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$159.95
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RP 92–94
IWC 92–94
France
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Rhone
-
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock, 12+ available
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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)"
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)"
92-94 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "(roughly 30% each of grenache and mourvedre, with 10% each of counoise and syrah and the balance 'everything else'): Vivid ruby. Fresh raspberry and cherry on the intensely perfumed nose. Sappy and sweet, with deep red fruit preserve flavors and hints of succulent herbs and rose pastille. Packs a punch but also shows impressive energy and balance. The raspberry note carries through on the finish, which also features a suave, slow-building note of star anise. (Jan/Feb 2012)"
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$159.95
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RR 97
W&S 97
WS 96
France
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Rhone
-
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock,
7
available
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List $195.00
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97 points Rhone Report: "A profound white, the 100% Roussanne 2010 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvee Roussanne Vieilles Vignes is more fresh and focused than the traditional blanc (and that's saying something) and delivers spectacularly pure, delineated aromas of fresh peach, apricot, toasted bread, almond paste, and serious minerality. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied wine that is perfectly balanced and possesses a brilliant texture, superb focus and clarity, and classic finish. Brilliant now, this should also age beautifully. Given the general aging curve of these wines, I wouldn't hesitate to drink bottles over the coming 3-4 years, but after that, would hold off until a decade after the vintage. Thrilling stuff and this is a great vintage for Beaucastel. (Sep 2011)"
97 points and 'Year's Best Rhone,' Wine & Spirits: "[$195 list] 'I want to rub myself in it,' one taster said, completely seduced by this wine. He wasn’t the only one completely smitten by its play of cashew richness and firm warm stone, its billowy satin texture and its quiet wildflower tones. This is exceptional in its vivid portrayal of a place, the heat of the sun on stones and the cool of the air palpable in a sip, and yet it’s understated, elegant, the product of a patch of carefully tended roussanne vines that are a quarter-century old. (Feb 2013)"
96 points Wine Spectator: "[$195 list] Very rich, this cuts a broad swath, delivering a remarkably lush yet pure core of papaya, mango, green melon and green plum fruit all stitched with macadamia nut, brioche and honeysuckle notes that chime through the superlong finish. There's a great buried stony edge. Roussanne. Drink now through 2024. 200 cases imported. (2/29/12)"
93-95 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Light yellow. An explosively perfumed bouquet evokes Meyer lemon, pear skin, jasmine and minerals. Sappy and penetrating, projecting a compelling blend of richness and vivacity. Powerful, incisive orchard fruit and candied citrus qualities put on weight with air and pick up a touch of bitter quinine that carries through the very long, palate-staining finish. Marc Perrin told me that it's a mistake to associate roussanne exclusively with opulence 'because when it's planted on limestone it keeps its freshness. The numbers are low on paper but what's in the glass is bright and contradicts the math and oenologists' predictions.' (Jan/Feb 2012)"
94 points Robert Parker: "The luxury cuvee, the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Vieilles Vignes (Roussanne) (100% Roussanne aged in one-year-old barrels as well as new oak that no longer undergoes malolactic fermentation) is a prodigious dry white. A luxurious amount of rose water notes intermixed with honeysuckle, pineapple, nectarine, peach and subtle smoke emerge from this beauty. It possesses a terrific texture, zesty acids, an unmistakable minerality and a sumptuous personality. (Oct 2011)"
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$169.95
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France
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Rhone
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Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock, 12+ available
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$229.95
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RP 96
RR 96
France
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Rhone
-
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock,
6
available
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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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$585.00
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RP 98
WS 97
IWC 94
France
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Rhone
-
Hermitage/Crozes-Hermitage
In stock,
3
available
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List $760.00
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98 points Robert Parker: "There are nearly 1,000 cases of the 2006 Ermitage l’Ermite, another candidate for perfection in a few years. It boasts an inky/ruby/purple color as well as a stunning bouquet reminiscent of a grand cru Musigny from Burgundy. Spring flower, crushed rock, black raspberry, and black currant scents dominate the aromatics of this incredibly pure, full-bodied wine. With laser-like precision and enormous extract and concentration, it comes across as remarkably elegant and fresh with crystal clear focus. A beautiful tour de force from the decomposed granitic soils of this site on the top of the Hermitage mountain, this amazing wine requires a decade of cellaring, and should last for 35 years. (Apr 2009)"
97 points Wine Spectator: "[$380/750ml list] This Northern Rhône red is tightly wound, but also supersleek and racy, with a terrific beam of blackberry and raspberry ganache pushed by graphite, iron and violet notes. Long and extremely precise, with a terrific mouthwatering undertow. Best from 2010 through 2026. 955 cases made. (6/15/09)"
94 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Full ruby. A roomfilling bouquet of fresh red and dark berry scents, along with smoked meat, violet, incense and minerals. Wonderfully fresh in the mouth, with vibrant raspberry and black cherry flavors. Gentle tannins rein in the expansive fruit without standing in its way. The finish is all about fruit, with late-arriving notes of black olive and smoky minerals. Extremely sexy now but balanced to age." Organic/biodynamic since 1991 (certified by Biodyvin/Demeter).
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$199.95
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WS 96
RP 94
IWC 93
France
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Rhone
-
Hermitage/Crozes-Hermitage
In stock, 12+ available
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List $270.00
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96 points Wine Spectator: "[$270 list] Superdense but really fresh, with a wild array of zesty blackberry, loganberry, linzer torte and briar notes laid over perfectly embedded tannins. Long and pure through the finish, with lots of minerality waiting in reserve. Great length. Best from 2010 through 2025. 511 cases made. (6/15/09)"
94 points Robert Parker: "From a warm micro-climate, Le Meal, (Michel Chapoutier says that the full phenolic maturity of the Syrah grapes at Le Meal can be achieved three weeks earlier than the grapes grown on the top of the appellation in the l’Ermite vineyard. Keep in mind that these two areas are within a ten minute walk of each other. This explains the French obsession with terroir, and how micro-climates can vary so dramatically.), the 2006 Ermitage Le Meal exhibits surprisingly tart acidity for a wine from such a warm site, a dense purple color, and sweet notes of boysenberries, black raspberries, blackberries, lead pencil shavings, pain grille, and spice. Medium to full-bodied, elegant, and lighter than Les Greffieux, it is tight and closed at present, but it displays the potential for 20-25 years of evolution. (Apr 2009)"
93 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "($270 list) Glass-staining ruby. Deep, brooding aromas of cherry and dark berry preserves, tobacco and smoky minerals; this has shut down since bottling. Extremely rich, palate-coating cherry and black fruit flavors show a mounting smokiness. Dark notes of licorice and black tea build on the long, gently sweet finish, which features furry tannins. No way I'd go near this for at least five or six years. (Jan/Feb 2009)"
17.5/20 points The World of Fine Wine: "Richly colored, dense nose of licorice, autumn evenings, and crème de cassis. Palate is peppery, edgy, and taut. Firm acidity in tandem with powerful tannins give a positive impression; the ensemble is serious Syrah -- powerful, quite alcoholic, and made for the long term. (Issue #27; 2010)"
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$350.00
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WS 95
IWC 94
RP 91–95
France
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Rhone
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Hermitage/Crozes-Hermitage
In stock,
2
available
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95 points Wine Spectator: "A brute right now, with a wall of bacony, coffee-tinged toast separating you from the core of blackberry and raspberry fruit. Great richness and texture here, with notes of tar, minerals, saddle leather and cocoa rippling through the finish. Mouthwatering acidity balances it all. Best from 2007 through 2020. 2,415 cases made. (8/31/04)"
94 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Good bright medium ruby. Subtly complex, granitic nose melds cassis, blueberry, smoky gunflint, pepper, tar, bitter chocolate, roast coffee, leather, game and animal fur. Wonderfully juicy but currently rather folded in on itself. But this has brilliant acidity, precision and penetration on the palate. Almost painfully intense and wonderfully long and gripping on the back. Very firm and structured but not at all dry. This will need a good decade of additional cellaring. (Jan/Feb 2005)"
91-95 points Robert Parker: "Tasting through the component parts of the 2001 Hermitage reveals what should be an outstanding wine with a Burgundian-like finesse. The most elegant component emanates from Les Beaumes and Pelia, and the denser, thicker wines from Meal, l’Ermite, and Bessards. The wine will possess a dense ruby/purple color in addition to plenty of sweet cassis fruit, medium body, noticeably high tannin, and gorgeous purity as well as symmetry. It will be built along the lines of the 1996 rather than the 2000 or 1999. (Jun 2003)"
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$350.00
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IWC 95–96
WS 95
RP 95
France
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Rhone
-
Hermitage/Crozes-Hermitage
In stock,
1
available
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List $500.00
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95-96 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "[$250 list] I tasted this wine in three components from stainless steel tanks, where it was awaiting bottling this winter. #1: Red berries and flowers on the nose, with strong mineral and floral notes and Asian spices. #2: More masculine and brooding, offering deep cherry compote and blackcurrant scents and suggestions of licorice and black cardamom. Smoky dark fruit flavors are framed by chewy tannins and pick up sweeter red berry qualities with air. The finish is sweet and penetrating, with a strong echo of black raspberry. #3: Fresh raspberry and cherry on the nose, with notes of smoked meat, minerals and violet. Supple, mineral-laced red fruit flavors are joined by allspice and violet pastille on the back. Very fresh sample with strong finishing lift and spiciness. Looks to be an excellent wine that will provide plenty of pleasure on the (relatively) young side. (Jan/Feb 2010)"
95 points Wine Spectator: "Tight but already alluring, with gorgeous fig cake and warm cocoa aromas slowly yielding to a dark, dense core of plum, blueberry, hoisin sauce, currant reduction and maduro tobacco. Muscular but supervelvety, with a long finish. There’s very impressive density for the vintage. Best from 2011 through 2026. 500 cases imported. (7/7/10)"
95 points Robert Parker: "[$250/750ml list] The spectacular 2007 Hermitage boasts a dense purple color along with notes of creme de cassis, loamy soil, crushed rocks and acacia flowers, a rare opulence and a full-bodied style. Reminiscent of the 1991 Hermitage (a great vintage for Chave as well as most top producers in Hermitage), it should drink well for 20-25 years. (Feb 2011)"
95 points Rhone Report: "More fresh and lithe than the .06, the 2007 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage displays gorgeous aromatics of cassis and blacker styled fruits, charred steak, a touch of flowers, and beautifully integrated oak on the nose. Fleshing out with additional air, the wine has an overall elegant, finesse style that.s backed up by good concentration, plenty of tannin, and a focused, silky finish. While approachable now, this should be cellared for 4-6 years and then consumed over the following decade. (Mar 2011)"
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$184.95
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IWC 95–96
WS 95
RP 95
France
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Rhone
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Hermitage/Crozes-Hermitage
In stock, 12+ available
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List $250.00
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*SPECIAL: Take 10% Off Listed Price!
(We'll reduce item's price when processing your order.)
95-96 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "[$250 list] I tasted this wine in three components from stainless steel tanks, where it was awaiting bottling this winter. #1: Red berries and flowers on the nose, with strong mineral and floral notes and Asian spices. #2: More masculine and brooding, offering deep cherry compote and blackcurrant scents and suggestions of licorice and black cardamom. Smoky dark fruit flavors are framed by chewy tannins and pick up sweeter red berry qualities with air. The finish is sweet and penetrating, with a strong echo of black raspberry. #3: Fresh raspberry and cherry on the nose, with notes of smoked meat, minerals and violet. Supple, mineral-laced red fruit flavors are joined by allspice and violet pastille on the back. Very fresh sample with strong finishing lift and spiciness. Looks to be an excellent wine that will provide plenty of pleasure on the (relatively) young side. (Jan/Feb 2010)"
95 points Wine Spectator: "Tight but already alluring, with gorgeous fig cake and warm cocoa aromas slowly yielding to a dark, dense core of plum, blueberry, hoisin sauce, currant reduction and maduro tobacco. Muscular but supervelvety, with a long finish. There’s very impressive density for the vintage. Best from 2011 through 2026. 500 cases imported. (7/7/10)"
95 points Robert Parker: "[$250 list] The spectacular 2007 Hermitage boasts a dense purple color along with notes of creme de cassis, loamy soil, crushed rocks and acacia flowers, a rare opulence and a full-bodied style. Reminiscent of the 1991 Hermitage (a great vintage for Chave as well as most top producers in Hermitage), it should drink well for 20-25 years. (Feb 2011)"
95 points Rhone Report: "More fresh and lithe than the '06, the 2007 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage displays gorgeous aromatics of cassis and blacker styled fruits, charred steak, a touch of flowers, and beautifully integrated oak on the nose. Fleshing out with additional air, the wine has an overall elegant, finesse style that's backed up by good concentration, plenty of tannin, and a focused, silky finish. While approachable now, this should be cellared for 4-6 years and then consumed over the following decade. (Mar 2011)"
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$158.95
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WS 94
RR 93
France
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Rhone
-
Hermitage/Crozes-Hermitage
In stock, 12+ available
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List $240.00
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94 points Wine Spectator: "[$240 list] This is suave, with a smoldering tobacco note running from start to finish, while truffle, cocoa, braised fig and warm black currant confiture notes fill in the remaining space. Dense, but very silky along the edges, with remarkable harmony for the vintage. Drink now through 2022. (10/15/11)"
93 points Rhone Report: "Gorgeously complex and nuanced, with an already approachable, open feel, the 2008 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Crozes-Hermitage is loaded with bright, fresh aromas of smoked blackberries, white pepper, cigar, wild herbs, and hints of bacon fat. This flows beautifully to a medium to full-bodied Hermitage that has a light, lifted texture, juicy acidity, and a clean, focused finish. Very classy and elegant, it shines for its balance, polish, and length. Beautiful now, it will continue to drink beautifully for 12-15 years. (Mar 2012)"
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$450.00
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RP 100
WS 98
France
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Rhone
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Hermitage/Crozes-Hermitage
In stock, 12+ available
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100 points Robert Parker: "The greatest wines Chave has produced since 2003 are the two cuvees of 2009 Hermitage. The 2009 Hermitage exhibits a black/purple color along with a sumptuous nose of roasted meats, ground pepper, black currants, blackberry jam, and subtle smoke and licorice. The extraordinary bouquet is followed by a wine of extravagant intensity as well as tremendous focus and precision. While not as powerful as the blockbuster 2003, the amazing 2009 may turn out to be a modern day version of their magnificent 1990 (which is drinking incredibly well at present). Anyone who loves Hermitage and has a cold cellar should be lining up to get a few bottles of this beauty. (Dec 2011)"
98 points Wine Spectator: "Captivating from the start, with gorgeous ganache and Lapsang souchong aromas that give way to an immense core of crushed plum, braised fig and steeped blackberry notes, all woven with pastis, loam and charcoal. Shows terrific density and drive through the long, well-structured finish. This has the fruit of the vintage in spades, but with an extra dimension of grip and length. Best from 2015 through 2035. (8/29/12)"
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$175.00
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RP 90
France
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Rhone
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Hermitage/Crozes-Hermitage
In stock,
2
available
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90 points Robert Parker: "The fat, rich 1991 Hermitage blanc offers a big, juicy nose of acacia flowers and honeyed fruit, medium to full body, and loads of flavor. While it is not as broadly flavored or as powerful as the 1990 and 1989, it is a delicious, well-made, excellent example of white Hermitage. (Jan 1997)"
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$149.95
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RP 94
JG 93
France
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Rhone
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Hermitage/Crozes-Hermitage
In stock,
1
available
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94 points Robert Parker: "The 1994 white Hermitage is one of the most seductive, perfumed, multi-layered, and profoundly textured white Hermitages I have tasted from Chave. The unctuous texture, and superb nose of honeyed white flowers, and minerals are followed by a wine of exceptional depth, richness, and balance. It should drink splendidly well for 4-5 years, then close completely, not to re-emerge for a decade. It will keep for 20-30+ years. (Oct 1996)"
93+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 1994 Hermitage Blanc from Jean-Louis Chave is outstanding, and still a few years from really beginning to hit on all cylinders. The bouquet today is still a tad discreet, but beautifully complex, as it offers up a fine mélange of pear, lemon oil, lanolin, notes of straw and a lovely base of chalky soil tones. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, deep and blossoming nicely from its period of hibernation, as it delivers excellent mid-palate depth, bright acids, lovely focus and a long, complex and soil-driven finish of excellent grip. A terrific vintage of Chave Blanc. 2008-2030+. (Nov/Dec 2008)"
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$145.00
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RP 94
IWC 94
France
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Rhone
-
Hermitage/Crozes-Hermitage
In stock,
1
available
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94 points Robert Parker: "One of my favorite white Hermitage to drink now is the 1997, which has much in common with the 2000. It is an unctuously-textured, full-bodied white with an evolved personality. However, there is no doubting its user-friendly, forward style or honeyed character. (Apr 2002)"
94 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Complex, pure aromas of peach, apple, honey, acacia flower, linden and hawthorn. Offers great richness allied with floral lift. Almost miraculously elegant and not at all heavy. Finishes with outstanding persistence-and surprisingly dry given the wine opulence. This actually finished with a bit over two grams per liter residual sugar, said Chave, who added that it might well have turned out topheavy had he fermented with commercial yeasts (the less efficient wild yeasts tend to produce more glycerine and a bit less alcohol). An extraordinary white Hermitage. (Jan/Feb 2000)"
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$325.00
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WS 95
RP 92
France
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Rhone
-
Hermitage/Crozes-Hermitage
In stock,
5
available
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94 points and 'Highly Recommended', Wine Spectator: "Deep and intense, it powers its way through the palate, delivering bursts of fruit and earth. Silky and full-bodied, with distinctive personality, this ripe, thick and well-made white has earthy, smoky, bread dough and beeswax complexity. Best from 2004 through 2014. 1,080 cases made. (8/31/02)"
92 points Robert Parker: "A retasting of the 1998 Hermitage blanc confirmed its brilliant quality. It is an elegant, floral-scented, structured white Hermitage. It boasts fabulous concentration, but is less flattering and precocious than either the 1999 or 2000. If the latter two wines lean toward a flamboyant style, the 1998 should prove to be one of the more muscular, long lived, backward efforts requiring patience. (Apr 2002)"
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$295.00
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WS 94
RP 92–94
IWC 93
France
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Rhone
-
Hermitage/Crozes-Hermitage
In stock,
3
available
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94 points Wine Spectator: "This is a streamlined, racy white, despite its lush, waxy texture. Full-bodied and loaded with white peach, lanolin, brioche, orange blossom and almond flavors. Long and powerful on the finish; with fine detail already, this should only get better. Drink now through 2014. 1,330 cases made. (8/31/04)"
92-94 points Robert Parker: "I tasted component parts of the 2001 Hermitage blanc. Aromas of acacia flowers, honeysuckle, and citrus were followed by a medium to full-bodied white with loads of glycerin as well as heady fruit and alcohol. Elegant, medium to full-bodied, and crisper, it is more obviously backward than the 2000. (Jun 2003)"
93 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Pure, subtle aromas of yellow plum, spices, flowers and nutty oak. At once sweet and gripping, with a glyceral middle given shape by flavors of lemon skin and spices. Very subtle and very long, finishing with terrific backbone. (Jan/Feb 2005)"
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$285.00
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WS 94
France
-
Rhone
-
Hermitage/Crozes-Hermitage
In stock,
6
available
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94 points Wine Spectator: "Lovely notes of lemon curd, crème fraîche, bitter almond and dried peach and pineapple run through a long, creamy finish. As beautiful as the flavors are, the texture and drive through the finish are even better. Really gorgeous feel. Drink now through 2020. 900 cases made. (10/15/05)"
18/20 points Anthony Rose (The World of Fine Wine): "Vivid in color, this doesn't look its age and it's equally fresh on the nose, with an enticing complex character blending notes of spicy oak, stone-fruits, and honey, and following through to a remarkable fresh and vigorous dried-fruit and truffley palate for a wine of nearly a decade in age; it's powerful and intensely flavored, with excellent concentration of fruit flavor and real complexity. (Issue 33; 2011)"
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$259.95
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RP 99
WS 98
France
-
Rhone
-
Hermitage/Crozes-Hermitage
In stock, 12+ available
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List $350.00
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99 points Robert Parker: "The bottled 2009 Hermitage Blanc is one of the greatest whites ever made chez Chave, and that’s saying something given Chave’s track record. This spectacular wine, normally a blend of 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne, exhibits layers of concentration, superb acidity and minerality, laser-like focus, and plenty of quince, white currant, citrus oil, honeysuckle, anise, white peach and apricot marmalade notes. This significant, full-bodied, dry white Hermitage should age for 30-50 years. However, given the vintage’s flamboyance, it will be drinkable early in life. (Dec 2011)"
98 points Wine Spectator: "[$350 list] This is a stunning display of richness and precision, with almost languid creamed Cavaillon melon, peach and persimmon fruit framed by toasted macadamia nut and brioche hints. This is kept lively by salted butter, chamomile and orange blossom flavors through the very long finish, where a quinine note echoes. Best from 2015 through 2030. (8/29/12)"
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$149.95
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France
-
Rhone
-
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock,
1
available
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Not reviewed. Harry Karis (The Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Book): "Cuvée Réserve is made from 60% Grenache (planted in 1930) in La Guigasse), 20% Mourvèdre, and 20% Syrah (planted in 1939 in Les Bedinés). Cuvée Réserve stays on the skins for 40 days, i.e., substantially longer than the other cuvées... aged completely in foudres... (2009)"
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$149.95
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RP 93
IWC 93
France
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Rhone
-
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock,
3
available
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93 points Robert Parker: "The top cuvee, the 2004 Le Clos du Caillou Reserve is a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, and 10% Syrah, the latter component aged in a new demi-muid and the Mourvedre aged in older barrels, with the Grenache kept in neutral foudres. The wine is a strong effort very much in the style of the 1999, with crisp acidity, beautiful black currant and blackberry notes with hints of spice, dried herbs, and pepper. As the wine sits in the mouth, more raspberry notes emerge, and the wine exhibits beautiful elegance, full-bodied power, and layers of flavor. This is certainly one of the top wines of the vintage in 2004. (Feb 2007)"
93 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Bright red. Intensely spicy nose offers ripe cherry and blackberry scents and a strong cracked pepper component. This includes 30% mourvedre and 10% syrah, and it shows today. Quite sweet on the palate, with deep dark berry flavors, a chewy texture and powerful tannins carrying through the bright, focused finish. Has the fruit and structure to repay cellaring. (Jan/Feb 2007)"
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$179.95
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RP 99
RR 96–99
WS 94
France
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Rhone
-
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock,
3
available
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99 points Robert Parker: "[$125 list] Also spectacular, but more evolved, the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus-Ex Machina reveals classic Provencal scents of roasted herbs, lavender, charcuterie, blackberries, licorice, kirsch and bouquet garni. This super-complex, layered, multidimensional wine possesses remarkable purity and richness as well as silky tannins. One of the most open-knit and forward Deus-Ex Machinas made to date, it will be difficult to resist when young, and should age well for 20+ years. (Oct 2011)"
96-99 points Rhone Report: "Not yet bottled but tasted as a final blend, the 2009 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Deus-Ex Machina, a blend of 60% tank aged Grenache and 40% barrel aged Mourvèdre, is more massive and structured than the La Combe des Fous, showing decadent cassis, blackberry, grilled meat, and touches of chocolate on its brooding, slightly backwards bouquet. Whereas the La Combe des Fous is perfumed and much more finesse driven, this is more in the style of a blockbuster, showing a powerful, full-bodied, rich feel, substantial underlying structure, and a very long, structured finish. This needs 2-3 years of bottle age, and should be incredibly long- lived. (Sep 2011)"
94 points Wine Spectator: "Dense but velvety, with gorgeous ganache and espresso giving way to dark fig, hoisin sauce and warm currant confiture. Lots of well-embedded charcoal and tobacco add cut and length to the hefty but driven finish. Grenache and Mourvèdre. Best from 2013 through 2024. 583 cases made. (11/15/11)"
94 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Glass-staining purple. Aromas and flavors of candied blueberry, boysenberry and licorice, with a sexy floral quality gaining power with air. Broad and extremely deep, with a velvety texture and mounting spiciness. Utterly seamless Chateauneuf with excellent finishing power and a lingering note of smoky minerality. (Jan/Feb 2012)"
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$124.95
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RR 96
RP 95
WS 94
France
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Rhone
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Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock,
1
available
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List $225.00
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96 points Rhone Report: "The modern styled 2007 Domaine de la Solitude Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve Secrète is a blend of 55% Syrah and 45% Grenache that was aged in a combination of small oak barrel and tank. It sports straight-up phenomenal aromatics, as well as crazy purity, with notions of black cherry, tobacco, smoked meats, and chocolate that literally comes leaping out of the glass. This is followed by a full bodied, structured wine that is perfectly balanced, possesses beautifully ripe fruit, and a classic, very long, and mineral-laced finish. Count me as a fan. This should benefit from 5-7 years in the cellar and then drink well for 12-15 years after that. (Jun 2011)"
95+ points Robert Parker: "A wine that seems to bridge the gap between a full international style (such as the Barberini) and a traditional style (such as the Cornelia Constanza) is the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve Secrete, which was aged in small barrels (65%) and tanks (35%). A blend of 55% Syrah and 45% Grenache, it boasts a deep ruby/purple hue, massive, powerful flavors of black fruits, licorice, acacia flowers, and a hint of toast, full body, and a singular, dense personality. It needs 3-4 years of bottle age, and is meant for 20+ years of cellaring. (Oct 2009)"
94 points Wine Spectator: "Big, lush and mouthfilling, but with excellent definition, thanks to a nice graphite edge that holds the core of anise, roasted plum, hoisin sauce and macerated black currant fruit together. The long, powerful finish lets bittersweet cocoa and violet notes chime in. Syrah and Grenache. Best from 2012 through 2025. 291 cases made. (5/19/10)"
93 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "($225 list; a 55/45 blend of syrah and grenache) Bright violet color. Fresh raspberry and boysenberry on the nose, with complementary notes of spicecake, incense and lavender. Large-scaled but surprisingly lively in the mouth, offering sweet red and dark berry compote flavors and penetrating minerality and spiciness. Very suave and focused on the finish, with the dark berry and floral notes echoing. (Jan/Feb 2010)"
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$745.00
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RP 100
WE 99
France
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Rhone
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Cote Rotie
In stock,
1
available
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100 points Robert Parker: "Dense purple to the rim with a nose of graphite, creosote, earth, olives, and black, black, black fruits, the primordial, full-bodied, monumental 2003 Cote Rotie La Landonne is amazing stuff. I suspect this is more akin to a dry vintage port than most Cote Roties ever tend to be, but the purity, the richness, the texture, the length are all out of this world. This wine does need some patience on the part of its purchasers, probably five years, more likely 8-10, but then one of the world’s most compelling elixirs will be at its peak for another 20-30+ years. (Apr 2007)"
99 points Wine Enthusiast: "Dense and rich but also incredibly complex, long and elegant, this is a momumental Côte-Rôtie. It’s darkly fruited and superripe, yet doesn’t lose its essential sense of terroir, remaining marked by scents of pepper and espresso to go with the chocolate and cassis fruit. Velvety in texture, this is the one of Guigal’s 2003 Côte-Rôties that demands a few years of cellaring. Drink 2010-2040. A Cellar Selection. (Sep 2007)"
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$259.95
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IWC 94–97
RP 94–96
France
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Rhone
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Chateauneuf-du-Pape
In stock,
2
available
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Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Inky purple. Intense blackberry and raspberry preserve aromas show great depth and ripeness -no surprise, as Sabon told me that components of this are over 17.4% alcohol. Lush, creamy and almost liqueur-like in sweetness, but with good acid lift to the ripe boysenberry and blackberry flavors. Tannins sneak in on the back but are overwhelmed by the sheer weight of fruit. Stains the palate with dark fruit flavors. This was one of the highlights of my trip. 94-97 points."
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$119.95
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IWC 90
France
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Rhone
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Cote Rotie
In stock,
10
available
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90 points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Medium red. Fresh red berry and cherry aromas accented by minerals and spices. Fresh acidity sharpens the brisk, mineral-laced redcurrant, bitter cherry and graphite flavors. Smoked meat and tobacco tones emerge on the bright, structured finish. (Jan/Feb 2007)"
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