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
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Rhone | 1 | 96 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€142.44 |
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Vinous (96)Vivid purple. Deeply pitched cherry, dark berry preserve and licorice aromas pick up smoky mineral, olive and floral notes with air. Chewy and penetrating on the palate, offering concentrated, mineral-drenched bitter cherry, blackberry, fruitcake and floral pastille flavors that spread out steadily and turn sweeter with air. Shows solid grip and resonating minerality on a wonderfully long, smoky finish that echoes the dark berry and licorice notes. This is all Chaillot fruit, Gilles told me. |
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Rhone | 1 | 93-95 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€114.53 |
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Vinous (93-95)Bright purple. Mineral-accented aromas of ripe dark berries, licorice and violet show fine clarity and spicy lift. Energetic and focused in the mouth, offering juicy blackberry, bitter cherry, smoked meat and fruitcake flavors that deepen through the back half. Turns sweeter on the long, smoky finish, which features well-knit tannins and lingering floral and exotic spice notes. |
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Rhone | 1 | - |
Inc. TAX
€253.68 |
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As a renowned offering from the Rhône Valley in France, the Guillaume Gilles Saint-Peray 2021 is a masterful blend of Marsanne and Roussanne. Gilles, a maestro of winemaking, meticulously hand-harvests each grape from the rare limestone soils of Saint-Péray, allowing nature to define the flavour. Aged eleven months in a combination of demi-muids and foudres, this wine showcases Gilles' holistic approach. He opts for natural fermentation, enhancing the complexity and texture of the wine without compromising its inherent character. The resulting Guillaume Gilles Saint-Peray 2021 carries a rich blend of floral aromas bumped with nuanced stone fruit flavours. Its harmonic balance and long, generous finish is leaving even seasoned connoisseurs impressed. A fine example of Gilles' unwavering dedication to natural methods, every bottle captures the earthy essence of the Saint-Péray vineyards. Sip on this gem for a lavish experience of old-world viniculture elevated by modern artisanship. |
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Rhone | 2 | 95-97 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€672.94 |
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Wine Advocate (95-97)Blended from the lieux-dits of La Crau and Rayas, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape La Muse tank sample carries a hint of fresh herbs upfront for freshness but also plush black cherry fruit, creamy/supple tannins and a long, licorice-tinged finish. It looks to be a stunner! |
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Rhone | 1 | 95 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€4,431.07 |
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Wine Advocate (95)A great showing, Bonneau's 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Marie Beurrier has lots of garrigue, kirsch, truffle and spice to go with the classic gamy, bloody meaty-like quality that's always present in his wines. Medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, and sweetly fruited, it has fine tannin and a beautiful elegance that keeps you coming back to the glass. There's no baby fat here and it's at full maturity, but will certainly hold for a decade. |
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Rhone | 1 | 89-91 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€475.88 |
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Vinous (89-91)Deep red. Tightly wound cherry and red berry aromas are slow to unfold, eventually picking up hints of garrigue and cracked pepper. Tangy and focused on the palate, showing good depth to its bitter cherry and rhubarb flavors. Dusty tannins firm the finish, which features notes of succulent herbs and cherry pit. |
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Rhone | 1 | 92-94 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€1,589.26 |
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Wine Advocate (92-94)Apparently, there's no Les Celestins in 2013, which was a challenging vintage in the Southern Rhône. That said, the barrel we tasted of the 2013 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Marie Beurrier was a bit light but elegant and silky in texture, with pomegranate-like red fruit and gentle spice. |
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Rhone | 2 | 91-93 (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€1,174.32 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (91-93)A vintage vinified by Marcel Bonneau, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Marie Beurrier sports a healthy purple color as well as terrific aromas and flavors. Garrigue, kirsch liqueur, pepper, and gamey notes all emerge from this charming, balanced, medium to full-bodied barrel sample. It’s early days for the 2016s in this cellar, but it a good start. |
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Rhone | 1 | 96 (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€5,979.07 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (96)The 2009 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve Des Celestins is certainly mature, yet it still has at least another decade of prime drinking followed by a gradual decline thereafter. A semi-opaque ruby hue with just a kiss of bricking at the rim, it has an essence of Provence-like perfume of sweet black cherries, roasted garrigue, licorice, and herbes de Provence. With full-bodied richness, a supple, layered, seamless mouthfeel, integrated tannins, and beautiful overall balance, it's not in the massive, concentrated style of the 2010 and shows the sun-kissed, complex, incredibly seductive style of the 2009 vintage beautifully. I followed this bottle over the course of an evening, and it needs about an hour of air to show at its best. Drink: 2025-2039. |
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Rhone | 1 | 93-95 (VN) |
Inc. TAX
€5,913.07 |
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Vinous (93-95)Bright ruby-red. Far more expressive than the Marie Beurrier, displaying a wild array of candied red fruits, flowers and Asian spices, along with an intense mineral overtone. Silky, sweet and pure on the palate, offering intense raspberry preserve and spicecake flavors and a jolt of lavender pastille. Closes long and sweet, with building spiciness and smooth, harmonious tannins that sneak up late. |
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Rhone | 1 | 94-96 (WA) |
Inc. TAX
€2,464.54 |
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Wine Advocate (94-96)According to Marcel Bonneau on this visit, all of the 2012 wine will be bottled as Reserve des Celestins. Tasted from barrel, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des Celestins flirts with that fine line between deep, chocolaty richness and raisiny over-ripeness. This is full-bodied and powerful but silky at the same time. If it's bottled soon, it should be amazing. |
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Rhone | 1 | 98 (JD) |
Inc. TAX
€1,777.02 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (98)I loved this cuvée from barrel in 2017, and the 2016 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvee Celestins certainly impresses from bottle today. Purchased while I was in the Rhône, it offers a liquid Provence-like vibe in its garrigue-laced red and black fruits, candied flowers, pepper, saddle leather, and who knows what else aromatics. Rich, powerful, and concentrated on the palate, it brings serious ripeness, sweet tannins, and a slightly lifted, exotic style that opens up beautifully with time in the glass. It will evolve for over two decades. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Rhone | 1 | 96 (VN) |
In Bond
€115.00 |
|||||
Vinous (96)Vivid purple. Deeply pitched cherry, dark berry preserve and licorice aromas pick up smoky mineral, olive and floral notes with air. Chewy and penetrating on the palate, offering concentrated, mineral-drenched bitter cherry, blackberry, fruitcake and floral pastille flavors that spread out steadily and turn sweeter with air. Shows solid grip and resonating minerality on a wonderfully long, smoky finish that echoes the dark berry and licorice notes. This is all Chaillot fruit, Gilles told me. |
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|
|
Rhone | 1 | 93-95 (VN) |
In Bond
€92.00 |
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Vinous (93-95)Bright purple. Mineral-accented aromas of ripe dark berries, licorice and violet show fine clarity and spicy lift. Energetic and focused in the mouth, offering juicy blackberry, bitter cherry, smoked meat and fruitcake flavors that deepen through the back half. Turns sweeter on the long, smoky finish, which features well-knit tannins and lingering floral and exotic spice notes. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 1 | - |
In Bond
€190.00 |
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|
As a renowned offering from the Rhône Valley in France, the Guillaume Gilles Saint-Peray 2021 is a masterful blend of Marsanne and Roussanne. Gilles, a maestro of winemaking, meticulously hand-harvests each grape from the rare limestone soils of Saint-Péray, allowing nature to define the flavour. Aged eleven months in a combination of demi-muids and foudres, this wine showcases Gilles' holistic approach. He opts for natural fermentation, enhancing the complexity and texture of the wine without compromising its inherent character. The resulting Guillaume Gilles Saint-Peray 2021 carries a rich blend of floral aromas bumped with nuanced stone fruit flavours. Its harmonic balance and long, generous finish is leaving even seasoned connoisseurs impressed. A fine example of Gilles' unwavering dedication to natural methods, every bottle captures the earthy essence of the Saint-Péray vineyards. Sip on this gem for a lavish experience of old-world viniculture elevated by modern artisanship. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 2 | 95-97 (WA) |
In Bond
€537.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (95-97)Blended from the lieux-dits of La Crau and Rayas, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape La Muse tank sample carries a hint of fresh herbs upfront for freshness but also plush black cherry fruit, creamy/supple tannins and a long, licorice-tinged finish. It looks to be a stunner! |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 1 | 95 (WA) |
In Bond
€3,645.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (95)A great showing, Bonneau's 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Marie Beurrier has lots of garrigue, kirsch, truffle and spice to go with the classic gamy, bloody meaty-like quality that's always present in his wines. Medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, and sweetly fruited, it has fine tannin and a beautiful elegance that keeps you coming back to the glass. There's no baby fat here and it's at full maturity, but will certainly hold for a decade. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 1 | 89-91 (VN) |
In Bond
€389.00 |
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Vinous (89-91)Deep red. Tightly wound cherry and red berry aromas are slow to unfold, eventually picking up hints of garrigue and cracked pepper. Tangy and focused on the palate, showing good depth to its bitter cherry and rhubarb flavors. Dusty tannins firm the finish, which features notes of succulent herbs and cherry pit. |
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|
|
Rhone | 1 | 92-94 (WA) |
In Bond
€1,280.00 |
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Wine Advocate (92-94)Apparently, there's no Les Celestins in 2013, which was a challenging vintage in the Southern Rhône. That said, the barrel we tasted of the 2013 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Marie Beurrier was a bit light but elegant and silky in texture, with pomegranate-like red fruit and gentle spice. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 2 | 91-93 (JD) |
In Bond
€958.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (91-93)A vintage vinified by Marcel Bonneau, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Marie Beurrier sports a healthy purple color as well as terrific aromas and flavors. Garrigue, kirsch liqueur, pepper, and gamey notes all emerge from this charming, balanced, medium to full-bodied barrel sample. It’s early days for the 2016s in this cellar, but it a good start. |
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|
|
Rhone | 1 | 96 (JD) |
In Bond
€4,935.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (96)The 2009 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve Des Celestins is certainly mature, yet it still has at least another decade of prime drinking followed by a gradual decline thereafter. A semi-opaque ruby hue with just a kiss of bricking at the rim, it has an essence of Provence-like perfume of sweet black cherries, roasted garrigue, licorice, and herbes de Provence. With full-bodied richness, a supple, layered, seamless mouthfeel, integrated tannins, and beautiful overall balance, it's not in the massive, concentrated style of the 2010 and shows the sun-kissed, complex, incredibly seductive style of the 2009 vintage beautifully. I followed this bottle over the course of an evening, and it needs about an hour of air to show at its best. Drink: 2025-2039. |
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|
|
Rhone | 1 | 93-95 (VN) |
In Bond
€4,880.00 |
|||||
Vinous (93-95)Bright ruby-red. Far more expressive than the Marie Beurrier, displaying a wild array of candied red fruits, flowers and Asian spices, along with an intense mineral overtone. Silky, sweet and pure on the palate, offering intense raspberry preserve and spicecake flavors and a jolt of lavender pastille. Closes long and sweet, with building spiciness and smooth, harmonious tannins that sneak up late. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 1 | 94-96 (WA) |
In Bond
€2,030.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (94-96)According to Marcel Bonneau on this visit, all of the 2012 wine will be bottled as Reserve des Celestins. Tasted from barrel, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des Celestins flirts with that fine line between deep, chocolaty richness and raisiny over-ripeness. This is full-bodied and powerful but silky at the same time. If it's bottled soon, it should be amazing. |
|||||||||
|
|
Rhone | 1 | 98 (JD) |
In Bond
€1,465.00 |
|||||
Jeb Dunnuck (98)I loved this cuvée from barrel in 2017, and the 2016 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvee Celestins certainly impresses from bottle today. Purchased while I was in the Rhône, it offers a liquid Provence-like vibe in its garrigue-laced red and black fruits, candied flowers, pepper, saddle leather, and who knows what else aromatics. Rich, powerful, and concentrated on the palate, it brings serious ripeness, sweet tannins, and a slightly lifted, exotic style that opens up beautifully with time in the glass. It will evolve for over two decades. |
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