Stephen Tanzer's IWC: (70% mourvedre and 10% each of grenache, counoise and syrah, all raised in foudre): Glass-staining purple. Hypnotic bouquet of black and blue fruits, potpourri and exotic sp...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: (70% mourvedre and 10% each of grenache, counoise and syrah, all raised in foudre): Glass-staining purple. Hypnotic bouquet of black and blue fruits, potpourri and exotic sp...

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...

Wine Spectator: Dark and dense, with stunning espresso, warm ganache and roasted plum aromas giving way to layers of black currant, braised fig and licorice root. The long, grip-filled finish...

Wine Spectator: Dense, but pure and fresh, offering a core of black currant, raspberry and plum fruit in reserve, with lots of sweet spice, melted licorice and graphite as well. There's a lon...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve, which was made from frighteningly low yields, has a whopping 16.5% alcohol, compared to the 2010's 16.4, yet it is not even noticeable, g...

About this Wine: Cuvee du Vatican's two cuvees of red wine included a traditional cuvee and the more limited production luxury offering-- the Reserve Sixtine (Starting in 2010 there is only on...

Wine Spectator: Dark and winey, with velvety layers of crushed plum, blueberry and anise supported by a strong graphite note and carrying through the long, spice- and violet-filled finish. Dr...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: My highest score goes to the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Grand Pin. This impressive, deep ruby-colored, broad wine offers oodles of kirsch liqueur, black raspberry, sweet herb...

Wine Spectator: Very youthful, with lots of exuberant, richly layered blackberry, boysenberry, cassis and plum fruit flavors. The solid structure is buried deep on the spice- and anise-filled...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: From their oldest vines comes the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes, composed of 95% Grenache and the rest Mourvedre. This emerges from the high plateau of La Crau in t...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: I was blown away by how favorably the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Petits Pieds d'Armand had evolved. Last year I indicated it was still fermenting, and now that it is in bott...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Bright ruby-red. A sexy, highly perfumed bouquet displays fresh red berries, potpourri and white pepper, with hints of allspice and anise adding complexity. Spicy and alluring...

Wine Spectator: This is very well-built, with a range of apple wood and toasted spice notes framing the core of crushed plum, blackberry and cassis. Dusty structure give a long and grippy fee...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve Secrete (65% tank-aged Grenache and 35% small oak-aged Syrah) boasts a dense ruby/purple color (nearly as dark as the Barberini) in additi...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Deep ruby. Pungent, spice-accented aromas of red berry preserves, cherry and candied flowers. Sweet, pure and incisive, offering bright raspberry and lavender flavors and a ...

Wine Spectator: This has a touch more muscle and drive than many of its peers, with smoldering tobacco and dark espresso notes leading the way for a core of crushed plum, braised fig and stee...

Wine Spectator: Quite ripe, with layers of linzer torte, cassis and blackberry fruit piled on top of well-rounded tannins. Loads of spice and licorice ripple through the finish, with an under...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: It is a brilliant effort! Probably more controversial is Usseglio's 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee La Parte des Anges (70% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache, and 10% Syrah, all aged in ...

Wine Spectator: Features perfumy aromatics, but still a bit tight, with an iron-bound core of cassis, raspberry and blackberry fruit, backed by graphite and black tea notes on the racy finish...