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: 93+ The 2016 Lirac Domaine du Clos de Sixte is a terrific wine, easily the rival to many Châteauneufs from across the river, starting with its alluring aromas of flowering garrigue and ripe cherries. A blend of 50%...
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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.
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...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 90 points: The 2016 Cotes du Rhone Villages Plan de Dieu De Pere en Filles is a full-bodied, open-knit blend of 80% Grenache and 10% each Mourvèdre and Syrah. Hints of alfalfa appear on the nose, while the flavors trend more toward...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points: (90 - 92 points) It is nice to see the quality of this cuvée rebounding. This tank sample of the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape les Cedres shows impressive levels of black cherries, which are joined by hints of espresso and...
Vinous, 95 points: (93-95 Points) (50% new oak) Inky purple. Spicy black and blue fruit preserves, pungent flowers and olive paste on the deeply perfumed nose. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering wonderfully concentrated boysenberry and...
jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: Brilliant stuff, Billon's 2016 Côte Rôtie Les Elotins is a blend of 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier that spent 22 months in once- and twice-used barrels. Deep, rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, it has more depth and richness...
Vinous, 93 points: Inky ruby. Expressive dark fruit aromas are complemented by suggestions of candied flowers, olive and candied licorice, and a bright mineral nuance adds vivacity. Fleshy and open-knit, offering appealingly sweet blueberry...
jebdunnuck.com, 90 points: Garrigue, cedary spice, Peking duck, and ample red and black fruits all emerge from the 2016 Vacqueyras Les Cyprés, which is made from 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah and the rest Mourvèdre. With medium body, no hard edges, a...
Vinous, 94 points: Glass-staining ruby. An expansive bouquet evokes blue fruit preserves, potpourri and olive paste, and a hint of smoky bacon builds in the glass. A vibrant mineral nuance adds energetic lift to sappy boysenberry...
Vinous, 90 points: Deep, brilliant ruby. Spice-accented aromas of fresh black and blue fruits, violet and olive, along with a hint of cola. Juicy and seamless on the palate, offering gently sweet boysenberry and cherry flavors that are...
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