Rhone (Rhône)

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

This is still a bit on the young side but with a few hours of air, it drank well.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  Opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with cherries, spice, minerals, black raspberries and smoke.  On the palate, this is full bodied with a rich, lush texture.  Lots of juicy black and red raspberries with underlying pepper, and earthiness.  Good acidity.  Deep with tight layers that unwind in the glass.  Long finish.  This needs about three to five more years until peak and should drink great for ten to fifteen more after that.  It drinks great on its own and will work wel

This is drinking great and pretty much at peak.  Pop and pour, it took about 20 minutes to open and was good to go.  Purple in color with some ruby swirls with slight browning.  A bit flat and a bit shiny.  The nose is great with black cherries, spice, dried flowers, plums, minerals and slight char.  Medium bodied.  A nice backbone of acidity.  The palate has plenty of fruit left with plums and black cherries.  Underneath there is some minerality, spice and slight earthiness.  This has nice layering and complexity.  Nice finish.  Delicious.  At this stage, this works better with some food,

This was a new Gigondas for me to taste and it showed quite well.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose is clean with black cherries and spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the black cherries come thru along with a bit of anise.  This isn't the deepest or most complex wine, but it is drinking well right now.  It probably should be consumed over the next seven to ten years.  This will work well with a nice bean/meat cassoulet.  

From the Perrin family that is one of the top producers of wine in the Southern Rhone valley.  Purple in color, with ruby swirls.  Mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice and accessible.  It has sweet black raspberries, slight char, slight floral note (lavender?), with spice.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, flavors of cherries and black cherries with an interesting black licorice note.  Good finish.  This may still improve over the next few years and should drink well for ten.  This drinks well on its own and should work well with chili, stews and bean soups.  

This is the basic Gigondas from the top producer of Gigondas.  They also make a variety of single vineyard wines.  The price on these has gone up over the years with the success of the winery and so, they now sell for as much or more than many Chateauneufs.  This is a blend of , 70% Grenache with the rest Syrah and Mourvèdre.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim and shimmering bright.  The nose has black cherries, black pepper, slight black olive and spice.  On the palate, this has a juicy texture.  Black cherry fruit.  Clean.  It will undoubtedly improve and open over the next three to five y

Given the outstanding vintage and pedigree of this wine, perhaps it was a bit shut down, but it under performed expectations in a recent tasting.  That said, it was still excellent especially given the pricing of Gigondas.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose has black cherries, black pepper, spice and dust.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, slightly bitter black cherries.  Clean.  Tight.  This didn't budge over the couple of hours it sat in the glass.  It probably needs at least three to five more years to open and then should drink well for five to seven after that.  If drinking soo

This is always one of the top Gigondas of the vintage.  2013 was, however, a below average vintage.  This is still an outstanding vintage but this wine is expensive for Gigondas.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose is tight but opens to show earthy black raspberries with a bit of smoke.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Nice mouthfeel.  Slightly bitter (not in a bad way) cherries with black cherries over char.  Slight tannins.  Moderate finish.  This is tight and may still improve a bit.  It should drink well for the next seven to ten years.  This will work better with food. 

Guigal makes a wide variety of wines in a wide price range.  There are some great values in the lower price range.  As the price for their Chateauneuf has risen, this wine has become a place to find some value.  Purple in color, with a thin ruby rim.  The nose is great with black raspberries, slight roasted herbs and meats with some spice and dust.  Medium bodied.  Nice texture.  On the palate, black cherry fruit with underlying roasted meats and some spice.  Nice energy.  Long finish.  This is drinking well now and should continue to drink well for ten to twelve more years.  A nice drink o

This wine was aged in a single concrete tank.  It is 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedere.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is tight at first.  With air, it shows black cherries, plums and dust.  It is very deep but quite tight with firm tannins at the moment.  It opens to carry the plums thru to the palate and also some black raspberries.  Clean.  Wonderful mouthfeel.  This needs about three to five more years and then should drink well for twelve to fifteen years.  

Very impressive showing for this bottle.  2015 is a great vintage and this wine seems to be drinking youthfully but generously.  Purple with ruby swirls, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black raspberries and is dusty while slightly earthy.