Jason snyder

9.2

Lots of interesting fruit - pineapple, mango. Honey. Creamy mouth. Northern Rhône. Drink cold. Probably with cheese. — 3 months ago

K. Syrah

9.3

2015: Rich and concentrated Syrah with a mouthful of minerals and leather and meaty flavors. Not quite as funky as Cote-Rotie but still complex, with a long and unique finish. Legit: I like this more than the Jaboulet Maison Bleu Hermitage at this stage. $60 at VR. — a year ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.1

Textbook Northern Rhone Syrah in a very affordable, drink now package. Bing cherry, currants, light and pleasantly integrated peppercorn and smoke notes, a touch of beef bouillon and soil. Medium bodied, pure textures of finely grained tannin and perfectly integrated acidity. Med+ on the finish. If you have been drinking new world syrah and are hesitant to buy in on a Cote-Rotie, Hermitage or even a Saint-Joseph, this is a nice entry point. — 2 years ago

Shay A

9.1

“This Côtes-du-Rhône is technically made from purchased fruit. Chave generally has financed his sources and takes their grapes by a métayage (sharecropping) arrangement. He has more or less complete control over the farming, which is organic. The grapes are shipped to Chave’s facility inside his Saint-Joseph Le Clos site in Mauves. Fermentation is in stainless steel tanks and élevage is in an assortment of new and old barrels, demi-muids and large foudres.”

I’ve enjoyed a few of Chave’s “Selection” series, especially the Blanche (100% marsanne from Hermitage…fantastic). While I’ve been fortunate to try Chave’s Hermitage a few times, I did my best to set expectations fairly for this (at $25/bottle). Short story…very pleased with it. I followed this over two days and it stayed consistent. Deep red in the glass with aromatics of garrique, herbs de Provence, and spiced raspberries and blackberries. The palate still sports such a “clean” profile that I associate with Chave’s Hermitage, alongside pepper and fragrant/floral notes.

This is a CdR that has some staying power. Solid value. — 2 years ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.2

Guigal considers this Saint Joseph lieu-dit to be their fourth Lala wine. As the name suggests this plot was once owned by the hospital and is a steep slope opposite the Hermitage mountain. It sports dark ripe fruits that are elegantly tamed by Guigal’s famous oak programme. Bursting with aromas and flavour. Dark berries, spice and really luxurious roundness. — 5 months ago

J B

9.0

Le mere Poulard - Mont Saint Michel. Scallop omelette and poulet supreme. Very good paring. Enjoyed very much. — 2 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Really nice and a great value. Got that classic earthy, barky thing I like in Crozes — a little sluttier with the type of earthiness than, say, Saint-Joseph — along with ultra pure essence of blackberry, a very lifted almost-but-not-quite eucalyptus note. Round-textured and fairly concentrated for a basic Crozes, with lots of savory flavors and a long finish. There’s a lifted quality to the palate that is very attractive. Drinks well above its weight. — 2 years ago

AEL

8.9

So an easy one to like. Inky dark in color; heavy earth/wet bark notes, rust or metal, overripe berries on nose. Palate just short of nose, maybe just a bit too simple. — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Brought to Tasting Group, popped and poured, and then served double-blind to the group. In the glass, the wine pours a transparent ruby color, with no signs of sediment. Medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is redolent of dark fruits, black pepper, olives, olives, and olives with some purple flowers and gravelly minerals added to the mix. On the palate, confirming the fruit and non-fruit characteristics. The wine is bone dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Due to the non-fruit characteristics, it is very difficult to place this in the New World, although there are some new producers, making wine similar to this. That being said, it’s hard to get outside of the Northern Rhône, vacillating between Côte Rôtie, Cornas, and Saint Joseph (no one in the group felt the oak was lavish enough for Hermitage). There were good arguments for each…and then the reveal. What a joy to drink this. Too bad even the “Les Iles Feray” has become near unobtainium. If someone wants to experience what Northern Rhône Syrah is supposed to taste like, this would be a contender for Exhibit A. The 2019 “Les Iles Feray” will be enjoyable for many years but I think this should be enjoyed in its youth. Drink now or over the next 5-10 years. — 2 years ago

Will Stanley

9.5

What a wine! This Saint-Joseph from Domaine Courbis, from the limestone amphitheatre they call ‘Les Royes’ within the appellation (look out for the Blanc, too), is a great success in 2016 and an incredibly moreish wine overall.

The nose takes little time to unfurl, showing generous aromas of fresh, cool blackberry, espresso, violet and a touch of iron. The fruit has a wonderfully pure feel - as though it’s been squeezed straight into the glass. The palate is equally forthcoming and way above what I expected. Ripe fruit combines with bold acidity and supple tannins to provide a very, very seductive mouthfeel, and a lengthy finish.

That vast appellation of Saint-Joseph can be very variable - but if they were all this good, it would stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Cornas, Cote-Rotie and Hermitage. — 2 years ago