Delas Saint Joseph "Francois de Tournon" 2015 Magnum

The three St Joseph cuvées include the brooding and backward 2015 Saint Joseph Francois de Tournon, which will spend roughly 12 months in a mix of barrels and stainless steel. Its inky black/purple colour is followed by Hermitage-like aromas and flavours of burning embers, crushed rocks, liquid blackberries and cassis. Full-bodied, deep, rich and layered, with bright acidity and fine tannin, it's a killer wine to buy by the case. 93-95 points" - Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate

Dark, fresh plum … more

Country: France
Region: Rhone Valley
Sub Region: St Joseph

Delas-Freres Hermitage "Les Bessards" 2015 Magnum

Country: France
Region: Rhone Valley
Sub Region: Hermitage

Delas-Freres Hermitage "Les Bessards" 2016 Magnum

"The 2016 Hermitage Les Bessards offers more violets and floral notions with hints of blue fruits (cassis blueberries) full-bodied richness and building sweet polished tannin. It's another ripe opulent 2016 that's going to drink nicely in its youth yet age gracefully given its purity and balance. While a step back from the otherworldly 2015 this brilliant wine is one of the gems in the vintage.94-97 points" - Jeb Dunnuck

"Typically Bessards showing granite smoke and smoky bacon on the nose. … more

Country: France
Region: Rhone Valley
Sub Region: Hermitage

Domaine Courbis Cornas Eygats 2018

"From a cooler parcel of pure granite soils, the 2018 Cornas Les Eygats is probably the most classic Cornas in the lineup (although these all have plenty of Cornas character) with its more mineral, iron, and almost bloody style. Loaded with massive amounts of blue and black fruits, violets, and crushed rock nuances, this full-bodied, multi-dimensional, seamless Cornas has polished tannins, flawless balance, and a monster of a finish. This broad, expansive, sexy Cornas should drink well for 20+ years." … more

Country: France
Region: Rhone Valley
Sub Region: Cornas

Domaine d'Ouréa Gigondas 2017 375ml

"Full-bodied and supple, the Gigondas from Domaine D'Ourea boasts ripe cherry fruit, hints of spicy, peppery complexity and a long, fruit-driven finish.'' 93 Points, Wine Advocate Magazine

"This has classic notes of spiced red and black fruits, garrigue, mint, and basil. It's elegant, medium-bodied, has fine tannins, good balance, and a clean, finish. It's has terrific complexity as well as charm." 91 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

Country: France
Region: Rhone Valley

Domaine de la Mordoree Lirac Cuvee de la Reine Des Bois 2019 Magnum

"Moving to the 2019 reds and a blend of 40% Syrah and 30% each of Mourvèdre and Grenache, the 2019

Lirac La Reine Des Bois reveals a deep purple hue as well as a masculine, mineral-laced bouquet of cassis,

framboise, ground pepper, graphite, and smoked meat. The Syrah dominates the nose at present, yet it

shows more Grenache sexiness on the palate and is full-bodied, has a seamless texture, great tannins, and

a beautiful finish. There are enough tannins and … more

Country: France
Region: Rhone Valley
Sub Region: Lirac

Domaine de la Mordoree Lirac Cuvee de la Reine Des Bois 2020

"Rounded, medium- to full-bodied style, the oak is well-judged and adds a little polish to the fruit. Good length and depth, ripe, with gently warming alcohol. Succulent and fresh, this is very enjoyable. Serious for a Lirac!" 92pts Decanter

Country: France
Region: Rhone Valley
Sub Region: Lirac

Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf-du-Pape "Réserve" 2016

A modern-day legend in the making is the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve from Jean-Paul Daumen, This Grenache-dominated effort was brought up all in foudre and tastes like the essence of this incredible terroir located on the northern edge of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Winemaker Jean-Paul Duamen says that the very old vines, low yields and natural approach make the base of this wine, but it's in the microclimate of the north facing terroir of slopes that forges its character. Deeply purple, with aromatics recalling … more

Country: France
Region: Rhone Valley
Sub Region: Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Domaine Des Richards Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 2019

This is a Vins doux Naturel style, made from Muscat à Petits Grains.

The fermentation is stopped when half of the sugar in the must is converted into alcohol by adding neutral alcohol. This has the effect of maintaining the sweetness from the sugar in the wine.

The nose is beautifully aromatic and fresh evoking ripe peach, apricot and grape nuances; the fortification is first class as it is barely noticeable, the wine is loaded with delicate florals and elegance. … more

Country: France
Producer: Domaine des Richards
Region: Rhone Valley
Sub Region: Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise

Domaine des Tours Vin de Pays Vaucluse Rouge 2019

This is the home estate of the Emmanuel Reynaud (nephew to Jacques Reynaud, third-generation owner of the legendary Château Rayas, that Emmanual has run since 1997). This is a relatively large estate of nearly 100 acres, Domaine des Tours fashions some remarkable value priced reds and whites.

Country: France
Region: Rhone Valley

Domaine Durand Cornas Empreintes 20

The Durand brothers, Eric et Joël, specialize in Syrah planted over 20 hectares in St-Joseph, St-Peray and Cornas. Thye destem nearly all fruit, depending on the vintage with a mixture of oak and concrete ageing. Unlike a lot of Cornas their wines are fruit-dense, have vibrant freshness, vibrancy and brightness and are typically rich and spicy.

"More density and depth, as well as precision, emerge from the 2020 Cornas Empreintes, a smaller

production cuvée from 30-year-old vines. Its deep purple … more

Country: France
Region: Rhone Valley
Sub Region: Cornas

Domaine Garon Les Grandes Parcelles Viognier 2021

Les Grandes Parcelles is a 100% Viognier, on sandy granite soil, cultivated at the edge of the Condrieu appellation. It reveals a charming and fruity peach and almond nose, then a tonic and creamy mouth. A cuvée to appreciate in its youth.

Country: France
Region: Rhone Valley

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave L'Hermitage Blanc 2018

The 2018 Hermitage Blanc was still in its various components, so my rating and description is something of a composite, based on barrel-tasting lots from Péléat, Les Rocoules and L'Ermite. There's incredible weight, ripeness and richness throughout, with hints of toast and crocuses accenting white peach, melon and pineapple fruit, yet also a sense of vibrance and briny freshness on the lengthy finishes. 95-97" - JC, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"The thickness of the skins on Chave’s old vine parcels … more

Country: France
Region: Rhone Valley
Sub Region: Hermitage

Domaine Jean-Paul & Corrine Jamet Côte Rôtie 2018

Note: "From mainly northern sector sites near Ampuis, 5-40% destemmed according to vintage quality, 18-21 day vinification, pumping overs on whole bunch crop, cap punching on destemmed grapes, aged 20% new, 80% 2-10 year 550 and 228-litre oak casks 22 months, unfined, unfiltered." JLL Drinkrhone.com

'Precise aromas of dark berry preserves, pungent flowers, pipe tobacco and smoky minerals; allspice and succulent herb nuances build in the glass. Broad, alluringly sweet and youthfully chewy, offering intense blackberry, cherry preserve, fruitcake and … more

Country: France
Region: Rhone Valley
Sub Region: Cote-Rotie

Domaine Jean-Paul, Corrine & Loïc Jamet Condrieu Vernillion 2021

Note: 'Viognier (Planted 1989 in the dip, OK for dry conditions), 2009 on the hillside, dry conditions) from E facing 0.5 ha at 300 metres on Côte Châtillon & from 2018 0.33 ha on Vernon (2014-2015, the Chéry side of Vernon hill, the 1st part is hilly, precocious, 2nd part deeper soils, more abundant, 1 week behind), vinification starts in vat, then from 2016 30-100% 500-litre amphora (rising), 0-70% 2-7 year 228-litre oak cask (falling) fermented, raised 10 months (2015 … more

Country: France
Region: Rhone Valley
Sub Region: Cote-Rotie