Ardèche, Rhône
Château Rayas
Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 2011
Almost perfect. Stewed fruit, great bitterness, extremely round and perfect tannins. Close to a grand cru burgundy in a good year with 10-15 years of age. — 4 days ago
Paul Jaboulet Aîné
La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 1989
This was still incredibly youthful. Would never have guessed ‘89. — 4 months ago
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
Saint-Joseph Syrah 2020
It’s always a resounding ‘YES’ for JL Chave!!
That includes this luscious and concentrated Syrah from Saint-Joseph AOC in the Northern Rhône of France.
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave is a benchmark and icon of the Rhône Valley – a family-run operation since 1481 – with an entire range of deliciousness through the Domaine Jean-Louis Chave and JL Chave Selection portfolios.
This wine is deep ruby, trending on purple. It has pronounced aromas and flavors of boysenberry, blueberry, black cherry, cassis, pomegranate, also violet, bacon, sanguine, saddle leather, pipe tobacco, clove, cigar, damp earth, and black peppercorn. Alcohol is high (14.5% ABV) with medium (+) fine-grained and well-integrated tannins, medium (+) acidity, a medium (+) body, and a long, elegant finish.
It has a rustic and savory character with robust dark fruit notes; it’s layered, complex, structured, and age-worthy, benefitting from decanting. Still, it’s tasting wonderfully now.
Cheers to JL Chave and treasures of the Rhône!! — 20 days ago
Ron Siegel
Another great btl that is structured showing finesse with beautiful aromatics of dark fruits, olive, iron, spice, crushed rock, graphite & violet. Still youthful that will continue to develop for many years. — 11 days ago