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.
Vinous, 92 points: (90-92 points) Brilliant ruby. Pungent dark berry, licorice and garrigue aromas are energized by a hint of white pepper. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry, cassis and blood orange flavors that show...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points: As I reported last year, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee da Capo is impressive. While it's less flamboyantly aromatic than the Cuvée Réservée, it's more powerful and concentrated. Full-bodied and rich, it's loaded with...
jebdunnuck.com, 93 points: Both Saint Joseph releases are brilliant in 2015. The 2015 Saint Joseph François De Tournon comes vines around Tournon, Mauves, Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, and Vion, and is always destemmed and aged in 30% new barrels. This...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape is a terrific effort. Blended from six different lieux-dits, it's roughly 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. The result features bright raspberry fruit, plenty of weight and richness...
jebdunnuck.com, 98 points: One of the gems of the vintage is the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Deus Ex Machina which is as always, a 60/40 split of Grenache and Mourvèdre. It offers sensational notes of blackberries, ground herbs, white chocolate and an...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: Lastly, the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Sanctus Sanctorum is another 2015 that’s all about finesse and purity. Coming from a single parcel of very old vines in the La Crau Lieu-dit, it boasts full-bodied richness and depth...
jebdunnuck.com, 96 points: The 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Combe des Fous shows the seamless, silky side to the vintage, and has closed down slightly since I tasted it from barrel. Its big, intense nose of black cherries, blueberries, white chocolate...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Pied de Baud, a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault, offers compelling scents of rose petals and raspberries on the nose. While not as richly textural as some of the other...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: Consisting of one-third each Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Coralie et Floriane is a spectacular wine. It's a blend of lots from three different lieux-dits, each with a different soil type...
Wine Spectator, 96 points: This has an intense core of crushed plum, raspberry and boysenberry fruit flavors, draped with melted licorice notes and backed by a wave of warm fruitcake. Hedonistic for sure, but accents of anise, violet and singed...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Saintes Vierges is the most flattering of Santa Duc's current releases, offering lushness and generosity on the palate, notes of cherries and licorice, creamy-supple tannins and a...
jebdunnuck.com, 96 points: (94-96 points) Belle's inky colored 2015 Hermitage looks to be a stunner. This cuvée comes all from the more sandy, limestone soils of the Les Murets lieu-dit and will see 26 months in barrel. It has a gorgeous bouquet of...
jebdunnuck.com, 95 points: The Mourvèdre dominated 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Part des Anges (70% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache and 10% Syrah aged mostly in new barrels) is also deep ruby/purple in color. It offers a modern style in its blackberry...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Habemus Papam suffers only by comparison to the domaine's other micro-cuvées. It still delivers lovely cherry and stone fruit notes, medium to full body and ample concentration. The tannins...
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 99 points: Powerful aromatics packed with blackberry and black cherry liqueur, crushed stone, smoke, licorice, coffee, crème de cassis and vanilla get your attention. This thick, viscous, flamboyant wine is a head turner. Silky...
Showing 15 of 46 wines
Dear Customer We are having problems processing your request. Please contact our sales office between 9 AM and 5 PM (PST) for further assistance at 1.888.859.4637.
Its always been a pleasure doing business with JJ Buckley. I've ordered from other online suppliers in the past but I almost exclusively order from JJ Buckley now. I feel their reviews of the wines are honest and pretty spot on. Wines seem to be stored properly and are always shipped in proper packaging.
-James M., June 2017