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...
Decanter, 97 points: Dark and brooding with a black fruit core and intense coffee bean notes; abundant toasty oak, spice and lovely black olives; very concentrated, powerful and generous with big, grainy tannins and a long spicy finish.
Wine Spectator, 97 points: There's a velvety, caressing mouthfeel to the waves of Linzer torte, warm cassis and raspberry pâte de fruit flavors, laced with black tea, mulled spice, singed alder and melted licorice notes. The long finish has latent...
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 93 points: (91-93 points) Dark ruby. Aromas and flavors of ripe red and blue fruits pick up floral and peppery spice nuances as the wine opens up. Smooth and expansive on the palate, showing very good depth as well as energy and...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: Now that it has been in bottle a while, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee is looking even better than I projected based on last year's prebottling sample. It's all violets, cherries, subtle allspice and clove...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: Half of the fabulous 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee les Origines was aged in new barriques, the rest in concrete vats, so there is some oak in play here, but the blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 20% Syrah has...
Wine Spectator, 98 points: This has a drop-dead gorgeous core of cassis and raspberry pâte de fruit flavors that holds center stage but still allows notes of Lapsang souchong tea, anise, incense and shiso leaf to chime in. Very long, with a...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: The 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes carries a deep ruby/purple-tinged color as well as a classic bouquet of black raspberries, ground pepper, garrigue and hints of graphite. Gorgeously pure, elegant and seamless...
jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: The top cuvée from Delas is the 2015 Hermitage Les Bessards, and it's always 100% Syrah from the steep, broken granite soils of the Bessards lieu-dit. Aged 18 months in 30% new barrels, its purple/plum color is followed...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points: The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes is a tour de force. Raspberry and apricot-scented fruit, rich chocolate notes and an incredible whirlwind of spice are delivered in this full-bodied wine that shows no...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin is all Grenache, 40% whole cluster, aged in two-thirds foudre and one-third demi-muids and drawn exclusively from sandy sites. It showcases incredibly lush, silky fruit...
Wine Spectator, 94 points: This energetic red offers a big ball of kirsch wound tightly with licorice, graphite and raspberry coulis notes. Shows lots of bright spice accents through the finish, which is carried by finely beaded acidity. Offers...
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...
Antonio Galloni's 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...
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