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.
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: (95-97) A wine that’s going to be up with the finest vintage ever from this estate, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape (75% Grenache, 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, and the balance Cinsault) offers a southern Rhône...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: (94-97) Moving to the reds, I was able to taste all of the components of the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape and this will unquestionably be another terrific vintage from this estate. All of the samples had inky, purple colors...
jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: (98-100) Incorporating 8% Mourvèdre, 12% Syrah and 5% other permitted variety, 60% destemmed, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes sports a deep, inky color as well as sensational notes of black currants...
jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: (97-100) Made with close to 50% stems (the highest in a while) and brought up in foudre and demi-muids (20% new), the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin sports deep ruby/purple color as well as sensational notes of...
jebdunnuck.com, 99 points: (96-99 points) A blockbuster in the making is the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape les Quartz, which is 100% Grenache from the les Cassanets lieu-dit just beside the estate. Garrigue, kirsch, black raspberries, spice, and incense...
Wine Enthusiast, 90 points: Guigal's Côtes du Rhône rosé is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Cinsault and 10% Syrah. It's a dark pink shade, rather full bodied and rich. Some earthy, savory notes help balance out the intense cherry-berry fruit...
jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: (98-100) Leading off the three single vineyard whites, the 2016 Ermitage Cuvée De L’Orée is a huge, unctuous white that delivers the goods. Orange marmalade, buttered citrus, honeycomb and brioche all soar from the glass...
jebdunnuck.com, 96 points: (JD94-96 points) One of the finest Crozes out there is the 2016 Crozes Ermitage Les Varonniers, which comes from the northern part of the appellation (right next to Hermitage) and broken granite soils. It’s a...
Wine Spectator, 96 points: A lovely acacia note leads the way here, with additional accents of honeysuckle, Key lime, white peach and mirabelle plum following quickly. The very bright, racy, mineral-fueled finish sets this apart from the...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: (95-97+) Much more mineral-driven, the 2016 Saint Joseph Le Clos comes from an early ripening parcel located south of Tournon, high up on the granite slopes overlooking the Rhône River. It sports an inky color as well as...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: (95-97) Last of the Côte Rôtie releases, the deeply colored 2016 Côte Rôtie La Mordorée has a gorgeous nose of black raspberries, toasted bread, candied flowers and lavender. Full-bodied, voluptuous and sexy on the...
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