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.
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...
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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.
jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: 94+ I loved 2015 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine De Roure, which offers a firm, structured, yet impressive style. Black raspberries, graphite, scorched earth and plenty of minerality emerge from the glass and it has building...
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...
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, 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, 99 points: Reminding me of the 2009 La Chapelle (which is a personal favorite), the brilliant 2017 Hermitage La Chapelle knocks it out of the park with its massive, opulent personality. Notes of smoked black fruits, scorched earth...
jamessuckling.com, 94 points: (93-94 points) A rich and layered red with a sweet and silky middle plate. Spices, black pepper and smoked meat.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: Possessing more stuffing than the '12 (but maybe not its purity and seamlessness), the 2009 Cote Rotie offers tons of cassis, black raspberry, incense, peppery herbs and violets in a ripe, full-bodied, richly textured...
jamessuckling.com, 94 points: Impressive structure in this St.-Joseph. Really powerful fruit here. Aromas of red plums and cherries, pepper and sweetly spiced wood, leading to a palate with red-plums, cola and black-cherry flavors. Super fresh and...
Wine Enthusiast, 96 points: While unyielding and reserved in youth, this majestic Syrah has a pulsating core of black plum and berry flavors. Glimpses of sage, olive and black pepper peek through the midpalate before closing on firm, fine-grained...
Wine Spectator, 93 points: Fresh and very lively in feel, with nicely embedded acidity driving the delicious plum, cassis and blackberry fruit flavors along, Lots of bright bay leaf, savory and iron notes stream through the finish. Shows solid cut...
jebdunnuck.com, 96 points: (96+ points) The 2017 Cornas Pur Granit is a smaller production release that's all from granite soils and was brought up in used demi-muids. It offers more iron and bloody notes (which is classic Granit) intermixed with...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points: Vernay's 2017 Cote Rotie Blonde du Seigneur features attractive hints of mint and red berries on the nose. It's only medium-bodied, but it's admirably concentrated, with a silky-creamy texture on the palate and charming...
Wine Spectator, 91 points: Tightly wound, with a core of braised fig, currant paste and coffee notes held in check by iron and tar. There's rather muscular grip for the vintage, and the long finish shows slightly taut tannins but is a bit shy on...
Decanter, 91 points: The Jaboulets need little introduction, being as they are one of the leading winemaking families in this small part of the world. This Crozes-Hermitage has structure and breadth thanks to 12 months spent in new French...
jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: The 2015 Côte Rôtie Les Pierrelles shows its southern roots (it’s from the more granite portions of the southern end of Côte Rôtie) with a pure, elegant, silky style that’s hard to resist. Black raspberries, spiced meats...
jebdunnuck.com, 92 points: Similarly purple-colored, the 2015 Côte Rôtie Côte Rozier offers more minerality as well as hints of oak, in its ripe black raspberry-like fruits, spice, and dried flower aromas and flavors. It’s a ripe, sexy, polished...
jamessuckling.com, 94 points: Impressive, spicy depth to the nose with intense, dark berries and a wealth of licorice. The palate has a smoldering core of fine, mineral-flecked tannins and bold, vibrant, berry flavors. Long, succulent and juicy...
jebdunnuck.com, 93 points: 93+ The medium ruby-colored 2016 Saint Joseph La Croix Des Vignes (this comes from a more south-facing slope to the left of the Vignes de Hospice) offers classic granite notes of black raspberries, crushed rocks...
jebdunnuck.com, 93 points: Starting with the 2018 Saint Joseph Domaine, this beauty boasts a deep purple hue as well as a rounded, sexy, mouthfilling style that carries fabulous black and blue fruits, peppery herbs, licorice, and spice-driven...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points: Similar to the La Mouline with its forward, incredibly sexy style, the 2012 Côte Rôtie La Turque (there’s 7% Viognier in the blend) offers a saturated purple color to go with meaty, smoky notes of cassis, cured meats...
jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: Lastly, the 2015 Ermitage L’Ermite offers that classic, searing granite/ozone-laced bouquet of crème de cassis, liquid rocks, graphite, and lead pencil. More tight, focused and backward than the Pavillon, it's no less...
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...
jamessuckling.com, 90 points: Smells of granitic, dusty and stony soil with a heart of boysenberry and raspberry fruit, as well as some riper red plums. The palate rolls out assertive ripe tannins, coal smoke and red fruits. It finishes with dark...
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