Red Wine

Winemaker Description

The 2022 Rhône vintage faced extreme heat and drought, with the hottest and driest growing season since 1950, surpassing even the 2003 vintage. Dry conditions in winter and spring were followed by intense heatwaves in June and July, causing significant stress on the vines. Mid-August rainfall provided some relief, promoting ripening, but yields were still notably low. The resulting wines are concentrated and full-bodied, with rich fruit.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Jeb Dunnuck - 91 Points - May 9, 2025 "The Cotes Du Rhone is smoking good, offering up blackberries, pepper, and garrigue in a round, supple, medium to full-bodied style. Based on 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, and 10% Mourvèdre, partially aged in oak foudres, this impressive effort shows remarkable quality for the appellation.

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 - Vintage 2023

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | Juicy red berries, herbes de Provence, pepper... Medium-bodied and nicely balanced, with savory tannins and tons of personality and charm.

Natalie MacLean 90 Points" | Lifts bright red-berry and herbes-de-Provence aromatics... savory tannins and balanced mid-weight structure."

Winemaker Description 

The Chave family is based in a small village on the northern right bank of the Rhone. There have been Chaves growing vines on the famous Hermitage hill since 1481. Gerard Chave took over from his father in 1970 and rapidly achieved megastar status due to the extraordinary quality of his wines and has since passed on the winemaking responsibilities to his son Jean-Louis.

Their unmatched meticulousness continues through five centuries to render venerable expressions of the purest of Rhône terroir.

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

The Wine Spectator 90 Points by Kristen Bieler 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. Drink now through 2028. 27,000 cases imported. 

Winemaker Description

Château de Saint Cosme has been in the hands of the Barruol family since 1490. Louis Barruol took over from his father in 1992. 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.

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 

A great everyday red that perfectly suits both simple meals and gourmet feasts! Savory dark red fruit aromas develop in the mouth with background luscious layers of black olives, crushed black pepper and herbs de Provence. Medium bodied and highly versatile with supple tannins and a long, delightful finish.

Sure, the price point here is hard to beat, but what’s in the glass outshines even its impeccable value. Dark-fruited, with fresh acidity and stony tannins, our house blend Côtes du Rhône is about as versatile as reds come from the south of France. No matter what’s on tonight’s takeout menu, this bottle delivers. Lamb shawarma, kebabs, and falafel? Certainly. Carne asada burritos with chips and guac? No doubt. Wood-fired pizza and Caesar salad? Yessiree! The pairing possibilities are endless, and it’s an inspired option when the mood strikes to try something new—low risk, high reward!

—Madison H. Brown

The new release of our custom Côtes du Rhône is just in, and it’s a good one! This cuvée dates back to the ’80s, when Kermit found an inexpensive source of delicious everyday Côtes du Rhône, and it has been among our best-sellers every year since its inception. We make our blend from a large selection of different wines: a dozen or more tanks are often presented, and countless combinations are tested over the course of several grueling hours in the cellar. At the end, it often comes down to adjusting a half-percentage of this or a smidge of that. Every drop counts!

August 2025, Dinners:  This is just a terrific wine.  We drank this wine with burgers, roast chicken, hanger steaks and it just worked so well.  50% Grenache and 50% Syrah, the wine fills your mouth with black fruit and cherry-like flavors and does it all in a gentle way.  Finishes absolutely clean, fresh and mouthwatering.  Everyone of our friends enjoyed drinking it.  -  Bernie & Dorothy, Paulo & Barbara, and Annie - Follow the Drinker®

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. 

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 2023

Wine Spectator 92 Points | High-toned notes of cherry and anise are silky and fluid in this modern Châteauneuf. There are no rough edges here. Polished tannins glide through, supporting rooibos tea and sandalwood smoke elements. A pretty, sleek style, with real elegance. 

James Suckling 90 Points | A textured, generous and dense red with sweet cherries, red berries and sweet spices on the nose. Full-bodied with plush tannins. Rich core of berries and cherries with a similar finish.

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 - Vintage 2022

Nicolas Greinacher writes:  The complex 2022 Vacqueyras Cuvée Floureto unwinds with crunchy red and black fruits, dried herbs, pressed violets and peppery undertones. Gently structured by ripe tannins, the 2022 offers generous flavor concentration yet flawlessly maintains balance and freshness through bright acidity. This Vacqueyras is a total delight that will start showing its full potential two years from now.  - Vinous 91

Matt Walls writes:  Appealing plum and damson aromatics unfold onto a fresh palate with juicy acidity, making it highly drinkable. Plenty of crisp black cherry too. A big burst of fruit, no great length but a real thirst quencher. Black cherry stones on the finish, and ripe tannin. Now includes an extra half a hectare of Counoise.  Drinking 2024 - 2028.  Decanter 91

Bruce Sanderson writes:  A suave version, with a sultry quality to its winey red currant, dried strawberry and lavender elements, all streaked with a thread of herbaceousness that brings freshness. Incense smoke curls up from the finish, with leafy, earthy notes at the edges. Softened tannins give this a velvety feel, while finely crushed mineral details spill out on the finish, adding textural intrigue. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsaut. Drink now through 2030.  - Wine Spectator 91

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 Reviews - Vintage 2021 

The Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Bright and concentrated black cherries, rose petal and fresh aromatics create a lively nose. On the palate, fruit and earthy notes come into perfect balance with a bit of aeration. A great pairing for meaty dishes, offering exceptional value.

Winemaker Description 

Deep and dark red. On the nose intensely aromatic, with black fruits and spices. The palate is full, round and sexy. Round and smooth tannins present through the full bodied, ample wine. Overall a complete wine, with a long finish, with elegance and finesse accompanying the abundance of fruit and well-balanced tannins.

The Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Bright and concentrated black cherries, rose petal and fresh aromatics create a lively nose. On the palate, fruit and earthy notes come into perfect balance with a bit of aeration. A great pairing for meaty dishes, offering exceptional value.

James Suckling 90 Points | 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. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

The Wine Spectator 89 Points | Round and ripe, with mulled cherry and steeped tea flavors edged in graphite, warm earth and singed alder. Grippy tannins hold firm, keeping the generous finish honest. Incense smoke blows from start to finish. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Syrah and Cinsault. 

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.

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. 

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."

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 Review - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 93 Points | If all Cotes-du-Rhones were as good this, then the appellation would have a much better reputation. This deftly combines a full body and ample velvety tannins with a generous red fruit character plus hot earth and spice nuances. Excellent balance in the long, surprisingly elegant finish. Drink or hold.

Winemaker Description 

This wine displays a deep red hue with ruby tints and notes of sun-ripened black fruit on the nose. The palate offers a velvety texture and spicy notes underpinned by ripe black fruit, blackcurrants and black cherries.

A more modern take on the traditional Côtes du Rhône style, this wine combines structure, freshness and smooth tannins. It has a seductively elegant, intense and long-lingering finish.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to three business days to fulfill.

It is a garnet-red colored wine with a blue hue. Its scent of ripe fruit is dominated by black currants underlined with hints of spices and pepper. In the mouth, it is round and harmonious with long smooth tannins.

Our Professional Review 

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com writes | A lovely expression of Syrah, savory and darkly fruited with a sensuous mouthfeel and luscious textures. The fruit is rich and focused with velvety tannins and a mineral rich, long delicious finish. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2020 

John Gilman 91 Points | The 2020 Saint-Julien en Saint-Alban from Éric Texier is a fine bottle of young syrah. The bouquet is deep, precise and beautifully black fruity in personality, wafting from the glass in a mix of cassis, pepper, expresso, grilled venison, a nice touch of black olive, granite soil tones and plenty of upper register smokiness. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, ripe and very well balanced, with a fine core of fruit, lovely soil inflection and grip, fine-grained tannins and a long, complex and seamlessly balanced finish. This is still a puppy and quite primary in personality today, but also quite easy to drink. It is not a crime to be opening bottles today, but more complexity will certainly emerge with just a modicum of patience."

Expert Review -Vintage 2020

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  Moving to the reds, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape is one of the riper, broader, sexier wines in the vintage. Blackberries, roasted herbs, cured meats, chocolate, and Provençal garrigue all define the aromatics, and it’s full-bodied on the palate, with a powerful yet balanced style. Classic cuvées don’t get much better than this in 2020. It will keep for 10-15 years. The blend is 70% Grenache and 30% Mourvedre, brought up all in concrete.  Drinking 2022 to 2037.  - Jeb Dunnuck 93

Kristen Bieler writes:  Plum sauce and cassis reveal earthy, leafy dimension that brings savory freshness to this full-throttle red, which is formidable in structure and frame, with bolts of iron, black tea and persistent yet refined tannins taking this over the finish line. Long and powerful, with smokiness weaving through. Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2035.   - Wine Spectator 94

Nicolas Greinacher writes:  A delicious blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Mourvèdre composes the 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It soars from the glass with fragrant aromas of crushed violets, raspberry, wild strawberry, blueberry, licorice and mint. Full-bodied and layered, it's polished and refined, with a juicy core of fruit and good persistence on the bright finish.  Drinking 2024 to 2038.  - Vinous 92

James Suckling writes:  Wild berries, tar, dried herbs and cloves on the nose follow through to a medium to full body with firm tannins. Structured and focused with a crisp core of berries leading to the chewy and salivating finish. From organically grown grapes. Unfiltered. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 92

Matt Walls writes:  Broad and full on the palate. Concentrated but not heavy, the alcohol slightly warming. It suits the traditional style, however, and this wine provides plenty of bang for buck in a traditional style. It’s lush and generous. Produced with destemmed fruit, and fermented and aged in concrete.  Drinking 2024 to 2030.  - Decanter 92

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 (-:

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

The Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | Very high-toned and stylish aromas of just-ripe dark cherry, licorice, and soft garrigue create a precise and inviting nose. Refreshing acidity keeps the palate lively and delicious, enhancing the salty minerality that adds juiciness to the lavish black fruit. This wine is sure to impress friends—be sure to grab an extra bottle. 

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.

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 Revew - Vintage 2021

Wine Spectator 90 Points | Packs a weighty core of cherry preserves and plum, with black licorice notes, toasted apple wood and a firming spine of iron. A formidable, serious red, laced with ripe yet subtly grippy tannins through the singed herb–flecked finish. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.

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

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

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. 

Expert Reviews- Vintage 2013 

Josh Raynolds of Vinous writes 96 Points |  (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.

James Suckling writes 97 Points | 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.

Joe Czerwinski of The Wine Advocate writes 94 Points | 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. 

James Molesworth of the Wine Spectator writes 96 Points | 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.

Jeb Dunnuck writes 94+ Points | 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.

Richard Hemming MW of Jancis Robinson writes 18/20 Points | 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 

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to three business days to fulfill.

A fruity, mouth-watering wine. On the nose it reveals aromas of cherries and raspberries. It lines the mouth and the palate and the fruit remains present.

Expert Notes

Stuart Pigott writes:  Nose of wild berries, smoke and earth. A rich and mellow, full-bodied example of this appellation, the healthy, moderately dry tannins wrapped in velvet. Long finish that's much brighter than the first impression suggests. A cuvee of 80% grenache and 20% syrah from two parcels close to the border with Gigondas. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 93

Alistair Cooper MW writes:  Plenty of pure fruit on the nose – light red fruits, as well as a slight garrigue note. A compact palate, with peppery spice and fine, firm, bright tannins – moderate weight. Bright, sleek and attractive red fruit on the layered finish. Bright, engaging and relatively light.  Drinking 2025 to 2032.  - Jancis Robinson 16.5

Winemaker Description 

The Vacqueyras Les Aubes has substantial fruit and earthy notes mixed with notes of pepper and licorice. A great match for roasted vegetables, and gouda cheese - 

The estate was created in 1874 and since then, six generations of the Gras family have succeeded one another, each making their own contribution to its development. Benjamin has worked hand in hand with his father, Yves, since 2017. After obtaining a degree in oenology at the University of Burgundy in Dijon, his experience was enriched by periods spent in prestigious wine estates such as Domaine de Romanée-Conti and Bodega Vega-Sicilia. He maintains organic farming , converted the entire estate to biodynamic methods in 2016, and is redesigning the wine range to emphasize local terroirs. Just like his father, he favors as little intervention as possible in winemaking and respect for what nature offers.

Vacqueyras Les Aubes is a blend of Grenache (80%) and Syrah (20%) coming from plots located exclusively in places called Les Aubes and La Ponche in Vacqueyras, over 1.5 hectares. The harvest is manual with sorting in the vineyard, followed by a second on a sorting table and partial destemming. Fermentation lasts 20 to 30 days in stainless steel vats under controlled temperatures with two long daily pumping overs. Malolactic fermentation occurs in vats. The wine is aged for 18 months in 36-hectoliter Stockinger oak barrels and 8-hectoliter terracotta jars .

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points | The flagship 2020 Cornas is a beauty! Clearly in the same league as recent top vintages, it has a wild bouquet of black and blue fruits, liquid violets, game, and iron, with some incense and spice thrown in for good measure. It's slightly more round and sexy compared to the more powerful 2019, but it’s perfectly balanced, with ripe tannins and a great finish. This heavenly Cornas will be drinkable in just 3-4 years and evolve for two decades.

Vinous 97-98 Points | Glass-staining ruby. Intensely perfumed dark berry preserve, violet oil, olive, cured meat and woodsmoke scents show fine definition and vibrant spice- and mineral-driven lift. Offers palate-staining, spice-laced blackberry, bitter cherry, fruitcake and violet pastille flavors that deepen and open up steadily through the midpalate, while maintaining energy. The strikingly long, penetrating finish features youthfully chewy tannins, a sweet touch of cola and lingering floral and exotic spice qualities. All whole clusters and no new oak, as usual.

Decanter 97 Points | A vibrant, focused and intense style of Cornas, a return to a classic style after the richness of 2018 and the power of 2019. Their Renaissance will be made this year, so both wines will need to be bottled before a more precise evaluation of each blend can be made, but the outlook is good. Whole-bunch fermented in unlined concrete tanks, matured in small old foudres.

James Suckling 97 Points | A fragrant nose of blackberries, dark cherries, wild herbs, baking spices, stones and black pepper. Medium body with fine, firm tannins. It has volume and structure, but remains extremely agile. It has bright acidity and a vibrant peppery character, giving vitality and tension on the palate. Well-rounded and vivid with a succulent and textured, long developing finish. Best after 2026."

Wine Advocate 95-97 Points | Tasted from four different components of the 2020 Cornas from foudre. From 40-year-old vines in La Côte, a medium to full-bodied sample with attractive menthol, red plum and violet notes, ample structure but a bit short (92 - 94). From 50- to 60-year-old vines in La Sabarotte, an earthier, more savory example, with a rich, velvety texture and crisp acids (93 - 95). From 60- to 70-year-old vines in La Côte, a wine that seems to have it all: intense cassis, crushed stone, licorice and black olives, plus amazing richness and length (97 - 99). And finally, from old vines in Reynard, a breathtaking, hauntingly floral rendition marked by purple raspberries and fantastic concentration (98 - 100). The blend should be terrific.

Winemaker Description 

Dark red in color with blue reflections. Powerful nose of spices (black pepper, laurel), ripe red fruits and exotic scents (incense, curry). In the mouth, the flavors are attractively concentrated  but also elegant and rich due to a perfect balance  of alcohol, acidity and tannins. Made from grapes grown in two vineyards with different soil types gives the wine a beautiful complexity.  A delicious mix of fruits, spices and tobacco notes find their way into the long finish.

Pre-Arrival - Expected date for delivery and/or pick up early December 2025

Expert Reviews

Isabel Ferrando’s reputation for outstanding wines has grown every vintage since her first release in 2003. As a woman owned business and winemaker, Isabel has built a tremendous reputation producing highly acclaimed wines. 

"Proprietress Isabel Ferrando has taken her Saint Prefert estate to France’s highest level, and she’s unquestionably making some of the most profound wines on earth today, including both reds and whites.”   —Wine Critic - Jeb Dunnuck

"Hard work. Subtle tweaks. Responsible farming. An uncompromising dedication to quality. Isabel Ferrando keeps doing things the right way, and her wines are dramatic proof.” —James Molesworth, Wine Spectator.

"one thing that remains constant is the incredible quality that continues to emerge from this talented winemaker.” Jeb Dunuck. 

While the 2023 has not yet been scored, to get an idea of its pedigree, the 2022 vintage made *Wine Spectator’s Top 10 out of 100 Wines with a stellar 94 points.