Rhone (Rhône)

• Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Cornas
• Crozes-Hermitage
• Gigondas
• Hermitage
• Lirac
• Saint Joseph

Wow.  Incredible wine.  Served from Magnum, this is still young but with some air was singing.  100% Grenache.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, spices, floral qualities but also a bit or roasted meats and herbs.  Full bodied.  Light tannins.  On the palate, this is concentrated, intense and delicious.  Cassis, lavender, slight black cherry with underlying char and minerality.  Voluptuous texture.  Great balance.  Long finish.  This is great on its own and went very well with Mushroom Agnolotti.  Still young, especially from Magnum, this will make gr

This is one of my favorite Chateauneuf's although not always easy to find and not inexpensive.  It is 100% Grenache from century old vines.  While this is still quite young, it is delicious and intense.  Deep garnet in color, opaque and bright.  The nose opens in the glass to show black raspberries, black cherries, spices and subtle floral notes.  Full bodied with a wonderful texture.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, black raspberries with underlying spice and minerality.  Clean.  Great balance.  Long finish.  While no doubt not giving up everything, it is so delicious.  It went wonderfully

Charvin always makes a more elegant styled Chateauneuf with a larger amount of Grenache.  At age 15, this is drinking quite well.  Deep ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, spices, slight dried floral notes and a bit of clean earthiness.  Medium bodied.  Bright acidity.  On the palate, cherries and black cherries with underlying spice, slight char and minerality.  Depth and layers of complexity.  Delicious.  Great on its own, this will excel with the right food such as beef or bean stew.  Fully mature, drink over the next ten years.  

This is in a great place right now (as seem to be many of the top 2005 CdP's).  Garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, slight black raspberries, char, black pepper, nutmeg and black pepper.  With air some dried flowers and roasted meats.  Full bodied.  Complex and layered.  This is a big, "masculine" styled type of CdP.  On the palate, black cherries, with layers of forest floor, spice and earth.  Lively acidity.  Good balance.  Long finish.  This bottle is at peak but should have another five to seven years at this level.  Great on its own, it will be even

This is a blend of 85% Grenache and then 5% each of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Vaccarese.  At age 16 it is just about at peak and drinking beautifully.  Garnet in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, raspberries, licorice, slight roasted herbs and spice.  Medium to full  bodied.  This is the elegant side of Chateauneuf.  On the palate, its about red fruits with some underlying spice, char and herbs.  Complex and layered, it unwinds in the glass.  Lots of energy and precision.  Nice finish.  Drinks great on its own but will work well with food.  It will work well with Chinese or simila

This is a nice Syrah from the Northern Rhone that is not expensive and drinking well now.  Garnet in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is tight at first but opens quickly showing black cherries, char, slight black raspberries and slight black olive.  Medium bodied.  Firm tannins.  On the palate, black cherries with char and good acidity.  Nice finish.  This should drink well for the next five to seven years.  A nice wine with pizza or a (veggie) burger.  

White Rhone wines can be so finicky, so when a friend opened this for his birthday, it was nice to see this was firing on all cylinders.  Earlier in the day while reading a book about the White House and Wine, it mentioned that Thomas Jefferson referred to White Hermitage as France's greatest white wine, and this bottle gave that some credence.  These wines are so unique when on that they are not for everyone.  It doesn't seem fair to group with Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc as they drink more like a red in that they are not crisp or refreshing or tart.  This one is golden in color, clear a

A classically styled CdP, the word "rustic" no doubt comes to mind.  It is a blend of 65% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, and 5% (Cinsault, Clairette, and others).  Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright.  The nose has cherries, funk and garrigue.  Full bodied.  On the palate slightly silky texture.  Medium tannins.  Cherries and black cherries with some earthiness.  Black licorice on the finish.  Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.  Great on its own, this will work nicely with braised beef.  

This is a blend of 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 9% Mourvèdre, and the rest Cinsault, Terret Noir, Muscardin, Picpoul, Vaccarèse, and Counoise.  It was very tight and most likely shut down at this point.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose shows some cherries and black raspberries with dust and slight garrigue.  It does have a wonderful texture which is often an indication in wines that are shut down of future greatness.  On the palate, it comes off a sweet cherry pie filling at the moment.  This should be cellared for another five to seven years and then drink over the next eigh

Nice to revisit this wine at age 18.  2003 was a very hot vintage that was problematic for many winemakers.  This one is holding up just fine.  It is 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and the rest Cinsault and Mourvedre.  This is fully mature but only showing a bit of age.  Light purple in color but still opaque and mostly bright.  The nose has cherries, black cherries, garrigue and dried tobacco.  Full bodied.  On the palate, nice cherry and black cherry fruit with underlying tobacco and some char.  Good complexity.  Long finish.  This will work better with hearty food; beef stew would work well.  D