77 products
Alain Graillot LA GUIRAUDE Crozes Hermitage 2020 750ml
Expert Reviews
James Suckling 95 Points | A fragrant nose of spiced cherries, ripe blackberries, dried herbs, baking spices and hints of earth follow through to a medium body with finely grained tannins. It has precision with a slight bitterness on the mid-palate. Layered and funnelled with a mineral edge. Long savory and spicy finish. Best after 2026.
Wine Advocate 93 Points | Sultry and smoldering, with incense and an attractive cherry and blackberry core. Powerful and densely packed on the smooth palate, with softening tannins still guiding the long, salty, iron-infused finish, which stands firm. Polished and well-crafted, with impressive texture. Drink now through 2032.
Alain Graillot Saint Joseph 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
From two tiny parcels in St. Joseph, this is a slightly fresher, more early-drinking wine than the remarkable Crozes-Hermitage that constitutes the majority of Alain's production.
Cellier des Dauphins Cotes du Rhone Reserve 2021 750ml
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.
Chaillot 2020 750ml
Expert Review
Jeb Dunnuck | The 2020 Cornas Chaillot comes from a mix of lieux-dits (it's mostly Chaillot) as well as some younger vines. It's an incredible wine in its own right and certainly doesn't give much in terms quality to its big brother. Awesome aromatics of crème de cassis, violets, crushed stone, and bouquet garni-like notes all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, concentrated mid-palate, and ultra-fine tannins. It's a touch more finesse-driven and elegant compared to the Reynard and should round into form with just 5-7 years of bottle age. This is legit awesome Cornas that will have 20-25 years of ultimate longevity. (2020).
Chateau Beaubois Costieres de Nimes Expression Organic Biodynamic 2022 750ml
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.
The 2020 Costieres de Nimes has an intense purplish color. 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.
Chateau de Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Les Deux Albion 2021 750ml
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."
Chateau de Saint Cosme LE CLAUX Gigondas 2019 750ml
Winemaker Description
The soil at Le Claux is a yellowish limestone marl and produces the most “Burgundian” wine at Saint Cosme. “It’s extremely refined and fresh with lots of bouquet. Its propensity to mature is excellent,” says Barruol. The wine features aromas and flavors of wild strawberries, violet, peat, Chinese Five Spice, and camphor.
Grenache is the pale-colored, red-fruited, and potpourri-scented red grape variety of the southern Rhône and can be paired with both rustic and sophisticated dishes. Full-bodied Grenache-based wines are ideal with stews, braises, and grilled meats, while lighter versions can work well with dark fish and tomato-based dishes such as ratatouille.
Expert Reviews
Wine Spectator 97 Points | This is packed together, with taut iron cables providing a platform for mouthwatering bitter plum, cassis and blackberry reduction flavors. Sage, bay tobacco and warm earth notes play equally important roles, adding superior range and depth. Everything pulls together through the finish, though the end point takes some time to reach. Best from 2025 through 2040. (2019).
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points | The 2019 Gigondas Les Claux is one of the powerful yet elegant wines and offers a great bouquet of red and black fruits, graphite, crushed stone, and spice. It’s full-bodied and tannic and needs time, but the balance is spot on, the tannins are perfectly ripe and polished, and it has a gorgeous finish. Give it 2-4 years and enjoy over the following 15+ TASTING DATE 1/25/2022. (2019).
Chateau Mont Redon Cotes du Rhone Reserve 2022 750ml
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).
Chateau Mont-Redon Chateauneuf-Du-Pape Rouge 2019 375ml HALF BOTTLE
Producer Description
Enchanting and complex nose of red fruit, tobacco leaf, licorice and delicate spices. Super-sensual palate that’s rich and refined, with so many nuances that you could spend hours studying it. Stunning interplay of ripe fruit with raw-meat and smoked-bacon character. Very long, silky finish that makes it hard not to take another gulp. Sustainable. Drink or hold.
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019
James Suckling 95 Points | Enchanting and complex nose of red fruit, tobacco leaf, licorice and delicate spices. Super-sensual palate that’s rich and refined, with so many nuances that you could spend hours studying it. Stunning interplay of ripe fruit with raw-meat and smoked-bacon character. Very long, silky finish that makes it hard not to take another gulp. Sustainable. Drink or hold.
Decanter 93 Points | Bold clove, vanilla and cinnamon aromas with black fruit overtones. Firm structure, somewhat chewy on the palate, firm and focused with great punch. Promising wine.
Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | Bold clove, vanilla and cinnamon aromas with black fruit overtones. Firm structure, somewhat chewy on the palate, firm and focused with great punch. Promising wine.
Chateau Pegau Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Maclura 2021 750ml
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.
Clos du Mont Olivet Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
Cornas Reynard 2020 750ml
Expert Review
Jeb Dunnuck | The 2020 Cornas Reynard will most likely merit a perfect rating in a decade, and it's a legendary Cornas in the making. Saturated purple-hued, with incredible aromatics of cassis, liquid violets, new leather, and bloody, iron, meaty nuances, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building tannins, and flawless overall balance. It has an inward, massive, backward style (it reminds me slightly of the 2010) and tastes like the blood of Cornas. It will need 7-8 years (a decade will be better) to hit the early stages of its prime drinking wine and will absolutely blow you away over the following two decades. (2020).
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas 2018 750ml
Expert Reviews
Robert Parker 97 Points | Bottled late in 2020, the 2018 Cornas is another exceptional vintage for this cuvee, drawn from the family's older vines, largely in the lieux-dits of La Cote, Sabarotte and Reynard. Yes, it's from a hot, sunny vintage, it's rich and ripe, with plenty of red plum fruit up front, but there's a solid underpinning of crushed stone to provide balance. Full-bodied and velvety in feel in the mouth, it lingers elegantly on the lengthy finish. Complete, balanced and fine. Best After 2023. (2018).
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ Points | The 2018 Cornas is a classic wine from this renowned estate that's 100% Syrah, mostly from the Reynard lieu-dit, brought up all in ancient foudre and casks. This is as classic and old school as they come, and the 2018 is as Clape as it gets with its bloody blue fruits, liquid violet, smoked game, pepper, bay leaf, and iron-like aromas and flavors. More medium to full-bodied on the palate, it doesn't have the sheer richness of the 2015 or 2017, and if anything, reminds me slightly of the 2016 with its incredible purity, balance, and finesse. The structure and tannins, which were more up-front and present from barrel, have a more round, seamless feel that gives this some up-front appeal. Granted, I followed this bottle for multiple days, and it certainly benefited from lots of air. (2018).
James Suckling 97 Points | Remarkably fresh nose, considering that August 2018 was so hot in the Rhone. Stunning aromas of bitter chocolate and perfectly ripe wild blackberries. I love the generous but not expansive body, where there’s a sensational interplay of fine tannins and mineral freshness that drive the very long and exciting finish. (2018).
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas 2020 750ml
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.
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas 2021 750ml
Expert Review
Vinous Media - 95-97 points | Inky violet. Intense aromas of cherry, blackberry, olive, exotic spices and pipe tobacco are complemented by a smoky mineral nuance and a hint of bacon fat. Chewy and subtly sweet, offering concentrated, smoke-laced kirsch, dark berry preserve, espresso and licorice flavors and a spicy jolt of black pepper. Finishes impressively long and spicy, with chewy tannins and a building floral note.
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas Cuvee Renaissance 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
A wonderful expression of this domain's yellow Syrah, the Renaissance cuvée presents an intense garnet robe and harbours a complex bouquet; ripe fruit aromas are punctuated with toasted, floral and spiced notes and enveloped in fine-grained tannins.
Expert Reviews
96 points James Suckling | A delicate nose of forest berries, dark cherries, blackcurrants, undergrowth, stones and baking spices. Medium body yet so ample and intense. Great concentration at the center, expanding all along. It’s well-balanced and harmonious with finely grained tannins, a pure and juicy core of berries, and crisp acidity. Expansive and long finish. Best after 2025.
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas Cuvee Renaissance 2021 750ml
Expert Reviews
Vinous Media 94-95 Points | Saturated magenta. Expansive aromas of black and blue fruits, licorice, olive and black pepper show fine clarity and building florality. Smoky and energetic in the mouth, offering juicy blackberry, cherry and baking spice flavors that slowly deepen through the back half. Becomes sweeter on the long, focused finish, which features grippy tannins and lingering floral and exotic spice notes.
Domaine d'Andezon Cotes Du Rhone 2021 750ml
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
Domaine de Beaurenard Chateauneuf-Du-Pape Boisrenard Organic Biodynamic 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
Situated in the southern part of the Appellation, this estate goes back eight generations and is currently run by brothers Daniel and Frederic Coulon, and Daniel’s sons Victor and Antoine. The Domaine owns 32 hectares of vineyards, the farming of which has been certified biodynamic by Demeter since 2010.
Made from old vines of different varieties growing together, with moderate yields, the 2021 Boisrenard is characterized by the silky weave of its tannins and its generous fruit. A wine of immense depth.
Expert Reviews
Domaine de Beaurenard Cotes du Rhone Organic Biodynamic 2022 750ml
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.
Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes 2019 750ml
Winemaker Notes
The estate's flagship cuvée, always at the top of international rankings. The robe is dark with purple reflections. On the nose, the still discreet aromas of crushed black fruits and garrigue are just waiting to melt into a noble and fresh substance, to reveal finesse and elegance on the palate.
Blend: 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah
Ratings:
98 Points Wine Enthusiast: In contrast to Janasse's varietal Châteauneuf-du-Pape bottlings, this expression of old vines dating as far back as 1920 blends Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and other grapes from four distinct vineyard sites. Matured primarily in foudres, it offers piercing blackberry and black-plum flavors softened by flurries of peppercorn and anise as well as ripe, feathery tannins. Anchored by a firm earthen undertow, the wine will improve through 2040 and hold further.
98 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: Black cherries, blackberries and garrigue all appear on the nose of the dense, concentrated 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes. Yes, the wine boasts some formidable tannins, but they're ripe, and the fruit is vibrant and intense, with all of the ingredients for cellaring up to two decades. With time, it might even approach the performance of the 2009 (99 points) or 2010 (100). Best after 2025. Rating: 98+
97 Jeb Dunnuck: Lastly, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is another tour de force from this estate, who are clearly firing on all cylinders today. A blend of 85% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, and the rest Syrah that’s brought up in a mix of foudre and barrel, its deep purple hue is followed by a rich, powerful, full-bodied wine offering ample cassis and darker berry fruits, notes of ground pepper, cured meats, and scorched earth, ripe, building tannins, incredible balance, and a great finish. It’s going to flirt with perfection at maturity, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it still drinking brilliantly at age 30. Rating :97+
97 Decanter: Lovely density of dark fruit, full and weighty on the palate. Powerful, long, concentrated and fresh. The alcohol is a little warming, but generally the impression is one of warmth, generosity and endlessly deep, dark fruit. One for the cellar. Fermented in concrete, matured for 12 months in foudre and demi-muid.
95 Wine Spectator: Warm and lush in feel, with steeped dark plum, blackberry and açai berry fruit flavors infused with singed savory, licorice root and warm earth notes, offering a late echo of bittersweet Valrhona chocolate. Good underlying grip keeps this honest enough too. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2035.
Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge 2022 750ml
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
Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Chateuneuf du Pape ROUGE 2022 375ml HALF BOTTLE
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
Wine Spectator 92 Points | Stylish and pure, with exuberant boysenberry, plum sauce and cherry flavors that spill out on the silky palate. Mouthwatering acidity nicely offsets the ripeness in this version, with a savory streak of olive tapenade, tobacco leaf and a whiff of smoke. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Carignan, Counoise, Terret, Picpoul, Muscardin, Picardan, Bourboulenc, Clairette and Roussanne. Drink now through 2032. 25,000 cases made, 3,500 cases imported. (2020).
Domaine Gour de Chaule Gigondas "Le Gour" 100% Grenache 2022 750ml
Critic Notes
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
Domaine Gour de Chaule Gigondas Tradition 1871 2021 750ml
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.
Domaine Grange des Moines Costieres de Nimes Organic Biodynamic 2016 750ml
Chateau Beaubois is a 60-hectare estate in Costières de Nîmes run by fourth generation brother and sister Fanny and François Boyer. The entire estate is certified organic and farmed Biodynamically and the wines are produced to vegan standards. The history of viticulture at the historic Domaine Grange des Moines dates back to the 13th century when Cistercian monks first planted vines there.
The 2016 Domaine Grange des Moines Costières de Nîmes is composed predominantly of Syrah and a smaller percentage of Grenache and Marselan. With a few years of age, the wine has evolved gorgeously into an elegant expression of savory dark fruits and earthy complexity. In the glass, notes of violets, black pepper, damp earth, forest fruit and autumn leaves appear with just a touch of delicious funkiness. Enjoy this wine with earthy root vegetables, roasted meats and wild game.
Bart Hopkins
Domaine Jean Luc Jamet Cote Rotie Terrasses 2018 750ml
Expert Reviews
Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | I loved the 2018 Côte Rôtie Terrasses, which is slightly more supple and elegant than both the 2017 and 2019. Offering darker red, almost blue fruits as well as peppery game, violets, and crushed stone-like minerality, it's medium to full-bodied, has the vintage's pure, balanced, harmonious style, supple tannins, and a great finish. It doesn't have the structure or mid-palate density of the 2019, but is a gorgeously complex, nuanced Côte Rôtie that needs another 3-5 years of bottle age and will evolve gracefully. Drinking after 2026. (2018).
Wine Advocate Joe Czerwinski 91+ Points writes | More structured than it was from barrel, the 2018 Cote Rotie Terrasses comes across as tightly clenched, with a fistful of juicy raspberries locked away for the moment. Full-bodied and tannic, it needs some time to emerge from its current dormant phase. Drinking 2024 - 2035. (2018).
Vinous Josh Raynolds 91 Points writes | Saturated violet. Ripe dark berry, cherry pit and smoked meat aromas are complicated by suggestions of licorice and olive paste. Sappy and concentrated on the palate, offering lush bitter cherry, black raspberry and candied violet flavors, with a peppery nuance on the back half. Youthfully grippy tannins build slowly on the persistent finish, which features lingering game and spice flourishes. Drinking 2025 - 2033. (2018).
Domaine La Barroche Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Julien Barrot 2020 750ml
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
Domaine Lafond Roc-Epine Lirac Rhone Organic 2020 750ml
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.
Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux VACQUEYRAS Cuvee Azalais Biodynamic 2021 750ml
Domaine Melody Saint Joseph 2020 750ml
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.