Wine from Northern Rhone

jamessuckling.com, 97 points: A gorgeous intensity of plum, spice and grilled meat on the nose. Cloves and hints of dried spices. This is a big, structured La Chappelle. Full and powerful with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. A bit austere and...

jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: (92-94 points) Moving to the Cornas releases, the 2018 Cornas Granit 30 comes from slightly younger vines and vineyards further down on the slope, closer to the village. Completely destemmed and brought up in used...

jebdunnuck.com, 99 points: Reminding me of the 2009 La Chapelle (which is a personal favorite), the brilliant 2017 Hermitage La Chapelle knocks it out of the park with its massive, opulent personality. Notes of smoked black fruits, scorched earth...

jamessuckling.com, 98 points: (JS 97-98 points) Very spicy and peppery with blue-granite aromas plus hints of grilled and smoked meat. Cloves and nutmeg. Full body, round and juicy tannins and a super spicy finish that almost burns with so much...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: The best bottle I've ever had, the 2005 Hermitage la Chapelle showed much more density and concentration than I recall. Peppery herbs, currants, dried blood and licorice flow beautifully to a medium to full-bodied wine...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: (93-95) Although the fruit sourcing has changed from the old days, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert remains a solid offering in the Jaboulet lineup. Violets accent blackberries and plums on the nose, while...

Vinous, 93 points: Glass-staining ruby. Powerful scents of red and dark berry preserves, smoked meat, violet and minerals offer impressive clarity and expand in the glass. Velvety in texture, with deep, liqueur-like red berry flavors...

jamessuckling.com, 96 points: Made from 65 year old vines on the granitic Bessards section of Hermitage. Some very assertive red plum, red nectarine and orange zest. There is a wealth of spice and dark mineral-flecked interest. The palate is extremely...

Vinous, 94 points: Inky ruby. Black and blue fruits, olive, peony, incense and smoky mineral qualities on the deeply perfumed nose. Palate-staining blueberry, cherry liqueur, fruitcake and floral pastille flavors become more energetic with...

jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: The flagship cuvée is the 2016 Crozes Hermitage Roche Pierre, which spent two years in 30% new French oak. It offers a layered, multi-dimensional, full-bodied texture as well as classic notes of plums, blackberries...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: (WA 91-94 points) Robert owns four hectares in Cornas, divided into many small parcels along the slope. My projection for his 2017 Cornas is based on tasting a few components from barrel, which expressed varying elements...

Vinous, 95 points: (93-95 Points) (50% new oak) Inky purple. Spicy black and blue fruit preserves, pungent flowers and olive paste on the deeply perfumed nose. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering wonderfully concentrated boysenberry and...

Vinous, 94 points: Dark ruby. Fresh black and blue fruits, candied flowers and exotic spices on the intensely perfumed nose, lifted by a smoky mineral overtone. Smooth, sweet and seamless in the mouth, offering powerful blueberry, cherry...

Vinous, 95 points: Dark, glistening violet. Intensely perfumed, mineral-accented aromas of black raspberry and boysenberry, joined by exotic spice, potpourri and incense nuances that build with air. Energetic and focused on the palate...