About the Rhone wine region
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.
While pulsating with ripeness, a bristling freshness and spine-tingling delicacy of texture make this basic bottling from Pierre Usseglio extraordinary. Red-plum and raspberry flavors are concentrated yet plush, etched by...
You can taste and feel the intensity from the low yields here. At its core you find layers of earth, garrigue and peppery kirsch, black raspberry, cherry and spicy red plums. Richly textured with soft, silky tannins and a...
(JD 97-99 points) I was blown away by the 2018 Côte Rôtie Château D'Ampuis, which is certainly in the same league as the famed La Las. Coming from seven single vineyards and seeing the same upbringing as the flagship...
This is dark, savoury, potent and concentrated. It has great vibrancy of fruit coupled with real depth of integrated structural tannins and all matched with a gently throbbing acidity. It’s very ripe but not oversweet...
A rich, mouthfilling effort, Vieux Donjon's 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape is concentrated and velvety, showing plenty of power and weight. Ripe cherries and raspberries are dusted with clove and star anise, then joined by...
All of the classic Cote-Rotie aromas (leather, smoked bacon, spices and black cherry) pour from the glass of this rich and fleshy wine. Very silky texture, in spite of the generous, fine tannins, which build beautifully...
(96-98 points) Classy hints of pencil shavings accent the pear, nectarine and melon fruit in the full-bodied, voluptuous 2018 Ermitage de l'Orée. Despite the wine's ample richness and weight, it's surprisingly fresh and...
A killer wine as always, the 2018 Saint Joseph Les Granits Blanc reveals a medium gold color as well as powerful notes of white currants, toasted spices, brioche, quince, and crushed rock. With beautiful richness, medium...
Straight up stunning, the 2018 Côte Rôtie La Mordorée does everything right and is a borderline perfect Côte Rôtie readers should snatch up. Coming from the La Côte Brune and Côte Blonde lieux-dits, it’s 100% Syrah (I...
Rich, deep, meaty, peppery, powerful and packed with dark red berries, spice and herbs. One of the densest wines of the vintage, due to the preponderance of Mourvedre in the blend, this full-bodied, concentrated wine is...
A dark, winey style, with lots of fig, plum and blackberry paste flavors layered together, with sweet tobacco, licorice snap and warm earth accents filling in. Packed but defined, with a graphite spine through the finish...
(92-94 points) A normal blend, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape is a rocking wine that exudes elegance and finesse, yet still packs the classic Clos Saint Jean richness and depth. Offering notes of kirsch liqueur, licorice...
The wine of the vintage. Compelling in every sense of the word, the wine is incredibly dark in color. The aromatics kick off with an amazing display of spices, herbs, wet earth, leaf, pepper, grilled meat, black...
While I've had multiple looks at previous vintages, this is my first review of the 2018 Hermitage Ligne de Crete Les Grandes Vignes. Inky in hue, it boasts powerful, brooding aromas that include hints of hardwood...
(94 - 97 points) Tasted from a new barrel, the 2018 Cote Rotie Rose Pourpre features mocha and plum notes. It's full-bodied, rich and velvety, with that weight offset by cool menthol notes, and the lengthy finish even...
(90-92 points) In addition to their brilliant Chateauneuf du Papes, this estate makes two terrific Rasteau. Their 2018 Rasteau offers a medium to full-bodied, fruit-forward, balanced style as well as the more blue fruit...
(93-94 points) Aromas of ripe, spice-tinged dark berries and pungent flowers are sharpened by sneaky mineral and spice flourishes. Spicy and focused on the palate, offering juicy blackberry, cherry and violet pastille...
Up with the crème de la crème of the vintage, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a bigger, richer wine than the Les Origines cuvée and has a beautiful core of smoked black fruits, candied violets, peppery...
While not submitted to my tasting (and it wasn't presented from barrel last year), it would be hard to imagine there won't be a Les Vieilles Fontaines cuvée. Don't miss a chance to buy a bottle if you find one. Moving to...
This has a showy side, with expressive singed vanilla, alder and mocha notes leading the way, followed by plush plum and blackberry compote flavors. The finish pulls in warm earth and iron hints, adding cut and range...
(90-91 points) Aromas of ripe dark fruit, spicecake, succulent herbs and candied flowers; a smoky mineral element adds verve. Sweet, palate-coating blueberry, dark cherry, allspice and smoky bacon flavors deepen steadily...
(95-97 points) I was able to taste numerous barrel samples of the 2018 Côte Rôtie, all rating between 95 and 99 points, which is a good sign! Most barrels were not destemmed and all the samples displayed inky colors...
(92-94 points) The base Gigondas, the 2018 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes is a blend from both the La Louisiane and Pigière lieux-dits near the estate (due to the dismal yields, there’s no Souteyrade cuvée in 2018) and is 80%...
Including slightly more Mourvèdre and from a cooler, higher elevation terroir, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Hauts-Lieux has more cassis, game, peppery herbs, and olive notes, as well as the classic violets and black...
An attractively fresh and fragrant nose with acacia-like perfume, chamomile and fresh pear aromas. The palate has a super juicy peach core with such fresh, fleshy appeal and a late, toasty glow. Drink this now.
A very refined, silky style, with subtle bitter cherry, damson plum and raspberry coulis notes racing through, flanked by garrigue and sandalwood notes and ending with graceful rooibos tea and mineral threads. This offers...
Composed of 70% Clairette (supplemented by 25% Grenache Blanc and 5% Bourboulenc), this is a full-bodied but spry white that showcases pert lemon and grapefruit flavors. Wisps of honey and caramel lend softness to the...
Deep red cherry and spiced berry notes on the nose. This has a nice mouthfeel where the soft tannins subtly coat the mouth. There's spice and soft, chewy, jammy fruit on the palate. It's not overly layered but it's...
Dark magenta. Lively cherry and blackberry aromas are complemented by suggestions of smoky minerals, olive and candied flowers. Juicy black and blue fruit flavors show very good clarity and pick up hints of star anise...
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- Gary B., November 2019 “I have a private client representative at JJ Buckley who helps me. I have a relationship with him built over years of doing business. He takes care of me and that has a value. I have only had good experiences in doing business with JJ Buckley and I attribute that to their selection, pricing, and fantastic service”.
“I have a private client representative at JJ Buckley who helps me. I have a relationship with him built over years of doing business. He takes care of me and that has a value. I have only had good experiences in doing business with JJ Buckley and I attribute that to their selection, pricing, and fantastic service”.
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