Rhône Valley 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.

Winemaker Description 

The wine has a pale-gold colour with beautiful a shine. The nose is expressive and fruity, dominated by aromas of juicy fruit. There are touches of honey, adding a warm dimension. Elegant aromas of ripe pears bring a touch of freshness. On the palate, the wine is full bodied and gourmet, with a lively and saline finish that brings freshness and beautiful length. The sweetness of the nectarine blends harmoniously with subtle notes of lilac, giving the wine a beautiful floral complexity. A balanced wine with a persistent finish.

This 2024 vintage which should stand out for its aromatic richness and its aging capacity. Varietals: Grenache blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier. 

This is a wine with an incredible freshness and great depth. It will be a wonderful match for Mediterranean dishes and fish.

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.

Winemaker Description - Vintage 2024

This wine showcases one of the great secrets of the Guigal family: their specialization in the great white Rhône varieties. While only 8% of wines from the Rhône are white, Guigal's are a full 25% of their production; today they are the single largest producer of white wines in the region. It is a beautiful, seamless blend that represents unbelievable value.

The blend is 60% Viognier, highlighting Guigal's instrumental role in the revival of the grape. The wine is rich yet fresh, making it vibrant and food-friendly —an ideal pairing for seafood, poultry, creamy pasta, and more

Winemaker description

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

Serve with a starter or a cold buffet.

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.

Winemaker Description 

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

50% Grenache, 50% Syrah

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

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

Winemaker Description

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

Winemaker Description

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

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

This wine comes from a vineyard located between Valréas and Vaison-la-Romaine, north of Orange. 

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

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. 

Winemaker Description 

The wine has a pale-peach colour, with silver highlights that gives it shininess. The nose is complex and rich, with a present bitterness that brings depth. Notes of pear drops offer a mixture of fruity and floral scents. The attack is fresh and aromatic, marked by aromas of pomegranate and raspberries bringing a delicate freshness and a slight acidity. The bitterness at the end of the mouth gives a beautiful length, giving the wine great structure. The wine is round and well balanced.

Despite climatic challenges throughout the year requiring constant vigilance and considerable work in the vineyard, the 2024 vintage looks very promising. The harvest began on August 2nd, and the last grapes were picked on October 3rd. Each vineyard was harvested at perfect maturity, with grapes that were both balanced and expressive. The work in the vineyards was demanding, but the efforts made should result in wines of high quality.

The first tastings reveal wines with a very good balance, combining fruitiness, tension and finesse. With optimal phenolic maturity, supported by good acidity, they also reveal great freshness and a beautiful structure. Promising qualities for this 2024 vintage which should stand out for its aromatic richness and its aging capacity.
There are 2 types of soils at Le Grand Prébois, stone, clay and limestone on one side and gravel and clay on the other.

The grapes are harvested early in the morning to benefit from the freshness of the night. The proximity of the vines to the Grand Prébois cellars allows the grapes to be pressed straight after picking. After pressing, the juices are cold settled in order to remove suspended particles. The alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks and lasts about 15 days, the temperatures are regulated between 14 and 16 ° C. The wines are then racked and aged in stainless steel tanks until bottling.

Varietals | Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah

Memo Pairing Suggestions

Pairing Suggestions

    •    Light Foods: A wonderful apéritif. 
    •    Mediterranean Dishes: Excellent with grilled fish, seafood, and vegetable tarts.
    •    
Salads: Pairs well with a fresh melon salad, feta, and quinoa. 

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. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

JamesSuckling.com by Stuart Pigott writes 91 Points | The smoke and black pepper notes of syrah are intertwined with the fleshiness and mellower personality of the grenache grape in a very convincing manner. Behind this is a solid base of supple tannins that has been expertly crafted. The generous red fruit and touches of blackberries and summer flowers give this a lot of appeal. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

The Wine Spectator by Kristen Bieler writes 88 Points | Smoke and earth underscore the generous notes of cherry and sweet, toasty oak in this plush, enjoyable red. A crowd-pleaser, with nice character and graphite energy. There's a snappy edge to the satisfying finish. Grenache, Syrah, Marselan and Carignan. 

Producer Description 

A classic since 1950, Parallèle 45 is celebrated around the globe and is one of France’s most recognizable wines. Parallèle 45 is named after the 45th parallel, a famous circle of latitude that marks the midpoint between the equator and the North Pole. It also passes over the cellars of Paul Jaboulet Aîné.
Garnet red with purple hues, this fruit-forward wine has notes of strawberry, red currant, peony and dried roses and an elegant finish.

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."

Winemaker Description 

La Vieille Ferme Blanc is a delightful white wine that captures the essence of a sunny day in Provence. With its bright and inviting pale gold hue, this wine immediately offers a sense of freshness. On the nose, vibrant aromas of citrus blossoms and juicy peaches intertwine, creating an enticing bouquet that hints at the flavors to come.

The palate is a true testament to the terroir, with crisp acidity that dances alongside flavors of ripe pear, green apple, and a subtle touch of tropical fruit. This well-balanced blend brings together Grenache Blanc, Vermentino, Roussanne, and Bourboulenc, each contributing to the wine's complexity. The finish is clean and refreshing, leaving a lingering impression of zesty lemon zest and a touch of minerality. Whether enjoyed on its own or paired with light seafood dishes or fresh salads, the La Vieille Ferme Blanc 2022 offers an authentic taste of Provence in every sip.

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 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

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 2022

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.

91 Points James Suckling | A fresh, well-rounded, pale rosé made of 60% grenache (blanc, gris and noir), 30% cinsault and 10% syrah. Supple and fruity. It show notes of melon, apricots, flowers and a touch of peaches. It’s refreshing, fun and well-made. From organically grown grapes.

Kristen Bieler Wine Spectator |  Fragrant and creamy, with weight to the strawberry, kumquat and melon flavors. Laced with ginger and spice notes, this delicious version is round and lacy at the same time, showing real character. Grenache, Cinsaut and Syrah. Drink now. 

Winemaker Notes

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.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | Mostly Viognier (55%) but with other permitted white varieties, the 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Blanc has a medium-bodied, vibrant, pure style to go with lovely peach and tangerine-like aromas and flavors. Drink this outstanding, classy white over the coming 2-3 years. I never cease to be amazed at the quality of the Côtes du Rhône white from this team, especially given the quantities produced.

Winemaker Description 

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

Winemaker 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 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 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 Review - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 92 Points:A juicy, dense and aromatic Condrieu. The nose reveals notes of baked lemons, white peaches and fresh flowers. Medium-bodied with a dense core of white fruit and cooked lemons. Caressing texture, with a well-rounded, mellow and agreeable finish.

92 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: Mainly crafted from purchased grapes, the 2022 Condrieu from Guigal is always a delicate, elegant rendition of this appellation. Evoking aromas of ripe apricots, honeysuckle, pear and spices, it's medium to full-bodied, round and sappy with a seamless, enveloping texture, concluding in a long, delicate and ethereal finish enhanced by gastronomic bitterness. Consistently well-crafted, this Condrieu is engaging and quintessential to its origin.

Winemaker Description 

Guigal Condrieu has remarkably pure aromas; complemented by a soft roundness. It is a typical expression of Viognier grapes with its aromas of Whitepeach and apricot.

A wine that impresses with its elegance and delicacy. Color: Light golden yellow Bouquet: With intense aromas of flowers (violets) and fruits (apricots, Whiteand sour peaches) Taste: On the palate it is fresh and round, creamy.

The pleasant acidity harmonizes well with the fruitiness bathed in a fleshy roundness. Winemaker Description. 

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

Vinous 91 Points | The 2024 Tavel Rosé displays its usual reddish shade and all of its typical power and intensity. There’s real grip and structure here, tugging at the cheeks and lending serious chew. Deep, dark, bitter cherry fruit, sagebrush, river stones and orange pith unfurl in this brooding, powerful Rosé built for the dinner table. It’s not a shy wine—that much is for sure—but its balance is unflappable.

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

Its color is a golden-yellow-green. It exhales fine scents of flowers and white-fleshed fruits. Its characteristic is a well-balanced structure, beginning with a round and fruity taste of peach and apricot and ending on a fresh and persistent note of citrus fruits. Its best aromatic expression is immediately reached in the first year and it continues for two-to-three years.

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 

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.

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

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

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | A great vintage for this cuvée, the 2022 Gigondas Terrasse Du Diable comes from higher elevation sites and pure limestone soils. (It's mostly Grenache.) Rocking levels of kirsch, ripe cherries, chalky minerality, melted licorice, and white flowers all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a round, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's one hell of a sexy, ripe, impossible-to-resist Gigondas.

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.