Wine Spectator: Smoldering charcoal and black tea notes lead the way, with fleshy, supple notes of blackberry preserves, mulled fig and spice. A roasted chestnut hint weaves subtly through th...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Opaque ruby. Smoke-accented dark berry aromas are complicated by violet, cured meat and anise nuances. Offers sweet blackberry and cassis flavors, with suggestions of candie...

Wine Spectator: Plump and fleshy, with delicious plum, fig and blackberry flavors mixed together, coated gently with spice and black tea notes. The long, licorice edge on the finish has a nic...

Wine Enthusiast: ; Mainly Grenache (80%, the balance is Syrah) aged entirely in tank, this wine features loads of superripe dark cherries and plums, yet with a savory, olive-and meat-tinged as...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Ruby-red. Wild, highly perfumed aromas of black and blue fruits, anise and spices. Dense and creamy but fresh, bolstered by very good energy to the blackberry, mulberry and cr...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Bright ruby-red. A complex bouquet offers raspberry, cherry compote, potpourri and spice cake. Deeper, darker fruits on the palate, along with suave notes of rose pastille and...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Bright purple. Exotic spice and potpourri scents accent intense red and dark berries on the seductively perfumed nose. Sweet, expansive and energetic on the palate, offering...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: Even deeper-colored with more purple hues, the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve is composed of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Cinsault from nearly 70-year-old vines. This bri...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: A more long-term effort is the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape L'Envol (70% Mourvedre and 30% Grenache, aged in two- to three-year-old small barriques). A complex nose of sauteed mus...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Tradition is an exact blend of 82% Grenache, 10% Syrah and the rest Cinsault and Mourvedre. Aged half in cement tanks and the rest in foudres, the...

Wine Spectator: Quite muscular, with roasted tobacco leaf and charcoal notes up front, backed by a core of blackberry, cassis and plum sauce. Thick but velvety tannins cruise in on the finish...

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: Made from 90% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre aged in 100% new oak, the inky/purple-hued 2009 Cotes du Ventoux Persia reveals notes of smoky barbecue intermixed with graphite, blackbe...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: There are only 400 cases of the outstanding 2009 Cotes du Ventoux Il Etait Une Fois, a blend of 80% Grenache from 80-year-old vines, 15% Mourvedre from 20-year-old vines, and ...

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: 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...

Wine Spectator: Very rich and caressing, with lovely plum sauce, melted licorice and cassis aromas and flavors all woven together and backed by ample but velvety tannins. The long, tar-staine...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Deep ruby. Heady aromas of raspberry preserves, lavender and mocha, with a spicy overtone. Juicy and deeply concentrated, offering sappy red and dark berry flavors that become...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The sensational 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Feminessance, which is 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah aged in small oak, has the densest opaque color of all three cuvees. This wine has f...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The lightest in color is the medium ruby-hued 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cornelia Constanza, a sumptuous, sexy cuvee that comes from 85-year-old vines. Made from 100% Grenache, ...