Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend

Ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Red fruits on the nose with light oak, spices, earth, garrigue and chocolates.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with sweet raspberries, black cherries, spices, tobacco leaf, dark chocolates, earth and black pepper.

Nice finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 9 year old Grenache blend from Southern Rhone is drinking beautifully now. Powerful, yet elegant. Fruity, rich and smooth.

Still feels very young, and more fruit forward than I expected it to be. Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex and interesting.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after an hour of airtime. Spicy and entertaining.

This 2016 vintage in the Southern Rhône was exceptional. Will continue to age beautifully over the next 10 years.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with food.

A blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah.

14% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$140.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2012 pours a ruby/purple color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of lovely ripe red and black fruits: mixed brambles, Morello cherry, red flowers, licorice, garrigue, a touch of leather, mixed spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and rich. Drink now through 2032.

The back label says 15.5% but I am digging this nonetheless. Nose has spiced dark berry fruit of pristine purity. There’s also a bit of crushed rock and fresh green herbs. In the mouth it’s so deep and flavorful. I don’t think I’d be able to say it’s over 15 if served this blind. Length for days. Delicious.

The ambitious 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape evokes a savory aromatic profile that’s defined by earthy scents, tobacco, cured meat, dried blackberry, crushed rocks and leather. Fleshy and forward, the 2005 shows much more evolution than the 2007 does on this encounter. Fine-grained and perfectly integrated tannins structure this outstanding Clos des Papes, comfortably placing it among the wines of the vintage. (Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous, June 2024)

Jammy cut balanced and interesting

Lively acidity here, really vertical and postured for wine and age. Beautiful roasted meat/herb tones, succulent spiced plum and fig components, hauntingly savory and alluring.

Plush and rich. Plum and violet. Tobacco and underbrush. Tasty.

Two bottles opened. Both the same… Regal tawny color. Mostly transparent. Fragrant herbal nose. Notes of ripe red fruit, herbs de Provence, dark dry earth and some fragrant flowers. Well balanced in the mouth. This wine is in a perfect spot, drinking today at peak.

Halfway through a case and best btl yet. Integrated. Smooth. Dry-aged beef and charcoal grilled bacon fat. Stewed strawberry infused with aged balsamic. Undergrowth. Flawless. Profound. Heading towards burgundy.

Dark and intense. Spice and dark wood, a little raisiny. Dark plum, underbrush, spice, black pepper.