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.
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 100 points: Inky, dark, ruby in color, the combines insane levels of intensity with refinement and elegance. The black fruits has a surreal sense of purity. The wine is concentrated, deep and long, with peppery nuances and dark red...
Wine Spectator, 97 points: Densely fruited, featuring yellow apple, peach, pear and mirabelle plum flavors, but lithe and pure as well, with light floral, quinine and salted butter notes rippling underneath. The very long finish shows latent energy...
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...
jamessuckling.com, 98 points: (JS 97-98 points) Very spicy and peppery with blue-granite aromas plus hints of grilled and smoked meat. Cloves and nutmeg. Full body, round and juicy tannins and a super spicy finish that almost burns with so much...
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...
jebdunnuck.com, 96 points: (96+ points) Similar to Beaucastel’s top cuvée, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tintot is a Mourvèdre-dominated (there’s 15% Grenache) behemoth that's going to require bottle age. Cured meats, toasted spice, graphite, and...
Decanter, 94 points: From the Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel. This has really vibrant blackberry and blackcurrant aromas with sage and thyme beneath, very fresh and well-defined. The full-bodied wine has concentrated fruits, with...
jebdunnuck.com, 98 points: (98 points) Similarly colored to the classic cuvée, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Quet is 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre. It offers a huge, rich, powerful style that never goes over the top and stays balanced and graceful...
jebdunnuck.com, 98 points: One of the best vintages ever for this cuvée, the 2016 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Quartz boasts knockout aromas of cassis and blackberry fruits intermixed with loads of garrigue, ground pepper, earth, and licorice. It’s...
Wine Enthusiast, 97 points: Sun-baked garrigue and smoky notes of iron and earth accent intensely ripe black cherry and cassis in this wine. Made from 100% Syrah, it's a hulking powerhouse of black-fruit flavors but finessed by firm acidity and...
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 98 points: Inky, full bodied, deep, long and intense, the wine is meaty, fresh, powerful, tannic, full bodied, long, fresh and rich. The fruit is ripe, and so are the soft, polished, yet persistent tannins. This should age for...
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...
jebdunnuck.com, 96 points: The flagship from this estate is the 2016 Saint Joseph Paradis Saint Pierre, which comes from an incredible terroir high up on the granite slopes just outside of Mauves. Deep purple-colored, with a stunning array of...
jebdunnuck.com, 93 points: The 2016 Saint Joseph is beautiful and shows the purity and elegance that’s the hallmark of the vintage. Blackberries, blueberries, peppery herbs, and wet granite-like notes all emerge from this incredibly juicy, racy...
jebdunnuck.com, 95 points: The base 2016 Cornas from Robert is a killer wine that shows the style of the vintage as well as the quality of the estate brilliantly. Crème de cassis, blackberries, smoked earth, spice, and hints of meatiness all flow...
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