Rhône

"A blend of Syrah grapes from several lieux-dits, including Les Bessards, the 2015 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes is aged in new and second use barrels. It's a dark, concentrated wine, meaty, rich and tannic but with a bright beam of cassis fruit that lifts it and gives it great definition and shape on the palate. Give this medium to full-bodied wine at least 5 years in the cellar and drink it over the next 15. 2022-2037. 94 points" Joe Czerwinski, RobertParker.com Close

"With approximately 500 cases produced, the 2015 Hermitage les Bessards is probably among the most available of the vintage's top wines. Jump on it if your means allow, as I suspect this wine will be a candidate for perfection once it sheds some tannin. It's perfumed on the nose, concentrated on the palate and amazingly long yet also elegant from start to finish. And amid the power, oak and massive cassis and blackberry fruit, it also manages to include hints of crushed stone evocative of its granitic terroir. It's breathtaking stuff, virtually guaranteed to bring a smile to any wine lover's face.. 2022-2045. 99+ points" Joe Czerwinski, RobertParker.com Close

"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

"The flagship cuvée is the 2017 Crozes-Hermitage Le Rouvre, which comes all from the Les Chassis region of Crozes and was brought up in once- and twice-used demi-muids. It's the finest vintage to date for this cuvée and has a pure yet concentrated and structured style to go with classy notes of black raspberries, peppery herbs, dried flowers, and hints of new leather as well some evident minerality. With medium to full-bodied richness, it's beautiful on the palate and has a seamless, beautifully balanced style that's going to evolve nicely for 10-15 years. 94 points." Jeb Dunnuck, Dec 2019 Close

"Chave's 2017 Hermitage showed beautifully, with a core of sweet blackberry and plum fruits as well as plenty of spice, crushed flowers, and mineral aromas and flavors. Rich, full-bodied, and balanced, drink this sexy Hermitage any time over the coming 10-15 years or more. This cuvée comes all from Chave’s 1.15 hectare in the Beaumes and Péléat lieux-dit, is destemmed, and was brought up all in demi-muids. 94 points." Jeb Dunnuck, Dec 2019 "Unsurprisingly, at this early stage the oak here is easily perceived, but it's a balanced wine and the rich, concentrated fruits will harmonise in time. It's a thunderous Hermitage that makes a big statement, resonating long with a good sense of energy. It's spiced and lifted on the finish and has bold, ripe, textural tannins. This will be good. Drinking Window 2021 - 2032. 95 points." Matt Walls, Decanter, Nov 2018 Close