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$21.95
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RP 91
WS 91
France
-
Rhone
-
Other
In stock, 12+ available
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91 points Robert Parker: "The outstanding 2009 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Cairanne La Brunote (60% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre and 10% Carignan from white clay soils) was aged 12 months in larger wood demi-muids before being bottled unfiltered. Revealing slightly more concentrated blue, red and black fruits, lavender, incense and white chocolate notes, it offers an opaque ruby/purple color along with full body and a long finish. There is not a hard edge to be found in this voluminous, multilayered red. It should drink nicely for 5-7 years. (Aug 2011)"
91 points Wine Spectator: "Ripe but very fresh, with mouthwatering acidity driving the linzer torte, blackberry and black currant fruit. Lovely spice cake and black licorice notes flash through the finish, with a dusting of cocoa powder. Drink now through 2013. 50 cases imported. (10/15/11)"
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$21.95
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RP 92
RR 91
France
-
Rhone
-
Other
In stock, 12+ available
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List $25.00
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92 points Robert Parker: "The 2010 Cotes du Rhone la Brunote (60% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre and 10% Carignan aged 12 months in demi-muids) is another outstanding effort. An opaque ruby/purple color is followed by lots of creme de cassis, kirsch, lavender, spice box and licorice notes. The wine is full-bodied, textured and long. It should drink well for a decade. (Oct 2012)"
91+ points Rhone Report: "The most dense and rich of the lineup, the 2010 Domaine Daniel et Denis Alary Cotes du Rhone Villages Cairanne La Brunote is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Mourvedre (there.s a small amount of carignan as well) that is aged all in old foudre. Meaty, dense, and loaded with notions of smoked meats, black fruits, licorice, and crushed rock-like minerality, this classic Cairanne is full-bodied, pure, and tannic on the finish. It will reward 2-3 years of bottle age, and have upwards of a decade or more of prime drinking. (Sep 2012)"
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$25.95
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RP 94
RR 93
France
-
Rhone
-
Other
In stock, 12+ available
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94 points Robert Parker: "Alary’s top cuvee, the 2010 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Cairanne Font d’Estevanas is a blend of equal parts old vine Grenache and Syrah, the latter planted in 1961, grown in the clay/limestone hillsides. Aged in older barriques and demi-muids, it is a fabulous unfiltered wine offering abundant notes of licorice, truffles, camphor, black currants, kirsch, raspberries and hints of white chocolate and dusty, loamy, earthy soils. It should drink well for a decade or more. (Oct 2012)"
93 points Rhone Report: "A smoking good Cairanne that's all from the lieu-dit La Font d'Estevenas, the 2010 Domaine Daniel et Denis Alary Cotes du Rhone Villages Cairanne La Font d'Estevenas. An even split of Grenache and Syrah that is aged all in neutral wood, it sports a dense, opaque ruby color to go with fantastic aromatics of blackberry and black raspberry, new leather, licorice, roasted herbs, and hints of flowers on the nose. This flows to a medium to full-bodied, rich, and layered wine that has a silky, polished texture, beautiful mid-palate depth, and impressive underlying tannin structure. It is superb now, yet should easily evolve gracefully for 10-12 years. (Sep 2012)"
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$17.95
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RR 92
RP 91
France
-
Rhone
-
Other
In stock, 12+ available
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List $22.00
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92+ points Rhone Report: "More tight, backwards, and mineral-driven than the La Font d'Estévenas, the 2010 Domaine Daniel et Denis Alary Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne Vieilles Vignes is a blend of Grenache and Mourvedre that is aged all in neutral wood. It is a gorgeous, classy effort that delivers clean aromas of black cherry, spiced raspberries, licorice, crushed stone, pepper, and subtle roasted herbs. This elegant, yet concentrated Cairanne has a lively, energetic texture, great acidity, and fantastic persistence and focus on the finish. Give bottles 2-3 years in the cellar, and then enjoy over the following decade. (Sep 2012)"
91 points Robert Parker: "[$22 list] The 2010 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Cairanne Vieilles Vignes is composed of 2/3 Grenache and the rest mostly Syrah with a tiny amount of old vine Carignan. It also is aged in tank and bottled unfiltered. A superb sleeper of the vintage, it boasts a dense ruby/purple color as well as copious notes of black currants, black cherries, earth, pepper, spice box and a hint of mountain laurel. This full-throttle 2010 possesses sweet tannin as well as an intriguing texture. It should drink nicely for 4-6 years. (Oct 2012)"
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$10.95
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France
-
Rhone
-
Other
In stock,
3
available
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List $15.00
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Denis Alary, according to La Revue du Vin de France's "Le Classement des Meilleurs Vins de France," "produces serious and solid wines...possessing an undeniable charm." The La Gerbaude, from an eponymous parcel within the Cairanne AOC, is a ripe, round, plummy affair made from 75% Grenache, 15% Carignan and 15% Syrah. This is one of those terrific Southern Rhônes you can quaff all day long, with or without food, while wallowing in its seductive, lavender-inflected perfume and lush, opulent texture.
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$13.95
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RR 88–91
France
-
Rhone
-
Other
In stock,
4
available
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88-91 points Rhone Report: "A promising barrel sample that has loads of southern Rhône flair, the 2011 Domaine Amido Lirac (60% Mourvedre, 20% Carignan, 15% Syrah, and 5% Grenache) has loads of spice-laced blackberry, garrigue, leather, and hints of crushed flowers emerging from the glass. This is followed by a beautifully put together red that is balanced, has good acidity, and plenty of ripe tannin framing the finish. Given the balance and quality of fruit, this possibly outstanding 2011 should be approachable on release, yet drink well for 3-5 years. (Sep 2012)"
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$18.95
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RP 91
RR 91
France
-
Rhone
-
Other
In stock, 12+ available
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91 points Robert Parker: "Another winner is the 2010 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Cuvee des Galets Plan de Dieu. Fashioned from 45-65 year old vines, this unfiltered blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 20% Mourvedre is a killer value. It boasts a dense ruby/purple color as well as stunning aromas of kirsch liqueur, licorice, camphor, tobacco leaf and underbrush. Spicy, peppery and loaded with fruit, this medium to full-bodied red is another crowd-pleasing, classic example of Provencal viticulture that should age nicely for 4-5 years. (Aug 2011)"
91 points Rhone Report: "A rock star value that is both rich and complex, the 2010 Plan de Dieu Cuvée des Galets is a blend of 60% Grenache, and equal parts Syrah and Mourvedre, that comes from tiny yields of only 20-22 hl/ha. It delivers beautifully fresh aromas of black fruits, underbrush, violets, and licorice that flow to medium to full-bodied, rich, and concentrated palate that possesses excellent freshness and a classy, elegant texture. It delivers way more quality than the price suggests, and will shine for 5-7 years. (Sep 2012)"
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$27.95
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RR 95
RP 94
France
-
Rhone
-
Other
In stock, 12+ available
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95 points Rhone Report: "Profound stuff that will stand toe to toe with anything coming out of the Rhône valley, the 2010 Domaine les Aphillanthes Côtes du Rhône Villages Rasteau 1921 is a blend of close to 95% Grenache that comes from incredibly low yields of 7 hl/ha and ancient vines planted in 1921. Easily the greatest wine I have tasted from this estate, it delivers a knockout bouquet of ganache-covered blackberry and cassis styled fruit that is intermixed with notions of hot stones, leather, graphite, licorice, and roasted herbs. Gorgeously rich and decadent, with a full-bodied, powerful mouth feel that stays light, elegant, and fresh, this blockbuster Rasteau is beautifully concentration, structured, and has a heady, very long finish. It should be given 2-3 years of bottle age, and then consumed over the following decade or more. (Sep 2012)"
94 points Robert Parker: "A blockbuster offering is the 2010 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Rasteau 1921, which was made from yields of 17 hectoliters per hectare and aged in both concrete tanks and 600-liter demi-muids. Composed of 90% Grenache and the rest a kitchen sink blend, it exhibits an opaque purple color along with abundant floral notes intermixed with notions of white chocolate, charcoal, scorched earth, blackberries and black currants. It reveals a superb, full-bodied, layered, broad, expansive mouthfeel, terrific intensity and a heady finish. Drink this beauty over the next 10-15+ years. (Oct 2012)"
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$21.95
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RR 93
RP 90
France
-
Rhone
-
Other
In stock, 12+ available
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93 points Rhone Report: "Even richer, with additional depth and richness, the 2010 Cuvée 3 Cépages is a blend of equal parts Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, that gets harvested all at the same time in October when the Mourvedre finally gets ripe. This results in ultra ripe Grenache and Syrah, and while it is no lightweight, it stays beautifully fresh and light on the palate. Deep, rich, and layered, with copious blackberry, toasted spice, dusty minerality, and ground pepper, this full-bodied Côtes du Rhône is uncommonly concentrated and possesses a brilliant textured, notable purity, and grippy tannin that gives the wine plenty of edge and cut on the blockbuster, heady finish. It is already reasonably approachable (I followed this bottle for three days), yet will be even better in another year, and drink well through 2017. (Sep 2012)"
90+ points Robert Parker: "Two late released 2010s include the 2010 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Trois Cepages, an equal part blend of Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah. It is a deep, structured effort revealing an impressively saturated dark ruby/plum/purple color in addition to abundant aromas of black currants, cherries, licorice, truffles and earth. Drink it over the next 5-6 years. (Oct 2012)"
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$61.95
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WS 94
France
-
Rhone
-
Cote Rotie
In stock, 12+ available
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List $70.00
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94 points Wine Spectator: "[$70 list] This has heft, but also superb definition, thanks to the mouthwatering cocoa and anise accents that line the layered flavors of crushed plum, braised fig and boysenberry fruit. The long finish courses with charcoal and alder wood notes. A great example of the more muscular style, this should age beautifully. Best from 2013 through 2025. 25 cases imported. (9/30/12)"
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$61.95
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WS 94
France
-
Rhone
-
Cote Rotie
In stock, 12+ available
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List $70.00
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94 points Wine Spectator: "[$70 list] Gorgeous cocoa and bitter espresso aromas and flavors slowly give way to dark, steeped currant, plum and blackberry fruit notes, while the back end struts with ample charcoal and singed bay leaf accents. Riveting acidity runs underneath it all. Best from 2013 through 2025. 75 cases imported. (10/15/12)"
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$19.95
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RP 90
WS 88
France
-
Rhone
-
Other
In stock,
6
available
|
List $24.00
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90 points Robert Parker: "The 2009 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Rasteau Vieilles Vignes (60% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, and 10% Syrah) includes a much higher percentage of Mourvedre than most wines in this area. Its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by notes of freshly sliced mushrooms, meat juices, garrigue, black cherries, and black currants. Full-bodied and intense with rugged tannins that need to be resolved, it possesses more than ample fruit to balance out the structural component. This 2009 will benefit from another year of bottle age, and should drink well for 7-8 years. (Aug 2010)"
88 points Wine Spectator: "[$24 list] Ripe and racy, with a beam of raspberry and blackberry fruit running along dark spice and graphite notes. Tasty. Drink now. 2,500 cases made. (11/15/10)"
'Bronze Medal,' Decanter: "(14.5% alcohol) Rich dark berry and floral aromas on a succulent, rounded palate. (Oct 2010)"
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$79.95
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WE 95
WS 94
RP 92
France
-
Rhone
-
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock,
1
available
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List $92.00
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95 points Wine Enthusiast: "One of the big names of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and this wine justifies the fame of the Perrin family’s property. It is a rich style, but, more importantly, it is beautifully made, structured, dense, with red jelly fruits, a touch of vanilla and a fat, full-bodied, but firm aftertaste. This is a wine for aging...give it at least five years before touching it. (12/31/05)"
94 points Wine Spectator: "[$90 list] Young and tight, with garrigue and roasted game aromas peeking out from a core of ripe black currant, plum and fig fruit. Lots of toast tobacco and iron as well. The finish is well-endowed with tannins, but they are ripe and pure. Best from 2008 through 2025. Highly Recommended. (5/31/06)"
92+ points Robert Parker: "The 2003 Beaucastel Châteauneuf du Pape turned out as well as I could have hoped and is certainly an outstanding wine, deep ruby/purple with a tight but promising nose of black fruits, loamy, earthy notes intermixed with pepper, smoke, licorice, and dried herbs. The wine is somewhat closed in the mouth (but it had been bottled 30 days prior to my visit), has full bodied, moderately high, slightly rustic tannins, but big-impact flavors with plenty of texture, density, and purity. Give this wine 3-5 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 20 years. (Feb 2006)"
92 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Dark red. Vibrant raspberry, blackberry, floral and spice aromas convey impressive purity and freshness. Supple and sweet, with deep red fruit flavors, hints of floral pastille and baking spices and gentle tannins. This wine has more grenache than usual for the property, which makes it one of the most graceful (despite the hot vintage) wines I've had from the Perrins. Clean and energetic on the finish, which echoes the red fruit and floral qualities. (Dec 2008)"
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$79.95
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WS 96
RR 96
RP 94
France
-
Rhone
-
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock, 12+ available
|
List $120.00
|
96 points Wine Spectator: "[$120 list] One of the more endowed 2009s, this is packed with dark smoldering cocoa, mesquite, tobacco and roasted fig notes, all inlaid with pure cassis and plum preserves fruit flavors. Long and authoritative on the finish, with singed vanilla bean and tar notes adding length and dimension. Best from 2015 through 2026. (2/29/12)"
96 points Rhone Report: "The 2009 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape had just been bottled at the time of the tasting but you wouldn't know it by tasting it. A blend of 30% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, and 20% assorted varieties, the wine delivers a superb aromatic display of kirsch and black cherry-like fruits to go with a solid dose of underlying meat, truffle, earth, and leather. Full-bodied and gorgeously concentrated through the middle, with fleshy, ripe fruit, good acidity, and an abundance of structure, this will ideally be left alone for 7-8 years and then consumed over the following two decades. (Sep 2011)"
94 points Robert Parker: "The 2009 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape is reminiscent of their brilliant 1985. It will be one of the rare Beaucastels that is drinkable upon release. Made from this estate’s classic blend, it possesses soft tannins as well as a silky, open-knit seductiveness, a dense plum/purple color and a beautiful perfume of smoky Provencal herbs intermixed with grilled steak juices, garrigue, kirsch and blue as well as black fruits. The wine is full-bodied, unctuously textured, and silky smooth (the latter characteristic being somewhat atypical for a young Beaucastel). If it performs like the 1985, it will drink well young and continue to do so for 25 or more years. (Oct 2011)"
93 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "(30% each of grenache and mourvedre and 10% each of counoise and syrah, with the balance spread across the other nine permitted varieties): Bright ruby. Perfumed, expressive aromas of red and dark berry preserves, smoky herbs and lavender, with a touch of licorice adding depth. Fleshy and supple in texture, offering intense black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors lifted by a spicy quality. Shows the richness of the vintage but carries no excess fat. The finish lingers with impressive tenacity and echoes the floral and smoke notes. (Jan/Feb 2012)"
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$74.95
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RR 96
IWC 94
RP 92–94
France
-
Rhone
-
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock, 12+ available
|
List $120.00
|
5 stars, 19.5/20 points, Decanter: "A mix of 1989 and '90; a muscular wine with grip, will become gracious. Curvier than 2009. Drink: 2016-2039. (May 2012)"
96 points Rhone Report: "[$120 list] Showing consistently with the barrel review, the 2010 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape (30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, and the remainder an assortment of varieties) is a classic Beaucastel that has both richness and elegance. Showing loads of black cherry, new leather, licorice, pepper, and hints of flowers on the nose, this full-bodied, structured, yet surprisingly elegant and polished 2010 has fantastic purity of fruit, superb balance, and knockout length. Showing more and more structure with air, this needs 3-5 years of bottle age, and should evolve gracefully for upwards of two decades or more. (Sep 2012)"
94 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "[$120 list] Bright ruby. Sexy, spice- and mineral-accented aromas of red and dark fruit preserves and garrigue. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering vibrant black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors, a hint of smokiness and intense minerality. Tannins come on late and are quickly sucked up by this wine's intense fruit. Rich and lively, with excellent finishing clarity and length. (Jan/Feb 2013)"
92-94+ points Robert Parker: "The Chateau Beaucastel 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape is a classic blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise and the balance other permitted varietals. Surprisingly ripe and soft with a dense ruby/purple color as well as lots of blueberry, scorched earth and blackberry notes intermixed with hints of roast beef and bouquet garni, this wine has structure, but the fruit dominates at present. By the standards of most top vintages of Beaucastel, this cuvee will be drinkable earlier than the normal ten years. I suspect it will put on more weight, so give it 5-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following three decades. (Oct 2011)"
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$28.95
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RR 92
RP 90
WS 90
France
-
Rhone
-
Other
In stock, 12+ available
|
List $34.00
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92 points Rhone Report: "Just bottled at the time of tasting, the 2010 Château de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel is a great Coudoulet. A blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 20% Syrah, and 20% Cinsault from 30-year-old vines, it delivers on all fronts with loads of garrigue, leather, bing cherry, and spice-box aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, deep, and structured, yet with a seamless, elegant feel, this is approachable now, yet will also evolve gracefully. It should hit full maturity around age 10 or so. (Sep 2012)"
90 points Robert Parker: "The real steal, however, is the 2010 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet red (an identical blend), which has really put on some weight and intensity since I tasted it last year. The wine displays oodles of licorice, black currant and black cherry liqueur with hints of damp forest floor and truffle. Sweet tannin, decent acidity and nice, attractive density make for an outstanding Cotes du Rhone to drink over the next 7-8 years. (Oct 2012)"
90 points Wine Spectator: "[$34 list] This is juicy and still a bit compact, with a mix of blackberry, plum and blueberry notes laced with licorice snap and backed by a long, spice-infused finish. A tarry hint lurks as well. Should stretch out after brief cellaring. Drink now through 2018. (10/31/12)"
90 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "(made from a blend of marsanne, bourboulenc and viognier, with a bit of clairette): Pale, green-tinged yellow. Fresh, assertively perfumed aromas of orange, pear and minerals, with a sexy floral quality adding complexity. Bright and focused yet silky on the palate, offering sappy citrus and orchard fruit flavors. Closes bright and nervy, with very good persistence to the orange zest and jasmine nuances. (May 2012)"
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$63.95
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WS 94
RP 91
France
-
Rhone
-
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock,
1
available
|
|
94 points Wine Spectator: "Big wine, with a wall of structure around a core of black currant, blackberry and fig fruit. Plenty of exotic spice, dark chocolate, licorice and graphite notes skitter in the background, with a long finish that drips with fruit. Best from 2008 through 2025. (4/30/06)"
91 points Robert Parker: "A brilliant wine, the dark ruby/purple colored 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape exhibits a distinctive and possibly controversial nose of spearmint and eucalyptus intermixed with melted black chocolate, roasted meats, and plenty of herbs and black cherry liqueur. It is deep, fleshy, full-bodied, and savory. I would drink this wine over the next decade without hesitation. (Feb 2006)"
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$59.95
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WS 94
IWC 92
France
-
Rhone
-
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock,
4
available
|
List $80.00
|
94 points Wine Spectator: "[$80 list] Dense and chewy, but with ripe, well-rounded tannins carry the black currant, fig paste, coffee and black licorice notes. The finish shows nicely buried acidity and a long mineral streak. Best from 2009 through 2025. 500 cases made. (4/30/08)"
92 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "($80 list) Deep ruby. Wildly aromatic, complex bouquet of fresh raspberry, cherry, garrigue and smoked meat. Deep and sweet, offering fleshy red and dark berry liqueur flavors along with candied licorice, beef blood and succulent herbs. This is extremely complex and finishes with outstanding clinging persistence. Put this one away to sleep."
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$29.95
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WS 91
France
-
Rhone
-
Other
In stock, 12+ available
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91 points Wine Spectator: "Inviting, boasting aromas and flavors of Lapsang souchong tea, warm fig sauce and crushed plum and currant fruit are all supported by a racy prominent graphite note. Lightly firm, but with the flesh and concentration to offset that. Drink now through 2013. 1,666 cases made. (10/15/10)"
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$229.95
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RP 96
RR 96
France
-
Rhone
-
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock,
6
available
|
|
96 points Robert Parker: "The heady 2000 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Centenaire is more evolved than either the 2001 or 1998. Extremely full-bodied, with low acidity, and a knock-out bouquet of blackberry and cherry jam intermixed with licorice, pepper, and dried Provencal herbs, this sexy, voluptuous, enormously concentrated 2000 possesses a huge, silky, seamless finish. Drink this irresistible effort now and over the next 12-15 years. The Cuvee Centenaire is one of the world's most compelling red wines. It is produced primarily from a plot of ancient (planted in 1889) Grenache vines (80% of the blend), and the rest younger vine Syrah (8%) and Mourvedre (12%), all aged 18 months in oak casks. It is tempting to say this is a modern-styled Chateauneuf du Pape. The use of barriques puts it in that category, but there is no noticeable new oak. This wine sucks up the oak like a sponge, but the wood provides structure and delineation. The Centenaire has been produced in 1989, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2000, and 2001. My personal favorites are the 1998 and 1990, but the 1989 still has not hit full maturity. Moreover, the 2000 and 2001 are both prodigious efforts. Life's too short not to experience at least one bottle of Andre Brunel's Cuvee Centenaire! (Feb 2003)"
96 points Rhone Report: "A blend of 80% Grenache (from the Farguerol vineyard), 8% Syrah and 12% Mourvedre, the 2000 Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Centenaire offers up perfumed notes of spice, leather and meat that are mixed with subtle garrigue, underbrush and kirsch fruit. In the mouth, the wine is full bodied with a fat, unctuous texture, low acidity, sweet fruit and a blockbuster finish. While still young, this is drinking extremely well. (Nov 2009)"
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$9.95
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France
-
Rhone
-
Other
In stock, 12+ available
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Blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Carignan. 60% of the fruit is declassified Côtes-du-Rhône from vineyards in Travaillon, just east of Gigondas and northeast of Vacqueyras. All of the grapes are destemmed to allow the easy fruit to shine through. The wine is fermented and aged in tank to retain its freshness.
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$53.95
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IWC 93
WS 93
France
-
Rhone
-
Cote Rotie
In stock, 12+ available
|
List $70.00
|
93 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "[$70 list] Inky purple. Intense aromas of blackberry, licorice, violet and bitter chocolate, with a bright mineral overtone. Dense, sappy and vibrant, with impressive energy to its black fruit compote, licorice and violet pastille flavors. Finishes with lively acidity, insinuating spiciness and broad, youthfully chewy tannins. This is definitely built for the long haul. (Mar/Apr 2013)"
93 points Wine Spectator: "[$70 list] A textbook version, displaying a slightly gutsy feel to the full-bodied currant, blackberry and dark cherry fruit laced with tangy iron, singed bay leaf and dark olive notes. The taut, minerally finish will need some time to round into form. Rock-solid and worth cellaring. Best from 2013 through 2024. 100 cases imported. (9/30/12)"
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$13.95
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RR 92
France
-
Rhone
-
Other
In stock, 12+ available
|
List $16.00
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92 points Rhone Report: "[$16 list] Made from a blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah, from 80+ year vines, that is aged for 6 months in concrete tank, the 2011 Michel Gassier Cercius is a lush, decadent offering that delivers loads of black raspberry and blackberry styled fruit that is intermixed with notions of licorice, rolled stone, roasted garrigue, and hints of leather on the nose. Layered, fresh, and beautifully textured, with a full-bodied, rich feel in the mouth that never seems heavy, this absolutely knockout Côtes du Rhône is a candidate for a multi-case purchase, and will deliver the goods for 4-6 years. Do not let the price tag fool you, this is a gorgeous wine that will stand up to any number of more prestigious and expensive bottlings. (Sep 2012)"
Producer notes: "Cercius is a profound ruby color. The nose is intense and complex, with aromas of dark berries, licorice, and garrigue herbs. Opulent and velvety, without being heavy, this wine's fruity finish has an aerial expression of ripe tannins. Pairs well with various meats and cheeses including wine-braised beef, raviolis with cepe mushrooms, roasted duck, veal chops with radicchio, white beans, grilled leg of lamb with thyme and allspice, brie, and for the more adventurous, epoisses, livarot, maroilles, or munster. Alcohol 14.5%."
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$54.95
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IWC 93
RR 93
RP 92
France
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Rhone
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Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock, 12+ available
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List $70.00
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93 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Vivid ruby. Aromas of cherry and boysenberry are complemented by notes of lavender and violet and lifted by a spicy topnote. At once rich and energetic, with very good depth to its sappy black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors. An intense spicy quality builds with air and carries through a very long, seductively sweet finish. (Jan/Feb 2012)"
93 points Rhone Report: "Coming all from the sandy soils in the La Guigasse lieu-dit and fermented with 100% whole-cluster, the 2009 Chapelle St. Theodoric Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Guigasse is a gorgeous Chateauneuf-du-Pape that is only a slight notch below the le Grand Pin. Taking the full evening to open up and show at its best, it delivers a perfumed, complex bouquet of kirsch, dried licorice, roasted garrigue, mineral, and lavender that flows to a full-bodied, seamlessly constructed wine. More elegant and finesse-driven than powerful, this nevertheless doesn.t lack for intensity and has superb concentration, excellent focus, and silky, lengthy finish. While showing well now, this should be even better with 3-4 years of bottle age and have upwards of two decades of overall longevity. (Jun 2012)"
92+ points Robert Parker: "[$70 list] The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Guigasse exhibits a dark ruby color along with a distinctive nose of roast meat, kirsch, black raspberries, lavender and licorice. Fuller-bodied, denser and firmer than Les Sablons, it represents a more virile, masculine style of wine. Layered and full, it needs 2-3 years of cellaring, and should age well for 15 years. (Oct 2011)"
92 points Wine Spectator: "A very perfumy, enticing style, with toasted anise, cardamom and black tea notes up front, followed by silky blackberry and raspberry fruit and a long, graphite-filled finish. Latent grip at the very end bodes well for the cellar. A new project from Baptiste Grangeon of Domaine de Cristia. Best from 2013 through 2022. 100 cases imported. (2/29/12)"
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$63.95
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RP 95
RR 95
IWC 93
France
-
Rhone
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Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock, 12+ available
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95+ points Robert Parker: "The most backward and meaty of this trio is the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape La Guigasse. Another 'locked and loaded,' potentially legendary Chateauneuf du Pape from this lieu-dit, it possesses the highest level of tannins and more acidity than its siblings. Aromas of beef blood, smoked meats, charcuterie, raspberries and black cherries soar from this full-bodied, superb effort. While nearly too exotic and kinky, its length, richness, full-bodied mouthfeel and multidimensional personality result in a sensational Chateauneuf du Pape that I adored. Forget it for 3-5 years and drink it over the following two decades. (Oct 2012)"
95 points Rhone Report: "More rich and backwards than the Les Sablons, with an age-worthy feel, the 2010 Chapelle St. Theodoric Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Guigasse (100% Grenache from the La Guigasse lieu-dit) has a blackberry and cassis slant to its fruit, with additional minerality, pepper, and licorice qualities developing with air. Similarly styled on the palate, with a full-bodied, concentrated texture, upfront structure, and no shortage of length, this impressive Grenache needs 4-5 years of bottle age to fully flesh out, and should age effortlessly. (Sep 2012)"
93 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Vivid ruby-red. A wild, intensely perfumed bouquet displays scents of red fruit liqueur, garrigue, floral oils and smoky minerals. Sappy and penetrating, with intense red fruit and lavender pastille flavors and a hint of licorice. Shows a musky, herbal touch on the gently tannic finish, whiche leaves sweet raspberry and cherry notes behind. (Jan/Feb 2013)"
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