Rhone Report

Rhone Report 90-93"Tasted as a tank sample and a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, the 2010 Domaine Vindemio Côtes du Ventoux Regain (aged all in stainless steel) is a beautifully proportioned Côtes du Ventoux that delivers loads of pure black cherry and currant styled fruit that’s intermixed

Rhone Report 93"Overflowing with ripe black cherry and blacker styled fruits, licorice, freshly crushed stone, and assorted floral nuances on the nose, it turns structured on the finish, with loads of tannic grip. A big wine that has plenty of fruit and textured, it has a stacked mid-palate and is

Rhone Report 91"Surpassing the excellent '09 by a fair bit, the inky colored 2010 Domaine Grand Veneur Cotes du Rhone Reserve, a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Cinsault, delivers textbook, classical aromas of black cherry and blackberry styled fruits that are intermixed with notions of

Robert Parker 90"The early-bottled, gorgeous 2012 Miraflors Rose is a blend of 70% Mourvedre and 30% Grenache Gris that was aged on its lees for four months prior to bottling. Its beautiful color is accompanied by scents of framboise, earth and strawberries presented in a medium-bodied,

Robert Parker 93"I know some readers will find it hard to believe, but the 2011 Nostre Pais Blanc’s aromas and rich, honeyed, full-bodied texture reminded me of the famous white Chateauneuf du Pape made by Beaucastel, which sells for three or more times the price. An amazing blend of 90% Grenache

Rhone Report 94"Even better than the brilliant '09, with more elegance and freshness, the 2010 Chateau Puech-Haut Coteaux du Languedoc Saint-Drezery Cuvee Prestige is a custom cuvee made by Philippe Cambie and Eric Solomon. An absurd value and a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre, and

Robert Parker 95"The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape is one of the finest traditional cuvees I have tasted as well as a sleeper of the vintage. Made from 90% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre from 55-year-old vines, it exhibits a dense ruby/purple color as well as a stunning perfume of creme de cassis, kirsch,

Rhone Report 91"Comprised of 80% Garnacha and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 20 months in French and American oak barrels and foudre, the 2010 Conreria d’Scala Dei Priorat Black Slate Escaladei is an energetic, beautifully lifted and elegant Priorat that delivers plenty of jammy black raspberry,

Robert Parker 90"The outstanding 2011 Les Maros is a blend of 60% old vine Grenache and the rest equal parts Carignan and Cinsault. The average age of the vines is at least 40 years. This stunning wine boasts abundant amounts of kirsch liqueur, licorice, new saddle leather, peppery spice box and

Rhone Report 92"Made from a blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah, from 80+ year vines, that is aged for 6 months in concrete tank, the 2011 Michel Gassier Cercius is a lush, decadent offering that delivers loads of black raspberry and blackberry styled fruit that is intermixed with notions of

Rhone Report 94"Even better and my favorite of the whites, the spectacular 2011 Michel Gassier Costières-de-Nîmes Lou Coucardie Blanc is a blend of Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, and Viognier that is fermented and aged all in barrels. Smelling like a top Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, it offers knockout

Rhone Report 96"Even better than the smoking 2009, the 2010 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla Clio is an over the top, decadent, and voluptuous effort that stays gorgeously drinkable and light on the palate. A blend of 70% Monastrell (aka Mourvèdre) and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 24 months in new

Wine Advocate 91-92"Vinified under the supervision of the Domaine de l’Edre’s Jacques Castany and Pascal Dieunidou (for more in praise of whom, see issues 173 and 183), the Cabirau 2008 Cotes du Roussillon Malgre les Functionnaires (“In Spite of the Civil Servants”) combines Grenache with smaller,

Robert Parker 96-98+"The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee, which I tasted from several foudres, is essentially equivalent in quality, but it has not yet been bottled. If I understood Paul Feraud correctly, he tends to prefer the 2009, but says Laurence prefers the 2010. In any event, this

Rhone Report 92"The first vintage from proprietor Nicolas Souchon and a brilliant effort, the 2010 Mas des Volques Volcae X, a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan fermented with 100% stem inclusion, offers up classic southern France styled qualities of pepper, garrigue, olive tapenade, and

Rhone Report 92"A voluptuous, hedonistic, and pleasure bent blend that is mostly Grenache, the 2011 Orin Swift Abstract delivers loads of creamy red and blackberry fruit, sweet spice, licorice, bramble, and hints of white chocolate-like aromas and flavors to go with a full-bodied, decadent, yet

Rhone Report 90A perfect example of the vintage, the 2011 Domaine d'Andézon is a tank aged blend of 90% Syrah (from 30-year-old vines) and 10% Grenache (from 60-year-old vines) that way over delivers. Upfront and supple, with sweet aromas of blackberry, licorice, wild flowers, and plenty of earthy

Rhone Report 91-93+"One of the top barrel samples, the 2011 Pierre Amadieu Vacqueyras La Grangeliére checks in as a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah that is aged 60% in tank, and 40% in 2-year-old barrels. Ripe, textured, and gorgeously rich, it offers up notions of bing cherry, licorice,

Rhone Report 95"The 2009 La Peira Coteaux du Languedoc Les Terrasses du Larzac Las Flors, a blend of 55% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, and 5% Cinsault, is stylistically closer to the grand vin than to the Les Obriers de La Peira; it is certainly the best vintage of this cuvee I’ve tasted to

James Suckling 95"This has everything growing on the estate in it, but it's predominately Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, though there's even white varieties. Full-bodied with firm tannins and lots of fruit. Spices, coco, light toasted oak and berries. A thoughtful wine with impressive structure.

Rhone Report 94"A rough blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Carignan that's aged in older wood, the exotic, yet absolutely brilliant 2009 Domaine Jean-Louis Tribouley Vin de Pays des Cotes Catalanes Les Bacs (Les Bacs is the parcel where the cuvee from) is anything but mainstream with its deep, yet

Rhone Report 96+"Deeper in color and much more dense, reserved, and even backwards, the 2009 Bosc Negre is a slightly longer term prospect and is a blend of 80% Mourvèdre and 20% Grenache that had the Mourvèdre aged all in new barrel and the Grenache in tank. Meaning “black woods” and named after

Rhone Report 90Plush and creamy, with beautifully pure, ripe aromas of crème de cassis, raspberry ganache, smoke tobacco, and leafy herbs, the 2010 Domaine Puydeval Vin de Pays d'Oc Rouge is an outstanding blend of 58% Cabernet Franc, 28% Syrah, 14% Merlot that was aged for 10 months in a

Rhone Report 93+"A brilliant, serious wine, the 2009 Domaine La Milliere Chateauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is a blend of 60% very old vine Grenache (planted in 1891 and 1920), with the balance an even split of Mourvedre, Syrah, Cinsault, and Counoise. Aged in both older barrels and foudre, it

Rhone Report 95"A brilliant Châteauneuf-du-Pape that should not be missed is the 2010 Les Cailloux Châteauneuf-du-Pape! A blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, and 10% Syrah (with only the Syrah being aged in smaller, new barrels), it has put on weight since I tasted it last year and offers up a