Wine from Southern Rhone

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: A rock-star bottling that over-delivers, Julien's 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Signature offers up tons of Provencal charm in its kirsch, peppery, licorice and wild herb aromas and flavors. Big, full-bodied, sexy and...

Wine Spectator, 96 points: Sinewy and reserved with a light dusting of cocoa powder over the tangy damson plum red licorice and cassis notes. The long supple finish with a lovely wafting note of Lapsang souchong tea is packed with minerality and...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 91 points: The deep ruby/purple-colored 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape (90% tank-aged Grenache and 10% barrel-aged Syrah from 65-year-old vines) appears to have resolved all the tannins that stood out last year. Notes of black cherry...

The Rhone Report, 92 points: A blend of 70% Grenache 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre from vines averaging 55-years in age the 2009 Domaine La Roquette Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a perfumed elegant red that delivers loads of black cherry lavender wild herbs...

Wine Spectator, 96 points: One of the more endowed 2009s, this is packed with dark smoldering cocoa, mesquite, tobacco and roasted fig notes, all inlaid with pure cassis and plum preserves fruit flavors. Long and authoritative on the finish, with...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 99 points: Shockingly good, the 2009 Châteauneuf du Pape Hommage À Jacques Perrin offers an off-the-charts bouquet of Provençal herbs, truffle and wet-dog-like qualities intermixed with classic blueberry, blackberry and cassis...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: Also gorgeous, but in a more forward, perfumed style, the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape is loaded with kirsch, wild strawberry, licorice, Asian spice and wild herb-like aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, sweetly fruited...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, 91 points: Bright ruby. Intensely floral spice-accented bouquet of red berries rose lavender and minerals. Powerful strawberry and raspberry fruit flavors are sappy and focused putting on weight with aeration. Picks up musky herb...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: Similar to the 2011, the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Secret du Sabon sports a big, full-bodied and mouthfilling profile to go with ripe blackberry, kirsch, flowers, licorice and earth-like aromas and flavors. Although...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 90 points: In total contrast the 2009 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet red represents the essence of Provence in its notes of ground pepper new saddle leather lavender kirsch garrigue and abundant red and black fruits. This complex evolved...

The Rhone Report, 94 points: The 2009 Domaine de la Solitude (Lançon Père et Fils) Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Cornelia Constanza is 100% Grenache that comes all from sandy soils and is aged mostly in concrete but with 10% of the blend in new oak...