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, 93 points: The best bottle I've ever had, the 2005 Hermitage la Chapelle showed much more density and concentration than I recall. Peppery herbs, currants, dried blood and licorice flow beautifully to a medium to full-bodied wine...
jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: (92-94 points) Moving to the Cornas releases, the 2018 Cornas Granit 30 comes from slightly younger vines and vineyards further down on the slope, closer to the village. Completely destemmed and brought up in used...
jebdunnuck.com, 98 points: While not submitted to my tasting (and it wasn't presented from barrel last year), it would be hard to imagine there won't be a Les Vieilles Fontaines cuvée. Don't miss a chance to buy a bottle if you find one. Moving to...
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jamessuckling.com, 95 points: (JS 94-95 points) This is a juicy and flavorful young wine with dusty and polished tannins. Lots of wild fruit and dark-berry and volcanic/salt undertones. Flavorful finish.
Decanter, 92 points: From Caroline Frey, also of Bordeaux’s Château La Lagune, this has a savoury nose and a lively blackcurrant and berry palate boasting black pepper spiciness. Serious, but smooth and supple, and ever so easy to drink.
Vinous, 93 points: Glass-staining ruby. Powerful scents of red and dark berry preserves, smoked meat, violet and minerals offer impressive clarity and expand in the glass. Velvety in texture, with deep, liqueur-like red berry flavors...
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...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: An almost Hermitage-like bouquet of burning embers, cassis, graphite, woodsmoke, and spring flowers emerges from the 2018 Cornas La Sabarotte, which comes from a tiny, south-facing vineyard in this heralded appellation...
jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: This terroir always delivers a wild, opulent, gamey style of wine, and the 2017 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert doesn’t disappoint. Loads of chocolaty black fruits, ground pepper, truffle, and smoked game, as well...
jebdunnuck.com, 98 points: (98+ points) As I wrote last year from barrel, the 2018 Hermitage La Chapelle is a backward, primordial Hermitage built for the ages. Incredible crème de cassis, blueberries, scorched earth, burning embers, and liquid...
Vinous, 94 points: Inky ruby. Black and blue fruits, olive, peony, incense and smoky mineral qualities on the deeply perfumed nose. Palate-staining blueberry, cherry liqueur, fruitcake and floral pastille flavors become more energetic with...
Vinous, 94 points: Dark ruby. Fresh black and blue fruits, candied flowers and exotic spices on the intensely perfumed nose, lifted by a smoky mineral overtone. Smooth, sweet and seamless in the mouth, offering powerful blueberry, cherry...
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...
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JJ Buckley provides good value and exceptional wines. Some of these wines although they can be expensive are difficult to find. The shipping is typically timely and customer service when required is very good.
-Alan C., April 2021