Rhône
The Rhône Valley, located in southeastern France, is renowned for its exceptional fine wines. With its diverse terroir, rich history, and dedication to quality winemaking, the Rhône Valley offers a captivating selection of wines that embody the region's elegance, complexity, and distinctive character.
The Rhône Valley boasts its own iconic vineyards and wineries, including Château de Beaucastel, Domaine Guigal, and Chapoutier, which are celebrated for producing exceptional wines that showcase the region's unique terroir and winemaking expertise.
The Rhône Valley is renowned for its red wines, particularly in the northern part of the region. Syrah reigns as the dominant grape variety, producing intense and structured wines. Appellations such as Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, and Cornas are known for their robust and age-worthy reds, often displaying notes of black fruits, spice, and earthiness. Famous vineyards such as La Landonne, La Mouline, and Les Bessards are revered for their exceptional expressions of Syrah.
In the southern Rhône Valley, Grenache takes centre stage, contributing to the region's bold and fruit-forward red blends. The renowned appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is famous for its rich and full-bodied red wines, often featuring a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Vineyards like Château de Beaucastel, Clos des Papes, and Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe produce remarkable wines that showcase the region's commitment to excellence.
The Rhône Valley is also celebrated for its white wines, particularly in the northern part of the region. Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne are the key grape varieties, producing aromatic and complex whites. Appellations like Condrieu and Hermitage produce exceptional white wines known for their floral aromas, stone fruit flavors, and vibrant acidity.
Rhône
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)
I was also able to taste the 2016 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Da Capo, which comes mostly from older vines in the La Crau lieu-dit and spends an additional year in a large foudre. The 2016 vintage was truly magical for the region, and this Cuvée Da Capo is unquestionably one of the finest vintages for this cuvée ever made, in the same league as, if not surpassing, the 1998, 2003, 2007, and 2010. Sensational notes of cured meats, crème de cassis, crushed violets, ground pepper, tapenade, truffle, and sweet herbes de Provence all soar from the glass and it hits the palate with a massive, full-bodied style that stays seamless, weightless, and as pure as they come. Traditional, classic Châteauneuf Du Pape doesn’t get better. I hate to be the guy who throws out the “best to date” line very often, but this is truly magical stuff.Inc. TAX€2,169.76 -
Vinous (91)
Bright violet. Mineral-accented cherry, dark berry and violet scents are complicated by hints of olive, cracked pepper and licorice. Seamless and broad on the palate, offering juicy blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter and livelier with air. A subtle floral pastille note appears on the clinging finish, which shows good delineation and harmonious tannins.Inc. TAX€202.12 -
Inc. TAX€834.52 -
Vinous (93-96)
Opaque ruby. A sexy, intensely perfumed bouquet evokes fresh blue fruits, Asian spices, smoky minerals and candied flowers. Sappy, expansive and pure on the palate, offering impressively concentrated black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that become livelier and sweeter with air. Ripe and broad yet lithe on the tenacious finish, which displays sneaky tannins and repeating blue fruit and floral flavors.Inc. TAX€2,134.38 -
Jeb Dunnuck (92-94+)
The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape should be a gem of a wine as well as age-worthy. Lots of red and black berry fruits, licorice, wild herbs, and pepper define this medium to full-bodied, ripe, yet very classic, focused, elegant 2020. I love its underlying structure as well as its balance. Give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades.Inc. TAX€707.27 -
Vinous (93-94)
(aged in new demi-muids for a year) Bright purple. A complex, expansive bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, Indian spices, vanilla and olive paste, while an intense mineral overtone adds urgency and lift. In a sappy, penetrating style, showing real depth but vivacity as well. Sweet blueberry, cherry compote and spicecake flavors reveal a core of juicy acidity and pick up a smoky note on the back half. Lingers with outstanding tenacity on the finish, which features supple tannins and a hint of candied licorice.Inc. TAX€824.92
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Jeb Dunnuck (100)
I was also able to taste the 2016 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Da Capo, which comes mostly from older vines in the La Crau lieu-dit and spends an additional year in a large foudre. The 2016 vintage was truly magical for the region, and this Cuvée Da Capo is unquestionably one of the finest vintages for this cuvée ever made, in the same league as, if not surpassing, the 1998, 2003, 2007, and 2010. Sensational notes of cured meats, crème de cassis, crushed violets, ground pepper, tapenade, truffle, and sweet herbes de Provence all soar from the glass and it hits the palate with a massive, full-bodied style that stays seamless, weightless, and as pure as they come. Traditional, classic Châteauneuf Du Pape doesn’t get better. I hate to be the guy who throws out the “best to date” line very often, but this is truly magical stuff.In Bond€1,785.00 -
Vinous (91)
Bright violet. Mineral-accented cherry, dark berry and violet scents are complicated by hints of olive, cracked pepper and licorice. Seamless and broad on the palate, offering juicy blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter and livelier with air. A subtle floral pastille note appears on the clinging finish, which shows good delineation and harmonious tannins.In Bond€146.00 -
In Bond€673.00
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Vinous (93-96)
Opaque ruby. A sexy, intensely perfumed bouquet evokes fresh blue fruits, Asian spices, smoky minerals and candied flowers. Sappy, expansive and pure on the palate, offering impressively concentrated black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that become livelier and sweeter with air. Ripe and broad yet lithe on the tenacious finish, which displays sneaky tannins and repeating blue fruit and floral flavors.In Bond€1,760.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (92-94+)
The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape should be a gem of a wine as well as age-worthy. Lots of red and black berry fruits, licorice, wild herbs, and pepper define this medium to full-bodied, ripe, yet very classic, focused, elegant 2020. I love its underlying structure as well as its balance. Give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades.In Bond€567.00 -
Vinous (93-94)
(aged in new demi-muids for a year) Bright purple. A complex, expansive bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, Indian spices, vanilla and olive paste, while an intense mineral overtone adds urgency and lift. In a sappy, penetrating style, showing real depth but vivacity as well. Sweet blueberry, cherry compote and spicecake flavors reveal a core of juicy acidity and pick up a smoky note on the back half. Lingers with outstanding tenacity on the finish, which features supple tannins and a hint of candied licorice.In Bond€665.00
