Just about pure perfection and one of the finest Condrieu to pass my lips, the 2020 Condrieu La Doriane offers an insane bouquet of grilled pineapple, charcoal, crushed stone, acacia flowers, and white peach. It picks up...

This terroir always delivers a wild, opulent, gamey style of wine, and the 2017 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert doesn’t disappoint. Loads of chocolaty black fruits, ground pepper, truffle, and smoked game, as well...

I was blown away by the 2020 Ermitage Le Méal Blanc, which is certainly the finest vintage of this cuvée I’ve tasted. From the pure south-facing Méal lieu-dit (which is the warmest terroir on Hermitage), it was vinified...

(JD 97-99 points) I was blown away by the 2018 Côte Rôtie Château D'Ampuis, which is certainly in the same league as the famed La Las. Coming from seven single vineyards and seeing the same upbringing as the flagship...

(JS 94-95 points) This is a juicy and flavorful young wine with dusty and polished tannins. Lots of wild fruit and dark-berry and volcanic/salt undertones. Flavorful finish.

A superb Maison Bleue, the 2019 Hermitage La Maison Bleue seamlessly blends cherries and cassis into a purple mashup of fruit carried on rich, velvety waves of texture. Full-bodied and intense, it finishes complex and...

2015 is the first vintage of this cuvée, which replaces the Petite Chapelle. There's a certain meaty aspect to the nose, a savoury note that brings aged Pinot Noir to mind. It has a minty freshness, crisp and well-defined...

The star of the show as well as one of the wines of this great vintage, the 2019 Ermitage Le Pavillon comes all from broken granite soils of the Bessards lieu-dit and was all destemmed, vinified in concrete tanks, and...

Lastly, the 2019 Cornas La Sabarotte is a candidate for the wine of the vintage in Cornas, and it’s about as thrilling as they come. Much riper and sexier, it reminds me of a great Hermitage from the Meal lieu-dit and has...

Probably one of my favorite wines in the world is the La Mouline Côte Rôtie from the Guigal family. Coming from old vines and a warmer, steep, terraced parcel not far from the estate, it also includes a big chunk of...

98+ Deeply colored, the 2019 Côte Rotie La Mordorée is the flagship Côte Rôtie, offering gorgeous blackberry and black raspberry fruits as well as scorched earth, flowers, and peppery herbs. This beauty is full-bodied...

Deep purple-colored, the 2017 Côte Rôtie La Mordorée (a mix from the La Côte Brune and the Côte Blonde lieux-dits) is another incredibly concentrated, yet elegant and ethereal wine from Chapoutier. Rock star levels of...

Moving to the top Côte Rôties, the 2016 Côte Rôtie Chateau D'Ampuis comes from a blend of top sites (7 different lieux-dits) and sees the same care and élevage as the La Las. Revealing a ruby/purple hue as well as a...

(96-98 points) Classy hints of pencil shavings accent the pear, nectarine and melon fruit in the full-bodied, voluptuous 2018 Ermitage de l'Orée. Despite the wine's ample richness and weight, it's surprisingly fresh and...

(93+ points) Seemingly refined by the additional elevage since I reviewed a barrel sample last year, the 2019 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert remains a big, rich, dark-fruited and almost tarry effort, but this...

Very focused, with yellow apple, persimmon, acacia, honeysuckle and lemon curd notes layered seamlessly as they move through, ending with salted butter and quinine echoes that bring you back for more. Drink now through...

A killer wine as always, the 2018 Saint Joseph Les Granits Blanc reveals a medium gold color as well as powerful notes of white currants, toasted spices, brioche, quince, and crushed rock. With beautiful richness, medium...

Straight up stunning, the 2018 Côte Rôtie La Mordorée does everything right and is a borderline perfect Côte Rôtie readers should snatch up. Coming from the La Côte Brune and Côte Blonde lieux-dits, it’s 100% Syrah (I...

More Hermitage-like notes of cassis, graphite, scorched earth, and burning embers emerge from the 2019 Saint Joseph Les Royes, a full-bodied, deep, powerful yet also focused and pure Saint Joseph. With incredible purity...

Powerful aromatics packed with blackberry and black cherry liqueur, crushed stone, smoke, licorice, coffee, crème de cassis and vanilla get your attention. This thick, viscous, flamboyant wine is a head turner. Silky...

A bright, lively version, with the mix of apricot, peach and white nectarine fruit flavors enlivened by honeysuckle and acacia notes through the juicy finish. Drink now through 2026. – JM

Produced from 100% old vine Syrah, planted in Cote Blonde, the wine pops with scents of flowers, smoke, earth, cherries, thyme and earth. Power and elegance, length, finesse and complexity that does not finish until you...

All of the classic Cote-Rotie aromas (leather, smoked bacon, spices and black cherry) pour from the glass of this rich and fleshy wine. Very silky texture, in spite of the generous, fine tannins, which build beautifully...

(94 - 97 points) Tasted from a new barrel, the 2018 Cote Rotie Rose Pourpre features mocha and plum notes. It's full-bodied, rich and velvety, with that weight offset by cool menthol notes, and the lengthy finish even...

Quite possibly the finest white in the appellation, the 2020 Saint Joseph Les Granits Blanc is all Marsanne from what I would consider the best terroir in the appellation, the south-facing slopes of the Saint Joseph...

The Jaboulets need little introduction, being as they are one of the leading winemaking families in this small part of the world. This Crozes-Hermitage has structure and breadth thanks to 12 months spent in new French...

While not submitted to my tasting (and it wasn't presented from barrel last year), it would be hard to imagine there won't be a Les Vieilles Fontaines cuvée. Don't miss a chance to buy a bottle if you find one. Moving to...

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...

(97+ points) The 2019 Cornas Les Eygats is much more inward and focused, with full-bodied power as well as gorgeous notes of crème de cassis, crushed stone, graphite, bacon fat, and violets. Where both the Champelrose and...

Moving to the three single vineyard Hermitage Blancs, these are all perfect wines yet offer distinct characters. The 2019 Ermitage De L’Orée comes from more limestone soils in the Les Murets lieu-dit, on the eastern side...