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, 97 points: This is intense, as dense ganache, espresso, roasted juniper and alder notes form an impressive frame around an equally ornate core of steeped fig, blackberry and black currant fruit flavors, all while maintaining...
Wine Spectator, 95 points: Features ample stuffing, with lots of dark plum sauce, crushed cherry and warm blackberry confiture flavors forming the core. Melted black licorice, plum eau-de-vie and black tea notes fill in the background. Reveals a...
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: (92-94) Apparently, there's no Les Celestins in 2013, which was a challenging vintage in the Southern Rhône. That said, the barrel we tasted of the 2013 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Marie Beurrier was a bit light but elegant...
Wine Spectator, 97 points: Sleek, with mouthwatering red currant, raspberry and cherry preserve flavors forming the core, while a dusting of cocoa, a snap of red licorice and a long, lingering iron spine complete the picture. Very pure and...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: The cream of the lineup is the 2013 Hermitage le Méal. Not harvested until October and aged 18 months in 20% new oak, it has killer notes of jammy blackberry, black raspberry, crushed rocks, garrigue and olive tapenade...
Decanter, 97 points: Tasted at Château La Lagune, owner Caroline Frey's Bordeaux outpost. One of the legendary wines from Hermitage Hil, La Chapelle comes from pretty much the only spot on the Rhone's Left Bank where you find granite, along...
Vinous, 94 points: Bright violet. Expansive, mineral-tinged aromas of black and blue fruit preserves, potpourri and olive, and a spicy nuance that builds in the glass. Sweet, tightly focused cassis, boysenberry and floral pastille flavors...
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