Doug Powers

9.1

Quite dark color, nearly opaque, still quite amazing for a 16-year-old CdRV (Lirac), great redfruits and darkfruits, I cannot forecast how long this bottling will last (you can see the cepage in the picture), but the l’Astrolabe bottling (100% Syrah) has already shown it’s easy longevity. Biodynamic, the late Philippe Cambie and Philippe Faure-Brac (2022, Best Sommelier in the World, consulted on this wine. — 3 days ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

9.3

[60% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, 5% Carignan, 5% Mourvedre] Still very grapey and primary, I actually tasted this wine in barrel in May of 2019 at the Chateau, and it tastes like it’s barely evolved since then, great acid, ripe, round tannins, long, lingering finish, this should easily age another 10 years based on my history of tasting this cuvée since the 1998!! — 4 months ago

with Jim

Dave

9.2

Friday night! Meatballs, vodka sauce, CDP, and Radiohead turned up loud! — 5 months ago

Tom Casagrande

8.9

Medium intensity nose has golden plum, a fresh floral note, and some crushed stone. It’s pretty large-framed in the mouth. The acids are on the lowish side, but it’s got a minerality and a slight bitter note as the finish progresses that enlivens it. Good flavor intensity. The alcohol pooks through a little, but it should be nice with Milanese cutlets. — 7 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

8.9

Vintage 2020 | dark fruit, smell of a stable, good concentration, serious glass of wine. 2*day cherries and chocolate — a year ago

Joe Gillies

9.4

Wow! So much better value than some CdP.
Plum, cassis, licorice, leather, and earth. Decanted for 30 minutes. This is just entering its drinking window so no rush... — 8 years ago

Doug Powers

8.9

Honeyed, white stonefruits, floral, solid acidity, good balance, lively and still pretty crisp, lingering finish, but not one to hold, ready to drink. — 11 days ago

with Jim

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

M. Chapoutier “Chante-Alouette” Hermitage Blanc 2021, Rhône Valley, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A benchmark Hermitage Blanc made from Marsanne sourced from multiple parcels including Le Méal and Les Murets. The soils combine clay, limestone, and decomposed granite, contributing both richness and tension.

Aromas & Flavors
Complex and layered with quince, acacia honey, almond, ginger, and delicate floral tones. Hints of walnut and spice emerge with air.

Mouthfeel
Rich yet balanced with vibrant tension. The palate shows remarkable depth with a long, textured finish.

Food Pairings
Lobster, foie gras, roasted poultry, truffle dishes, or aged cheeses.

Verdict
A sophisticated Hermitage Blanc that showcases the complexity and longevity of Marsanne from this legendary hill.

🍷 Personal Pick
A horse of a different color, deeply complex and cerebral. The nutty, honeyed character balanced by vibrant tension makes this a fascinating and thought-provoking wine. — 4 months ago

Ted

9.1

Loved it. Strawberry twizzlers. — 5 months ago

with Jeni

Conrad Green

9.3

Gnarly dark fruit with dried herb undertow, leather, black pepper, a bit of tar and savory fruit. Old school. Drinking well — 7 months ago

with Paul and Ara

Matt Kraunelis

9.5

Excellent GSM style red. 2022 vintage very enjoyable wine. — 8 months ago

Richars Cobb

9.7

2019. Very nice. Smooth. Another Cotes Du Rhône! I his is one that my wife liked! — 4 years ago

Pierre-nicolas Chabanel

8.9

Vintage 2016 — 7 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Reddish in color with medium intensity.

Red fruits on the nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate, well balanced and complex.

Showing raspberries, strawberries, plums, red currants, earth, light wood, spices, coffee, dark chocolates, light tobacco leaf and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Grenache from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Fresh tasting and already drinking beautifully, even though it is very young. Elegant and nicely balanced. Complex and engaging.

Will continue to age nicely in the next 15 years. Showing good potential to become a 94+ point wine.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.

A blend of 86% Grenache from old vines with 7% Syrah and 7% Mourvèdre. Aged in large French oak barrels.

15.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$60. — 16 days ago

Doug Powers

9.3

This 2017 Lirac is 99% Clairette (and 1% Grenache Blanc) from an old head-pruned vineyard with 125-year-old vines which always produces such an unique white wine, some of the previous vintages have seemed to develop rather quickly, but this well-balanced beauty is still going strong at age 9, long, lingering finish, Rudi nailed this vintage, lovely!! — 4 months ago

with Jim

Donald Williams

9.3

Nice GSM style. — 6 months ago

with Bonnie

Doug Powers

9.1

Big and rich (15% ABV), but pure deep and complex old vine Grenache in this lovely Lirac rouge. — 7 months ago

with Jim

Doug Powers

8.9

I’ve loved this wine for 6-7 years, since I first tasted it at Montfaucon in France, lovely redfruits and quite complex for a Lirac (CdRV), longish finish, really a lovely wine!! — 8 months ago

with Jim

Matthew Robinson

8.9

Already decent, probably needs a few years — 5 years ago

MaJ CappS

9.1

If honeysuckle and tangerines coupled... what a great nose!

Heavier bodied, with a hint of candied ginger, buttery eucalyptus leaves, and a touch of anise.
Superb. — 7 years ago