Along with Bordeaux and Burgundy, Rhône Valley wines are acknowledged to be among the best in the world. Situated in the Rhône River Valley in the south of France, the Rhône is comprised of two distinct regions—the north and south—each with its own viniculture and featuring wines of very different character.
The Northern Rhône (referred to in French as Rhône septentrional) produces powerful, aromatically complex and age worthy red wines, often in very limited numbers, from the dignified Syrah grape. Typically, most red wines in the northern zone have had an alcohol content in the common 12% to 13% range, but warmer-than-normal growing seasons (like in 1997, 1999, and 2003 in particular), have brought significantly richer, more powerful, and higher alcoholic content varieties.
The Southern Rhône (or Rhône méridional) yields more than 90% of the valley’s total production. A multitude of markedly more rustic and often richer blends coming from the high-alcohol Grenache grape can be identified by a more “southern” flavor. The wines offer a rich mouth feel, and more of a roasted and somewhat liqueur-ish fruit personality with spice and wild herb accents.
In the Northern Rhône Valley the apotheosis of Viognier, an exotically scented white wine, is also grown. Viognier is a variety that has been recently planted on several continents by growers hoping to capitalize on a strong worldwide demand. There are other white wines from the Rhône Valley (albeit less exciting than Viognier). The majority of these are blends based on Marsanne and Roussanne in the North, and Grenache Blanc and less interesting native varieties in the South.
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 97 points: With its distinctive, earthy, animalistic, herb de Provence, pepper and red berry nose, the wine is full bodied, fresh, intense, concentrated, deep and long. The fruit shows its character with little effort required. The...
jebdunnuck.com, 93 points: Moving to the reds and 85% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Mourvèdre, the base 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a beauty and boasts appealing notes of spiced red and black fruits, cedar, and garrigue. Full-bodied, ripe and...
jebdunnuck.com, 95 points: Moving to the Châteauneuf-du-Pape from bottle, the 2016 vintage was described as having the power of 2010 and similar to yet fresher than 2007. The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape offers a great bouquet of black raspberries...
jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: The finest base cuvée produced at this estate is the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which is 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah and the balance Cinsault, all aged in a mix of foudre and older barrels. Beautiful plums...
Vinous, 92 points: (90-92 points) Brilliant ruby. Pungent dark berry, licorice and garrigue aromas are energized by a hint of white pepper. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry, cassis and blood orange flavors that show...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: About as sexy as they come, 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape les Origines features dark, chocolaty notes layered over plums and black cherries. Deep, rich and intense yet sleek and plush, it's a blend of 50% Grenache, 30%...
jamessuckling.com, 98 points: There’s a beautiful purity of fresh, mixed berries, dark plums, deep spices, as well as a gentle, coal-smoke edge. The palate has an effortless, fleshy, fine-grained texture with long, majestic tannins and a long...
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 96 points: Lush, opulent, ripe, deep fruits with loads of pepper, black cherry, fig and plum are all over the place. Concentrated, big and mouth filling, the wine has depth, length and staying power. The new oak used during the...
jebdunnuck.com, 93 points: The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is another smoking good wine that delivers terrific elegance and purity. Black cherries, black raspberries, crushed rocks, dried earth and loads of spice flow to a full-bodied, balanced...
Wine Spectator, 94 points: This energetic red offers a big ball of kirsch wound tightly with licorice, graphite and raspberry coulis notes. Shows lots of bright spice accents through the finish, which is carried by finely beaded acidity. Offers...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: As I stated last year there is no Hommage a Jacques Perrin in 2006 but Beaucastel's 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape is performing even better from bottle than it did last year. Its dense plum/ruby/purple color is followed by a...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: The 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes carries a deep ruby/purple-tinged color as well as a classic bouquet of black raspberries, ground pepper, garrigue and hints of graphite. Gorgeously pure, elegant and seamless...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 91 points: More serious than the Premices, the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Tradition has additional structure and depth, with classic red and black fruits, leather, bouquet garni and spice aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, nicely...
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points: Guigal's Côtes du Rhône rosé is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Cinsault and 10% Syrah. It's a dark pink shade, rather full bodied and rich. Some earthy, savory notes help balance out the intense cherry-berry fruit...
jebdunnuck.com, 98 points: Deep ruby-colored and offering a heavenly bouquet of black raspberries, toasted spiced, cured meats, licorice, and cured meats, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Combes des Fous is awesome on the palate, with a silky, seamless...
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