Rhône

"Duclaux's 2015 Cote Rotie La Germine is another powerhouse Cote Rotie from this blockbuster vintage. Plum and cassis fruit is framed by hints of vanilla, while the velvety tannins are given focus and length on the finish by crisp acids. The overall effect is one of harmony and balance. 93 points" Joe Czerwinski, Robert.Parker.com Close

"Charming, elegant wines like Clerc's 2015 Cote Rotie can sometimes be overlooked in blind tastings. But this one stood out for its sheer finesse and complexity. Mouthwatering aromas of red berries, orange zest, clove and cinnamon lead the way, followed by a medium-bodied wine that's creamy and supple in texture. Already immensely attractive, this should drink well for a decade. 93 points" Joe Czerwinski, Robert.Parker.com Close

"Like the base cuvée, yet even richer, more powerful, and decadent, the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Quet is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre that was raised in very old barrels and oak tanks. Full-bodied, ripe, sexy and about as hedonistic as it gets in 2015, this beauty has tons of sweet tannin, a huge mid-palate, and big finish. It's an incredible wine that's guaranteed to raise your heart rate (it did for me anyway). 99 points" Jebdunnuck.com Close

"Deep ruby. Spicy and energetic on the highly perfumed nose, displaying intense black raspberry and cherry scents and strong suggestions of candied lavender and smoky minerals. Supple, sweet and focused on the palate, offering deeply concentrated yet energetic red berry liqueur and cherry compote flavors that tighten up steadily with aeration. Shows excellent lift and clarity on the strikingly long, mineral-accented finish, which features lingering raspberry and floral notes and harmonious tannins. The interplay of power and finesse here is really something. 94-96 points" vinous.com (JR) Close

"Looking even better than it did last year, now that it's in the bottle, Chapoutier's 2016 Saint-Joseph Le Clos is impressive indeed. Classy notes of crushed stone and pencil shavings are joined by floral hints of violets, plus ripe cassis on the nose. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, it comes across as dense yet not heavy (does that make any sense?), finishing with silky tannins and a tremendously long finish. It's a tour de force in Saint-Joseph, nearly equal in quality to Chapoutier's parcel-selection wines from across the river in Hermitage. 2020-2035. 97 points." (JC) Wine Advocate Oct 2018 Close

"The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée is racy and intense, with saturated cassis, plum and anise notes and a lush yet racy finish. I don't see the alcohol sticking out—it's in line with the vintage profile for me, and a terrific wine." James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator "A wine that's going to rival or surpass the 2015, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée shows the quality of this awesome vintage with its deep, powerful, concentrated style. While Laurence says her 2015s remind her of her 2010s, I find a certain 2010-like purity in this wine as well as killer notes of black raspberries, blueberries, garrigue, and pepper. Possessing both power and finesse, full body, sweet tannins, and a great finish, don't miss this beauty. 95-97 points" Jebdunnock.com Close

"The 2017 Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan De Dieu Calendal is going to check in behind the 2016 yet is still a rocking bottle of wine. Black raspberries, violets, spices, and hints of blood orange all flow to a rich, full-bodied, seamless 2017 that shows the style of the vintage nicely. 92-94 points" Jebdunnuck.com Close

"Reminding me of the 2009 La Chapelle (which is a personal favorite), the brilliant 2017 Hermitage La Chapelle knocks it out of the park with its massive, opulent personality. Notes of smoked black fruits, scorched earth, burning embers, and graphite as well as subtle background meatiness flow to a monster of a Hermitage that has full-bodied richness, incredible depth of fruit, and an overwhelming, sexy style that's already impossible to resist. Do your best to hide bottles for 4-5 years, but it's going to evolve for 40 years or more. There are roughly 2,000 cases of this elixir, and every Syrah lover out there should have a bottle (or more) in their cellar. 99 points" Jebdunnuck.com Close

"Clear and bright pale golden appearance. Aromas of apricots, white flowers, peaches, powerful and elegant... wonderfully expresses its terroir, delicate and ...fresh despite richness and weight. The fruit is round and plump it combines harmoniously with a pleasant acidity." (Translated from winemaker's note) Close

"A deep, powerful, primordial wine (which is exactly what you'd expect for a great vintage of this cuvée), the inky hued 2018 Hermitage La Chapelle offers tons of crème de cassis as well as a liquid rock-like minerality, peppery herbs, burning embers, and graphite aromas and flavors. The palate mirrors the intensity of the bouquet and is full-bodied, concentrated, and tight, yet still packs a huge amount of baby fat. The 2018 is a beautifully pure, balanced, massively endowed La Chapelle that will need a decade of cellaring and keep for 3-4 decades with no problems. 97-99 points." Jeb Dunnuck Dec 2019 "Jaboulet's 2018 Hermitage La Chapelle features scents of crushed stone, violets and cassis. It's a classic trio, backed by a wine that's full-bodied, rich and powerful yet also airy, somehow carrying intense plum and black olive flavors without any sense of heaviness or excess weight. Then the wine finishes long and softly dusty, with tannins that accentuate its savory character, picking up delicious hints of licorice at the very end. The proportion of new oak has been trimmed back to a very reasonable 20% and is hardly noticeable in the wine. 98-100 points". Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, Dec 2019 Close