About this Wine: This cuvee is called Combe des Fous (Hill of Fools).  This cuvee is from a specific parcel on Crau that long ago was considered too difficult to work, but the Maurels' gr...

About this Wine: "Planted in the early 1930's, the vineyard is about 70 years old. This vineyard is planted with the old clones of Syrah (low yielding) on their own roots, dry grown and yields...

Wine Spectator: Got patience? You'll need it to wait this brute out fully. A chunk of tar sits between you and the core of black currant, hoisin sauce and roasted Black Mission fig fruit flav...

Wine Spectator: Got patience? You'll need it to wait this brute out fully. A chunk of tar sits between you and the core of black currant, hoisin sauce and roasted Black Mission fig fruit flav...

About this Wine: "One of the great estates of the Rhone Valley, Chateau Beaucastel has been run by several generations of the Perrin family, beginning with the late Jacques Perrin (who died ...

Wine Spectator: This smolders beautifully from start to finish, showing warm tar, tobacco leaf and steeped black currant fruit, with hints of hot stone and graphite buried deeply on the fin...

Wine Spectator: This rich, toasty, showy style boasts lots of flashy anise and espresso notes up front, but ample layers of crushed fig, steeped plum and dark mixed berry fruit behind it. Nic...

About this Wine: As I have written many times, all of these wines are produced from rigidly cultivated, bio-dynamically managed vineyards. That has been the rule since Michel Chapoutier fi...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Opaque ruby. A pungent, exotically perfumed bouquet displays blackcurrant, anise and smoky Indian spices, along with a sexy floral overtone. Sappy, penetrating dark berry flav...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Opaque ruby. A pungent, exotically perfumed bouquet displays blackcurrant, anise and smoky Indian spices, along with a sexy floral overtone. Sappy, penetrating dark berry flav...

Wine Spectator: This is on another level from most in the appellation, with gorgeous layers of warm currant confiture, smoldering tobacco, licorice snap, warm paving stone and anise all frame...

Wine Spectator: This is riveting, with terrific tarry grip coursing underneath layers of smoldering bay leaf, warm plum confiture, freshly brewed espresso, dark cassis and well-steeped black ...

Wine Spectator: Really packed, but amazingly supple and velvety in texture, with layer upon layer of black mission fig, crushed plum, freshly brewed espresso, worn saddle leather and iron not...

Wine Spectator: Features substantial but very velvety structure running from start to finish, delivering a muscular feel for now. The hard edges are fully absorbed by the core of plum sauce, ...

Wine Spectator: Features substantial but very velvety structure running from start to finish, delivering a muscular feel for now. The hard edges are fully absorbed by the core of plum sauce, ...

Wine Spectator: Features substantial but very velvety structure running from start to finish, delivering a muscular feel for now. The hard edges are fully absorbed by the core of plum sauce, ...

Wine Spectator: An extremely well-sculpted, modern wine, with an enormous core of plum sauce, blackberry coulis and cassis fruit to match the ambitious roasted apple wood-, black tea- and tob...

Wine Spectator: An extremely well-sculpted, modern wine, with an enormous core of plum sauce, blackberry coulis and cassis fruit to match the ambitious roasted apple wood-, black tea- and tob...

Wine Spectator: Features substantial but very velvety structure running from start to finish, delivering a muscular feel for now. The hard edges are fully absorbed by the core of plum sauce, ...

Wine Spectator: An extremely well-sculpted, modern wine, with an enormous core of plum sauce, blackberry coulis and cassis fruit to match the ambitious roasted apple wood-, black tea- and tob...