruit bomb.  Drinking 2024 0 2030.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 90 Points 

Stuart Pigott writes |  An impressive Cotes-du-Rhone with stacks of blackberry and black raspberry fruit wrapped around a core of moderately dry tannins on the bold palate. Long self-confidently dry finish. A cuvee of 50% syrah, 45% grenache and 5% mourvedre. Drink now. James Suckling 90 Points 

Tina Gellie, Anne Krebieh MW, Michaela Morris write |  Modern, lifted and a bit heady, but attractive and evocative. Black cherry inkiness segues into a dense palate where all the fruit is crammed into a structured body with drying tannins. Herbs and stones hemmed in by a firm grip. A good all rounder. Nominated by Thierry Meyer.  Drinking 2024 - 2030.  - Decanter 90 Points 

Producer Description 

Pretty limpid-purple color, with violet undertones. The nose reveals a seductive aromatic bouquet with notes of red fruit such as blackcurrants and blueberries mixed with notes of leather and violet. The palate is full of freshness and well balanced with aromas of very ripe fruit, pepper and elderberries with very soft tannins giving this wine great drinkability.

Expert Reviews (2022 Vintage) 

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. 

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.

2Winemaker 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.

Expert Reviews 

90 Points James Suckling | Plenty of crunchy red berries and cherries on the nose with dark cherries, dried thyme and peppercorns. Medium body with firm tannins. Juicy fruit at the center with structure and a vibrant core of peppercorns to the finish. (2022). 

89 Points Jeb Dunnuck | Black raspberries, juicy cherries, peppery garrigue, and violet notes all emerge from Chapoutier's 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Belleruche, a medium-bodied, fleshy, balanced, straight-up delicious. (2022). 

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 Notes

Winemaker Description

Cherry mixed with raspberries put together in a medium to full-bodied well made Cotes-du-Rhone. A sweet touch of licorice enhance the beautiful palate. A mouth-filling wine in a pure Rhône style.

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. 

Expert Review

Nicolas Greinacher writes:  Ripe red fruits, dried herbs and a pinch of white pepper introduce the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It is pale, ruby-colored, medium to full-bodied and concentrated. Inviting and round, this 2021 red is neatly balanced by refreshing acidity and closes with a bright finish.  Drinking 2024 - 2033. - Vinous 90

Winemaker Description

Les Deux Albions is one of the outstanding wines of Louis Barruol’s collection and highlights the exceptional value that can still be found in the Côtes-du-Rhône category. The wine combines depth, structure, and finesse with aromas and flavors of roasted game, mesquite, and olive, crushed plum, and black currants.

Expert Ratings

James Suckling 92 points "Textured, layered and focused. It expresses notes of dark berries, roasted meat, warm spices, bay leaves and some dried thyme. Medium-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Plenty of energy, focus and structure. More compact toward the finish."

Wine Spectator 91 points "This seductive red offers a lot to like, with ripe red fruit and toasted aniseed notes showing an invigorating layer of white and black pepper through the harmonious, medium- to full-bodied frame. Hints of black tea and iron shavings add energy. Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Clairette."

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 - Vintage 2021

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. 

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 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.

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.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

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. 

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 

Our Professional Review

We first drank this Cote-du-Rhone at one of our favorite local restaurants Manny’s Bistro where I am addicted to the Magret de Canard (duck breast) and Dorothy loves the mussels Marinieres and Provencal. This medium bodied Rhone is fruit forward without being overwhelmed by the fruit, balanced acidity allows it to work with both the duck and the mussels and more it just is quaffable, happily we stroll home (-:

Critic Notes

Kristen Bieler writes: Delivers an inviting cascade of brambly berry flavors, which merge with chalky mineral accents and zippy acidic drive. A great everyday red for its refreshing profile and accessible mix of savory garrigue accents and bright fruit. Grenache and Syrah. Drink now. Wine Spectator

Winemaker Description

This Côtes du Rhône is full of fresh, juicy red fruit and a refreshing floral note. Its smoothness, freshness and delicate characteristics offer immediate pleasure.

Winemaker Description 

The nose reveals scents of garrigue and licorice, the palate is on raspberries and cherries with its lingering and peppery finish. 

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.

Expert Reviews 

Alistair Cooper MW writes: Wonderful purity on the nose, crushed violets, fig and ripe red fruits. Very elegant nose, super-fine and delineated tannins. This shows real class and elegance, it's light on its feet but has great concentration behind it. Will drink young but also age extremely well. Drinking 2023 - 2032. - Jancis Robinson 17.5

Jeb Dunnuck writes: I was able to taste two releases from Julien Barrot. Looking first at his 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Julien Barrot, which is a blend of 60% Grenache, 19% Mourvedre, 13% Syrah, and a handful of other varieties, it sports a deeper purple hue to go with a fabulous bouquet of kirsch and blackberry fruits as well as licorice, crushed stone, licorice, and ground pepper. It shines for its balance and elegance on the palate, but still brings substantial fruit as well as structure. It's a thrilling wine that will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades in cold cellars. Drinking 2024 - 2046 - Jeb Dunnuck 94

Joe Czerwinski writes: Mixed cherries and berries, hints of roses and garrigue and a touch of dark chocolate may be found on the nose of the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Julien Barrot, a fine example of this estate's main bottling. Full-bodied and supple, it finishes long and softly dusty. Already approachable, it should continue to drink well for more than a decade. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. Drinking 2023 - 2035 - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 93

Stuart Pigott writes: Rich and fleshy, but with excellent tannin structure behind it, this is a very impressive modern style Chateauneuf. Plenty of preserved cherry and black raspberry fruit with notes of rosemary and thyme. Lovely silky texture until you reach the firm finish, which promises many more years of life. A cuvee of 60% grenache, 19% mourvedre, 13% syrah, 5% syrah and 3% other traditional grapes for the region. Drink or hold. - James Suckling 94

Nicolas Greinacher writes: Hinting at some reduction, the 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Julien Barrot shows slightly less well than the 2019. Pale ruby-colored, it displays aromas of ripe raspberry, forest strawberry, red plum, dried herbs and a pinch of white pepper. Full-bodied, rich and refined, it concludes with a sapid finish. Drinking 2024 - 2038 - Vinous 92

Winemaker Descrdiption

Guigal Crozes Hermitage is a dark and deep color. On the nose, red fruits, cherry and strawberry with delicate oak aromas. A structured tannic wine. Aromas of blackcurrant buds and vanilla. Remarkable freshness with notable and refined tannins to due long oak aging.

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 92 Points | A generous, alluring red, with red currant and cassis amped up with sweet spices, tarragon and singed cedar. Reveals cured salumi notes that add earthy, animal richness to the dense palate, firmed up by savory acidity and slightly chewy tannins. Offers a spine of iron that reins in the lushness. Drink now through 2030. (2020). 

James Suckling 91 Points | An extremely typical example of this appellation with stacks of fresh blackberry fruit, plus delicate notes of smoke and pepper. Zesty interplay of bright fruit and crisp tannins on the medium-bodied palate. From the northern part of the appellation. Most is matured in large oak foudre, and a small proportion in oak barriques. Drink or hold. (2020). 

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | Now from bottle, the 2020 Crozes-Hermitage showed nicely, with the juicy, forward, elegant style of the vintage. Ripe blackberries, game, violets, and hints of pepper all define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied, has a pretty, silky, elegant mouthfeel, soft tannins, and a great finish. It's a classic, balanced, incredibly satisfying Crozes Hermitage to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years. (2020). 

Expert Ratings

Wine Advocate 93 Points | Marked by ripe cherries and hints of complex garrigue notes on the nose, it's full-bodied but also really elegant, with fine-grained, silky tannins, ample concentration and a long, surprisingly crisp finish. Barrel Sample: 93-95. 

Decanter 96 Points | Full, generous and broad. Acids are bright and vibrant, and there's a fine but dense weft of tannins through the wine. Great energy and salinity this year, this is particularly fine and balanced, with plenty of concentration and a long finish. All from La Crau and fermented in tronconic wood barrels. Élevage in foudre. Oldest Grenache bunches aren't destemmed.

James Suckling 96 Points | Such a deep and meaty nose with a slew of wild-herb, savory and subtle balsamic notes. Then comes the expansive and very concentrated palate, which reveals so many spicy nuances as it rolls over the palate, the stunning fine tannins pushing the finish out even further. A grenache-based blend from 60-year-old vines. Barrel Sample: 96-97

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

Full-bodied, fruity, fine and well-balanced with aromas of red fruit – raspberries and black cherries – and notes of black pepper, leading to more complex scents of licorice and herbs de Provence. The tannins are ripe, the wine fills the mouth with warm, generous flavors yet with an underlying structure that bodes well for future potential. A fruit-forward and accessible wine. 

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  While no 2021 was presented, the 2020 Gigondas is stunningly good and is loaded with notions of red cherries, framboise, sappy flowers, and pepper. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied, flawlessly balanced Gigondas offering ripe, perfectly integrated tannins, a layered, balanced mouthfeel, and a great finish. If I saw this on a wine shelf, I'd buy it. Drink bottles any time over the coming 15 years or so.  Drinking 2023 - 2038.  - Jeb Dunnuck 91-93

Josh Raynolds writes:  Brilliant ruby-red. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red and blue fruits, potpourri and botanical herbs that are complemented by an exotic spice note building in the glass. Stains the palate with intense raspberry, cherry and lavender pastille flavors that steadily deepen with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and finesse and finishes impressively long and floral, with fine-grained tannins adding a discreet grip.  - Vinous 93-95

James Lawther MW writes:  Attractive red-berry aroma and flavour, the fruit smooth and plush on the palate, the tannins ripe and well integrated. Plenty of length on the finish. Just a slight glow of alcohol at the end.  Drinking 2025 -2032.  - Jancis Robinson 16.5+

Joe Czerwiński writes:  Tasted from foudre one, the 2022 Gigondas (keep in mind there is just one cuvée at this estate) is rich and ripe, with delicate floral notes accenting deep black raspberry and black cherry fruit. This concentrated, medium to full-bodied effort is zesty and long on the finish.  Drinking 2024 - 2038.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92-94

Winemaker Description

Château Beaubois covers a total of 60 hectares of Costieres de Nimes in the Southern Rhone Valley. Fanny and François Boyer, brother and sister, are the 4th generation owing the vineyard. 

The estate is certified organic and Demeter certified Biodynamic.

Pleasant nose of strawberry, blackcurrant, mulberry and licorice.  On the palate, the wine has soft tannins with aromas of red fruits and fruit paste. A tasty and supple wine which could be served throughout the meal, with vegetables, meat and cheese. 

Winemaker Descripton

A blend of certified organic 55% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre. Complex aromas of red and black berries, revealing an elegant wine, deep with silky tannins. 

Vinous Media 93 Points | Dark, brilliant ruby. Pungent black raspberry and cherry aromas are complemented by floral, olive and baking spice nuances. Smooth and expansive on the palate, offering spice-tinged red and blue fruit preserve, licorice and allspice flavors that show fine delineation and mineral lift. Juicy and subtly chewy in texture, finishing with resonating blue fruit and spice character; tannins slowly emerge.

Expert Ratings

Josh Raynolds writes: (made with 50 percent whole clusters) Bright purple. A complex, intensely perfumed bouquet of fresh black and blue fruit, candied licorice and Asian spice scents develops a sexy floral note as the wine opens up. Vibrant and appealingly sweet on the palate, offering intense, smoke-tinged black currant, boysenberry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors energized by a refreshing snap of juicy acidity. Blends richness and vivacity with a deft hand and finishes extremely long and gently tannic, leaving a sappy blue fruit note behind. Drinking 2023 - 2032. - Vinous 96

James Suckling writes: The most brooding nose of the trio of La La's with dark coal smoky aromas and dark stones, graphite and cocoa powder. Fruits are in the very dark plum and blackberry spectrum but flavors are held in a more savory mode with assertive, powerful clean-cut tannins that hold endless length. Truly a masterpiece. Best from 2022 and for two decades or more. - James Suckling 97

Joe Czerwinski writes: The 2013 Cote Rotie La Mouline shows none of the vintage’s sometimes dry tannins. It offers crisp black fruit—plums and blackberries—underscored by hints of pencil shavings, espresso and grilled meat. Suave and long, it should drink well for a couple of decades. Drinking 2020 - 2035. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 94

James Molesworth writes: Very ripe, with layers of fig, boysenberry and plum compote forming the core, inlaid liberally with licorice snap, roasted apple wood and Turkish coffee notes. Shows lots of heft, but everything pulls together on the finish, exhibiting drive and definition. Best from 2020 through 2040. 65 cases imported. - Wine Spectator 96

Jeb Dunnuck writes: One of the more restrained and fresh vintages of this cuvée out there, the 2013 Côte Rôtie La Mouline still has a classic Mouline floral, gamey, and spicy bouquet to go with medium to full-bodied richness and depth on the palate. With good concentration, notable complexity, sweet tannin, and plenty of length, it needs 3-4 years of bottle age and will keep for 15+. Drinking 2022 - 2037 - Jeb Dunnuck 94+

Richard Hemming MW writes: Hickory smoke, violets, tobacco, black-cherry fruit, pepper and a touch of stemmy herbal character. Super-fine tannins, and quite light body with a finish that isn't as expansive as the palate. Still young, so the length may well develop. Drinking 2019 - 2033 - Jancis Robinson 18

Expert Reviews

91 Points James Suckling | Peppery and savory elements here with a black-fruit core and moody, graphite-like minerals. The palate has a very plush, supple and dense core of bright, raspberry and strawberry flavors.

91 Points Wine Spectator | Dark cherry and raspberry fruit melds nicely with anise and black tea notes, showing a tangy mineral edge through the silky, seductive finish. Drink now through 2023. 800 cases imported.

Winemaker Description

Juicy blue and black fruit is mixed with glorious floral and red-berry aromas, as well as a subtle hint of garrigue and black olives. The palate is soft and silky; generous yet with a lasting impression of precision and elegance.

Sourced from fruit grown just south of the Côte-Rôtie appellation, just like its white counterpart, it rivals the quality of the famous name at a fraction of the price.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Nicolas Greinacher writes:  The captivating Grenache-only 2022 Gigondas Le Gour is sexy and layered. Pronounced rose petal, crushed violet, orange blossom, quince and raspberry aromas rise up from the glass. The floral lift is just stunning. Despite its medium to full-body, this athletic 2022 red offers a seamless mouthfeel and is wonderfully light on its feet.  Drinking 2025 to 2032.  - Vinous 93-95

James Suckling writes:  A superb wine made exclusively from grenache from 80-year-old vines, silky and ethereal. The nose is seductive, with crushed wild strawberries, bitter oranges, roses and some peppercorns. Medium-bodied with finely grained tannins. Such finesse of texture, with a silky core of bright, transparent and succulent berries. There is tension and vibrancy with an infused character. Intense while being restrained and always in control. Long finish. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 97

97 Points James Suckling | This amazing Chateauneuf-du-Pape squares the circle of southern richness and spring-like freshness in spite of coming from a very warm and dry vintage. The stony minerality, saltiness and dried flower character wind together to form a dynamic whole, driving this gracefully across the palate. But I must also mention the savory and licorice richness that is so deftly wrapped around them. Very long, salty and velvety finish.

The domaine’s old vines in the terroir of La Crau produce some of the most exciting Grenache in the world, and the select blending of their other native grapes, along with a long, patient aging process in large, oval foudre casks, produces the magic of Vieux Télégraphe. This classic opens with a voluptuous aroma that gives and gives—it is striking because of its charm and floral notes. How many Châteauneufs can boast of those two traits? Winemaker Description.