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.
Wine Spectator, 91 points: Solidly built, with a tarry frame that integrates nicely into the core of steeped plum and blackberry fruit. A melted licorice edge drives through on the finish, while the fruit wins out easily. Best from 2018 through...
jebdunnuck.com, 96 points: A new cuvée that’s replacing the Petit Chapelle, the 2015 Hermitage La Maison Bleue comes from grapes on the eastern side of the appellation, which is more limestone, clay, and sedimentary soils. Brought up in 20% new oak...
jebdunnuck.com, 98 points: Deeper and richer than the Champelrose, the 2015 Cornas La Sabarotte comes from a great vineyard in the middle of the appellation and was raised in new barrels. Its huge nose of black raspberries, cassis, licorice, and...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: The finest vintage to date, better even than the stellar 2010, the 2015 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine De Thalabert is a gorgeous, deep, layered, and incredibly satisfying Crozes. Blackcurrants, olive tapenade, truffles and...
Wine Spectator, 95 points: This has a gorgeous mouthfeel, with a velvety yet racy edge allowing the dark plum, black cherry compote, anise, iron and dark olive notes to unfurl through the long finish. Should age well. Best from 2016 through 2026. – JM
jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: Lastly, the inky colored (it's even deeper than the Sabarotte) 2015 Cornas Les Eygats comes from a cooler terroir located in the northern part of the appellation. Raised in equal parts new and used barrels, it offers an...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: Just a step behind the Sainte Epine, the 2012 St Joseph Cuvee Francois de Tournon exhibits classic black raspberry, cassis, spiced meats and hints of licorice in its ripe, supple and beautifully pure profile. Aged 16...
Wine Spectator, 94 points: Very focused, with a lovely beam of lightly steeped red currant, bitter cherry and plum fruit flavors that glides atop singed cedar, black tea and dried star anise notes. The long finish is very fine-grained. A gorgeous...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points: 98+ The star of the show in 2013 is the 2013 Ermitage le Pavillon. Coming from the west and eastern edges of the Bessards lieu-dit and aged in 30% new French oak, its sensational black/blue color is followed by the...
jebdunnuck.com, 96 points: The 2015 Saint Joseph Les Royes offers a similar, if not slightly darker purple color to go with additional minerality, tons of cassis, graphite and charcoal aromatics, building tannin, and a great, great finish. Like a...
Wine Spectator, 95 points: Offers a solid, dark profile, with baker's chocolate, loam and warm gravel notes providing the bass line, while a core of plum and blackberry compote waits in reserve. Solidly rendered, showing ample grip, this just needs...
Wine Spectator, 91 points: An alluring style, with a whiff of white pepper giving way to sleek sanguine and iron notes that race along, presenting pretty bitter cherry and damson plum fruit flavors. The long finish lets savory and mineral details...
Wine Spectator, 94 points: This marries old-school Cornas notes of dark bramble, charcoal, olive and bay leaf to more modern-styled and vivid flavors of blackberry, raspberry and boysenberry. Everything flows together seamlessly through the long...
jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: Lastly, and a legendary wine in the making, the 2015 Hermitage La Chapelle is reminiscent of the 1990 with its full-bodied, opulently, sexy, yet concentrated style. Offering sensational notes of blackcurrants, smoked...
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 95 points: Opaque ruby. An assertively scented, complex bouquet features mineral-accented boysenberry, cherry liqueur, licorice and smoky mineral aromas that expand with air. Stains the palate with sweet, dense black and blue fruit...
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