Rhone Region Report

Croix de Bois, Chapoutier

93 points Wine Spectator
This has a solid core of crushed blackberry and mulled plum fruit, supported by well-embedded acidity. Pastis, violet and black tea notes weave through on the finish, where the plum fruit echoes nicely. (JM) (11/2010)

90 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Dark red. A perfumed nose offers raspberry, strawberry preserves, herbs, anise and dried rose. Silky and sweet in the mouth, offering lively red and dark berry flavors. Finishes juicy and fresh, with very good persistence and a touch of cinnamon. (JR)(1/2011)
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Price: $88.31 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock

Cuvée du Vatican Reserve Sixtine
95 Points Jeb Dunnuck eRobert Parker

Reviews:
I loved the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Réserve Sixtine, and this is probably the finest example of this cuvee since the 2003. Made from 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and the rest Mourvèdre, destemmed and aged in a mix of foudre, old barrels and small amounts of new barrels, it offers terrific purity in its black raspberry and cassis fruits, melted licorice and cured meat aromas and flavors. With full-bodied richness, beautiful mid-palate density and no hard edges, it’s a joy to drink today but will certainly keep for another decade or more.
Jeb Dunnuck - 1 March 2017
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Price: $88.31 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock

Chateau de Beaucastel

Medium to deep garnet colour. Pretty perfume of freshly crushed raspberries / blackberries with nuances of wet leaves, cinnamon and white pepper. The medium to full bodied palate provides a good concentration of juicy berry fruit countered by medium to high acidity and a medium level of velvety tannins. Wonderfully balanced. Long finish.


Its dense plum/ruby/purple colour is followed by a big, sweet perfume of black truffles, camphor, earth, incense, new saddle leather, and loads of peppery, blackberry, and herb-infused, meaty, black cherry fruit. Deep, full-bodied, and dense, with sweet tannin. …
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Price: $150.24 USD
Stock: 5 in Stock

Domaine du Caillou Vacheron Pouzin Non Filtre

Chateauneuf Domaine du Caillou dates back to at least the first part of the 20th century in the Southern Rhone Valley. However, the modern era for Clos du Caillou began when it was purchased in 1956 by the Pouzin family.

The domaine was managed by Claude Pouzin until 1995. At that point in time, Sylvie Pouzin, the daughter of Claude Pouzin and her husband, Jean-Denis Vacheron began to run the estate, taking Clos du Caillou in a new direction.


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Price: $113.56 USD
Stock: 2 in Stock

Font de Michelle Etienne Gonnet

94 points Robert Parker: This wine reveals an up-front, forward style, a dense ruby/purple color, and a gorgeous perfume of licorice, seaweed, black cherry liqueur, smoke, and truffles. Full-bodied, thick, and juicy, with a viscous texture, firm concentration, low acidity, and fabulous ripeness, it can be drunk now or cellared for another 15 years. (12/01)


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Price: $75.69 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock

Domaine Mont Redon

An outstanding wine still with a deep red colour. This hasreally strong bouquet with lovely packing in it; there is charm in the soft red fruits, but power and depth in behind, via some tobacco and rum: all comes in a silken air. This is rich on the palate, backed by good structure and tannin to keep it in shape. Very good length.
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Price: $88.31 USD
Stock: 2 in Stock

Chateau de Beaucastel Pierre Perrin

Château de Beaucastel has long been considered one of the great wines of France. It is unanimously renowned for its balance, elegance and ageing potential. Beaucastel has an extraordinary terroir at the Northern end of the appellation with heavy exposure to the Mistral. All 13 varieties of the appellation have been organically grown here since the sixties.

1994 was a good year for Rhone Wines and the Beaucastel has striking colour. The nose is profound and sweet, with black truffle, under-wood, and earthy notes. The mouth is fruity, fleshy and round, with soft tannins. It can be drunk but will improve with time. …
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Price: $99.74 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock

Chateau de Beaucastel

89 points Average Cellar Tracker Score

A fairly strong wine from a weak vintage. This wine benefits from about 2 hours decanting to allow the nose to open up into an excellent example of aged CdP. Light in colour, and decent colour at the rim, no true bricking. Complex, with the black fruits playing lead and the usual Rhone notes playing a background note. Long, long finish. A solid wine.
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Price: $112.36 USD
Stock: 18 in Stock

Monbazillac

Monbazillac lies within Bergerac, southwest France, with Château Septy located on the hillsides of southern Bergerac, facing the south bank of the Dordogne.

The soils here are clay-limestone (argilo-calcaire). Monbazillac has the perfect terroir, with a microclimate which fosters the development of noble rot – sounds awful but is key to producing luscious wines with fresh acidity. Some excellent, rich whites are produced here which, in good vintages, will stand their ground alongside those from the revered Barsac and Sauternes.
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Price: $75.69 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock

Domaine de Thalabert Jaboulet
Bin-soiled and damaged labels

The 1982 Domaine Jaboulet has a medium ruby color with some definite bricking at the edge. The nose is glorious, classic Northern Rhone syrah - mainly smoke and meaty notes. On the palate, it is a fairly light wine but there is still a hint of raspberry fruit and classic flavours that echo the nose. A long finish and a silky texture (cellar tracker review 2019)
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Price: $113.56 USD
Stock: 6 in Stock

Clos de L'Oratoire

The 1978 Clos du L'Oratoire has a pale and clearly developed colour. Smells of underbrush and some dark berries. Medium body, good length, and wonderful acidity, little tannins left. Delicious! Scores on elegance rather than power. Fully mature.
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Price: $113.56 USD
Stock: 10 in Stock

Villages Laudun

Côtes du Rhône is a huge appellation in the south of France encompassing 40,300 ha. Plenty of white and rosé wine is produced in Côtes du Rhône but there can be no doubt that red is king. Usually Grenache will dominate the blend (except in the north where Syrah is allowed to be top dog, but these wines are relatively few) and is normally partnered with Syrah and/or Mourvèdre but a further 18 varieties are also permitted! A cheerful example might be light, soft, fruity and easy-drinking, while the finest examples may be full-bodied, concentrated, intense, spicy and ageworthy. But what they all invariably have in common is a fabulous sense of place and lashings of personality and character. …
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Price: $87.11 USD
Stock: 3 in Stock

Quien & C

Côtes du Rhône is a huge appellation in the south of France encompassing 40,300 ha. Plenty of white and rosé wine is produced in Côtes du Rhône but there can be no doubt that red is king. Usually Grenache will dominate the blend (except in the north where Syrah is allowed to be top dog, but these wines are relatively few) and is normally partnered with Syrah and/or Mourvèdre but a further 18 varieties are also permitted! A cheerful example might be light, soft, fruity and easy-drinking, while the finest examples may be full-bodied, concentrated, intense, spicy and ageworthy. But what they all invariably have in common is a fabulous sense of place and lashings of personality and character. …
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Price: $150.24 USD
Stock: 3 in Stock

Quien & C (Damaged label)

Côtes du Rhône is a huge appellation in the south of France encompassing 40,300 ha. Plenty of white and rosé wine is produced in Côtes du Rhône but there can be no doubt that red is king. Usually Grenache will dominate the blend (except in the north where Syrah is allowed to be top dog, but these wines are relatively few) and is normally partnered with Syrah and/or Mourvèdre but a further 18 varieties are also permitted! A cheerful example might be light, soft, fruity and easy-drinking, while the finest examples may be full-bodied, concentrated, intense, spicy and ageworthy. But what they all invariably have in common is a fabulous sense of place and lashings of personality and character. …
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Price: $124.99 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock