Just a step behind the La Chapelle this vintage, the 2020 Hermitage La Maison Bleue expresses the non-granitic side of Hermitage, in its opulent fruit and early accessibility. Ripe cherries and raspberries dominate the...

The pale ruby-colored 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape opens with rose water, raspberry, strawberry, dried herbs and licorice aromas. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and built around a smooth tannic structure with absolutely...

Looking better than it did from tank, Cristina's 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape is ripe and rounded, with ample amounts of black cherries and plums, an exception to the overall red-fruited nature of the vintage. Full-bodied...

A firm yet enticing expression with a captivating blend of black cherry, crème de menthe, violets, and black olives. Fresh and vibrant, the palate is silky, with well-integrated tannins and a whisper of clove on the...

(97+ points) From a great terroir in the northern part of Côte Rôtie, the 2020 Côte Rôtie Vallière is another perfumed, mineral-laced 2020, offering a beautiful nose of darker raspberries, camphor, violets, woodsmoke, and...

An earthy, throwback style, with wet earth and forest floor notes overlaying flavors of red plum. Offers a nice core of chewy fruit pierced with iodine, black pepper and mineral elements, all held in place by chunky...

Supple and high-toned, with a rush of smoked cherry, lavender and plum paste flavors. Heady and warm, with succulent acidity and savory details of salty mineral and forest floor. Packs serious power and density on the...

(94+ points) The 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape La Combe des Fous is an assemblage of 60% Grenache (planted in 1905 on sandy soils and typically raised in concrete), 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault and 10% Vaccarese (these are...

A sultry, extroverted style, oozing raspberry coulis and smoked red currant flavors set against cigar box and iron underpinnings. This has a suave texture, with plenty of decadence reined in by the fine tannins and notes...

(94+ points) Also terrific, the 2020 Saint Joseph La Cotte Sud has a riper, spicier style in its red and black fruits, scorched earth, violets, and spicy, incense, and meaty nuances. It's another powerful, concentrated...

A fresh, pure and vibrant style, with abundant flavors of just-ripe plum and smoked cherry, bolstered by snappy, pepper-edged acidity and highlighted by beautiful violet notes. Shows a supple palate, with savory acidity...

(94+ points) The 2020 Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos is tighter and more focused, with a more blue-fruited perfume of cassis, graphite, violets, and peppered meat-like aromas and flavors. The polar opposite of the broad, ripe...

Drawn from old-vine Grenache in the sandy soils of Pignan, Charbonnière and Mourre de Gaud, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Grenaches de Pierre features veritable bushels of black cherries, plus complex notes of garrigue and...

Perfumed and appealing, with pretty violet, hibiscus, fresh plum and red currant notes that turn supple and mouthfilling on the palate. A harmonious wine, with singed alder and oak spice sweetness in perfect balance. The...

Stating 15.5% alcohol on the label, the modern-styled 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tradition is a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre. Pale ruby-colored, swirling the glass unveils aromas of cooked red and black...

(94+ points) Showing consistently, and certainly giving some perspective with regards to the 2021, the 2020 Saint Joseph is gorgeously rich and textured, medium to full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe black fruits...

Inky violet color. High-pitched cherry and black raspberry scents are complemented by building floral and mineral notes. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering intense red and blue fruit liqueur, licorice and olive...

Offering up enticing aromas of very ripe red and black fruits, dried herbs, licorice and hints of white pepper, the complex 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is full-bodied, muscular and firmly structured. Already drinking well...

The 2020 Cornas Chante Perdrix comes from a mix of parcels and was brought up in a mix of new and used oak. It's another stunning 2020 from this estate that has so much to love. Revealing a deep plum hue as well as...

Elegant, refined style of aromas, with raspberry and a touch of wild herbs. A well balanced and elegant style, with proper depth and length. It’s drinking well already, and will improve, but is very suited for drinking...

Moving to the single vineyard 2020 Côte Rôtie La Landonne, this beauty is 100% Syrah that spent 16 months in a mix of new and used barrels. It's similarly deep purple/plum-hued yet has a more mineral-laced, focused...

(98+ points) Almost pure perfection, the 2020 Côte Rôtie La Landonne just about jumps out of the glass and offers up utterly classic La Landonne aromatics of smoked black fruits, cassis, scorched earth, cured meats, and...

The 2020 Cote Rotie Neve is really pretty stuff this vintage. Starting with a lovely mix of violets, menthol, cedar, raspberries and blueberries, it has fantastic perfume and lift on the nose, a fine, elegant...

The classic 2020 Saint-Joseph Les Grisières presents wafts of graphite, crushed violets, ripe red fruits and cedary undertones. Elegant and refined, this concentrated and neatly structured red has all the ingredients for...

(VN 96-98 points) Glass-staining purple. Assertively perfumed cassis, cherry liqueur, fruitcake and floral aromas take on espresso, olive and smoky bacon accents with aeration. Juicy, chewy and energetic on the palate...

(VN 96-98 points) Glass-staining purple. Assertively perfumed cassis, cherry liqueur, fruitcake and floral aromas take on espresso, olive and smoky bacon accents with aeration. Juicy, chewy and energetic on the palate...

The 2020 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert seems to have put on weight since last tasted from barrel, improving with its élevage. Faint herbal notions and a bit of crushed stone accent black cherries on the nose. In...

The 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Galimardes aged for 18 months in a combination of new oak barriques and concrete vats. It offers up intense aromas of rose petals, very ripe red fruits, exotic spices and a dash of white...

The base Côte Rôtie from Rostaing seems to always deliver, and the 2020 Côte Rôtie Ampodium might be the best yet. Deep purple-hued, with a brilliant nose of black raspberries, spring flowers, camphor, scorched earth, and...

(94+ points) Harvested mid-September and from a lieu-dit in the southern part of the appellation, the 2020 Côte Rôtie Maison Rouge (100% Syrah with 40% stems) was vinified and aged in barrels, some of which were new...