Wine from Southern Rhone

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 singed...

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, 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...

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...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points: The bottled 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee is as compelling as I thought it would be after tasting it last year. A blend of 85% Grenache with the rest Syrah Mourvedre and small dollops of the other authorized...

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...

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...

Wine Spectator, 95 points: Dark, with very alluring espresso and smoke notes weaving through the dense flavors of fig paste, currant preserves, Black Forest cake and melted licorice. Features intense graphite and black tea notes on the finish...

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, 96 points: The monumental 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Prestige is a creative blend of 60% Grenache 15% Syrah 10% Mourvedre and the rest grapes such as Vaccarese Muscardin Cinsault Terret Noir and Counoise. Most of the fruit is...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points: One of my favorites was already the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Chaupin (which is always aged in foudres and 600-liter demi-muids two-thirds in the former and one-third in the latter) and this wine has really put on richness...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: Another wine that got better and better over the evening was the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de Mon Aieul. I've drunk through my fair share of bottles of this over the past few years. It has never shut down and has...

The Rhone Report, 94 points: The 2009 Domaine Saint Préfert Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve Auguste Favier is a gorgeous effort in the vintage. A blend of 80% Grenache 15% Cinsault and 5% Mourvèdre that's aged in a combination of concrete and 3-year-old...

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...