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.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 91 points: Solitude's 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape is 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre and 10% Cinsault, aged in a combination of barriques, demi-muids, foudres and concrete (only one-fourth went into wood). For the vintage, it...
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 90 points: Earthy, with plush, polished, ripe tannins, fresh, sweet, ripe, red fruits and a nice, purity in the soft textured, pure, kirsch finish. Read more...
jebdunnuck.com, 93 points: (91-93+ points)A step up, with more depth and density, the 2018 Rasteau Les Argiles Bleues is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah that was brought up in foudre. Incredibly pure notes of cassis, black raspberries, new...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: One of the stars of the vintage and coming from absurdly low yields of 18 hectoliters per hectare, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape is a full-bodied, seamless effort that exhibits copious kirsch, ground pepper, dried flowers...
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 97 points: Deep, dark and spicy, with lush, fresh, dark cherries, earth, herbs and peppery kirsch. The wine is fresh, concentrated, lush and full, with layers of dark spicy, earthy, peppery fruits in the finish. The wine is produced...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a bigger, richer, more opulent wine. Beautiful notes of blackcurrants, scorched earth, graphite, and crushed violets, all flow to a full-bodied, Châteauneuf Du Pape that has...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: As always, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée De Mon Aïeul is all Grenache (from La Serres, La Crau, and La Guigasse) that was not destemmed and was brought up all in used demi-muids. It's an extraordinary wine, offering...
Wine Spectator, 96 points: Very silky in feel, with beguiling rooibos tea, bergamot and blood orange accents sitting atop the large core of cassis and raspberry pâte de fruit. Everything is in lockstep through the finish, where buried minerality...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: 95+ A non-vintage blend of Xavier’s favorite vintage, the NV Châteauneuf du Pape X XII XV is a massive, thick, unctuous beauty that’s almost overflowing with notes of dark fruits, blackberries, truffle, chocolate and...
jebdunnuck.com, 91 points: I loved the 2016 Côtes du Rhône Syrah and it’s a baby Côte Rôtie. Sweet black fruits, incense, peppery herbs, and bacon fat notes all emerge from this elegant, rounded, incredibly classic Northern Rhône Syrah that I’d be...
jamessuckling.com, 96 points: This is 70% grenache with the remainder equal parts syrah and mourvèdre. Aromas of ripe raspberry, red plum and cherry, with herbs, pepper and a whole bunch of sappiness, too. The palate has radiant, regal tannins in fine...
jamessuckling.com, 96 points: A stonier, more mineral expression of white Châteauneuf with impressive body and concentration. Super fresh, white flowers, flint and delicate pears here. The palate has a strong, mineral edge, smooth phenolics, fleshy...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points: The 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Les Grenaches de Pierre is certainly a success, and like the base cuvée, has a Pinot Noir-like elegance and charm. Black raspberries, framboise, crushed flowers and hints of minerality...
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