Domaine Richaud

Terre de Galets Côtes du Rhône Red Blend 2019

8.9

I like this estate, their wines are always evocative and emit a regional personality. This was my first time trying this, the entry level cuvée - it's a plump, juicy little number and an excellent value. Fruit-sweet, with plum, lavender and some black tea notes, along with a cherry pit quality on the finish. Finishes with a peppery kick. It's got a lot of meat on the bones and is definitely warm, but the 15+% isn't too obvious or off-putting. Nice cocktail wine. — a month ago

Anthony, David and 4 others liked this

Les Beaux Galets

Red Blend

Norma Ray

8.9

Smells dry with notes of cranberry (but not that dry!). On the palate, not too dry but enough, yet a nice blend. Great table wine for just about any pairing but particularly milk chocolate or marzipan. — 6 months ago

Domaine Jerome Gradassi

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2018

Martinez

9.0

Blend of Grenache (80%) and Mourvedre (20%) from 6 parcels in the Palastor, Bois Dauphin and Cabrières lieux-dits, located around the road to Orange in the cooler, northern part of the Châteauneuf du Pape AOC. From 60-80 years old vines Gradassi inherited from his grandfather rooted on sandy and clay soils, with few galets roulés (round river stones). Whole-bunch fermentation in cement vats. Aged for 10 months in older barriques. Intense, complex and fabulously aromatic, with aromas of dark fruit, garrigue, licorice and an edge of graphite/gunpowder. Big and powerful (14.5%) yet balanced. Earthy, leathery qualities and some chewy tannins. — 9 months ago

Martinez

Blend of Grenache (80%) and Mourvedre (20%) from 6 parcels in the Palastor, Bois Dauphin and Cabrières lieux-dits, located around the road to Orange in the cooler, northern part of the Châteauneuf du Pape AOC. From 60-80 years old vines Gradassi inherited from his grandfather rooted in sandy and clay soils, with few galets roulés (round river stones). Whole-bunch fermentation in cement vats. Aged for 10 months in older barriques. Intense, complex and fabulously aromatic, with aromas of dark fruit, garrigue, licorice and an edge of graphite/gunpowder. Big and powerful (14.5%) yet balanced. Earthy, leathery qualities and some chewy tannins

Martinez

Blend of Grenache (80%) and Mourvedre (20%) from 6 parcels in the Palastor, Bois Dauphin and Cabrières lieux-dits, located around the road to Orange in the cooler, northern part of the Châteauneuf du Pape AOC. From 60-80 years old vines Gradassi inherited from his grandfather rooted in sandy and clay soils, with few galets roulés (round river stones). Whole-bunch fermentation in cement vats. Aged for 10 months in older barriques. Intense, complex and fabulously aromatic, with aromas of dark fruit, garrigue, licorice and an edge of graphite/gunpowder. Big and powerful (14.5%) yet balanced. Earthy, leathery qualities and some chewy tannins

Martinez

Blend of Grenache (80%) and Mourvedre (20%) from 6 parcels in the Palastor, Bois Dauphin and Cabrières lieux-dits, in the northern, cooler part of the Châteauneuf du Pape AOC. From 60-80 years old vines rooted in sandy and clay soils, with few galets roulés (round river stones). Intense, complex and fabulously aromatic, with aromas of dark fruit, garrigue, licorice and an edge of graphite. Big, powerful yet balanced.

Maison Denuzière

Les Galets Crozes-Hermitage Syrah 2016

James Shamas

9.0

Amazing with beef short ribs (what isn’t?). I don’t know northern Rhone too well but seemed lighter bodied than I expected. Good balance, blackberries, black pepper. Medium tannins — 3 months ago