Spicy, peppery, black raspberries, flowers, smoky herbs, and kirsch notes are all over the aromatics. The palate is even better with its layers of sweet, ripe, dark red fruits, spices, herbs, elegant, supple-textures, and...

The advantages of old vines are perhaps most evident in the more difficult vintages (whether hot and dry or cool and rainy). The 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a strong effort, delivering supple, velvety...

Louis Barruol has turned out a successful 2021 Cote Rotie, evoking hints of espresso, smoked meat, black olives and tart berries. It's medium-bodied and silky-textured, with tea-like notes on the complex, elegant finish.- JC

One of the darker wines of the vintage, its blend of 70% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache and 10% Syrah works well this year. Smoke, flowers, spice, meat, espresso, incense, and dark red fruits in the nose get even better on the...

The 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape is just as tasty as the Boisrenard special cuvée this vintage, with very similar notes of black raspberries, black olives and garrigue. Perhaps a bit lighter-bodied (still medium to...

One of the darker wines of the vintage, its blend of 70% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache and 10% Syrah works well this year. Smoke, flowers, spice, meat, espresso, incense, and dark red fruits in the nose get even better on the...

Checking in at 14.83% alcohol, the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a refined and predominately red-fruited beauty. Licorice and herbaceous components add more dimension. Framed by gentle tannins and more medium- than...

An elegant expression of Cornas, with real complexity. High-toned cherry and olive tapenade are laced with sweet bay leaf, lavender and earth. Well-managed tannins support the supple core of red fruit. Shows a refined...

An elegant expression of Cornas, with real complexity. High-toned cherry and olive tapenade are laced with sweet bay leaf, lavender and earth. Well-managed tannins support the supple core of red fruit. Shows a refined...

A savory, herbaceous and spicy Côte-Rôtie in a somewhat leaner style, yet this boasts a seductive textural purity, with all elements nicely meshed. Liberally dusted in white and black pepper, while a core of red fruit...

A savory, herbaceous and spicy Côte-Rôtie in a somewhat leaner style, yet this boasts a seductive textural purity, with all elements nicely meshed. Liberally dusted in white and black pepper, while a core of red fruit...

Pronounced blood orange, black cherry jam, blackcurrant, dried violet, pencil shaving and cedar notes introduce the 2021 Cornas Reynard. Stemmy funk adds more complexity to the mix. Hitting the full-bodied palate with...

An assemblage of 45% Grenache, 45% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah, the 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes follows the domaine's formula of maturing the Grenache in concrete tanks, while the Mourvèdre and Syrah go into...

A vibrant and well-structured St.-Joseph with intense violet aroma in the nose and on the palate. This is well complemented by the crisp tannins and smoky character. Racy and very mineral at the long linear finish. From...

The 2021 Cornas Chaillot outperforms the rustic 2020 I tasted on the same occasion. Ripe black fruit, graphite, cedar, stemmy facets and peppery nuances are all amplified in the glass. Intense and expressive, the medium-...

Perfumed cherry and spices are textured in this graceful version. Starts off glossy, but tannins take hold, giving a firm shape and focused finish. Black pepper, mocha and violet chime in, along with a sanguine thread of...

The 2021 Saint Joseph Blanc is clearly outstanding, offering bright citrus, orange blossom, and honeyed flower notes in a medium-bodied, elegant, beautifully balanced package. I like its mid-palate depth and...

The 2021 Côte-Rôtie Côte Brune is a towering success. It unwinds with a mesmerizingly complex perfume of juniper, crushed violets, chamomile, blueberry jam, menthol and herbal tea. Licorice and black pepper add spicy...

(92+ points) The 2021 Côte Rôtie Maison Rouge is lively and fresh yet still brings good concentration and depth. Ripe blackberries, game, violets, damp flowers, and subtle spicy notes all define the aromatics, and it's...

There's a sanguine, old-school feel to this red, with cured meat, balsamic and tapenade notes surrounding the core of red berries and earth. With a harmonious texture and some concentration for the lean vintage, this...

The 2021 Cornas Chaillot outperforms the rustic 2020 I tasted on the same occasion. Ripe black fruit, graphite, cedar, stemmy facets and peppery nuances are all amplified in the glass. Intense and expressive, the medium-...

Pronounced blood orange, black cherry jam, blackcurrant, dried violet, pencil shaving and cedar notes introduce the 2021 Cornas Reynard. Stemmy funk adds more complexity to the mix. Hitting the full-bodied palate with...