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.
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: A gorgeous intensity of plum, spice and grilled meat on the nose. Cloves and hints of dried spices. This is a big, structured La Chappelle. Full and powerful with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. A bit austere and...
jebdunnuck.com, 99 points: Reminding me of the 2009 La Chapelle (which is a personal favorite), the brilliant 2017 Hermitage La Chapelle knocks it out of the park with its massive, opulent personality. Notes of smoked black fruits, scorched earth...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: (93-95) Although the fruit sourcing has changed from the old days, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert remains a solid offering in the Jaboulet lineup. Violets accent blackberries and plums on the nose, while...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: One of the stars of the vintage and coming from absurdly low yields of 18 hectoliters per hectare, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape is a full-bodied, seamless effort that exhibits copious kirsch, ground pepper, dried flowers...
TheWineCellarInsider.com, 97 points: Deep, dark and spicy, with lush, fresh, dark cherries, earth, herbs and peppery kirsch. The wine is fresh, concentrated, lush and full, with layers of dark spicy, earthy, peppery fruits in the finish. The wine is produced...
Vinous, 95 points: (93-95 Points) (50% new oak) Inky purple. Spicy black and blue fruit preserves, pungent flowers and olive paste on the deeply perfumed nose. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering wonderfully concentrated boysenberry and...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a bigger, richer, more opulent wine. Beautiful notes of blackcurrants, scorched earth, graphite, and crushed violets, all flow to a full-bodied, Châteauneuf Du Pape that has...
Vinous, 95 points: Dark, glistening violet. Intensely perfumed, mineral-accented aromas of black raspberry and boysenberry, joined by exotic spice, potpourri and incense nuances that build with air. Energetic and focused on the palate...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 100 points: (98-100) Jaboulet's 2018 Hermitage La Chapelle features scents of crushed stone, violets and cassis. It's a classic trio, backed by a wine that's full-bodied, rich and powerful yet also airy, somehow carrying intense plum...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: As always, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée De Mon Aïeul is all Grenache (from La Serres, La Crau, and La Guigasse) that was not destemmed and was brought up all in used demi-muids. It's an extraordinary wine, offering...
jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: 97+ Deeper colored, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Chaupin comes mostly from the Chaupoin lieu-dit yet always has small parts from La Janasse and a sandy part of the La Crau lieu-dit. Blackberries, ground herbs...
Wine Spectator, 96 points: Very silky in feel, with beguiling rooibos tea, bergamot and blood orange accents sitting atop the large core of cassis and raspberry pâte de fruit. Everything is in lockstep through the finish, where buried minerality...
Wine Spectator, 97 points: This is intense, as dense ganache, espresso, roasted juniper and alder notes form an impressive frame around an equally ornate core of steeped fig, blackberry and black currant fruit flavors, all while maintaining...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: 95+ A non-vintage blend of Xavier’s favorite vintage, the NV Châteauneuf du Pape X XII XV is a massive, thick, unctuous beauty that’s almost overflowing with notes of dark fruits, blackberries, truffle, chocolate and...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: I loved the 2012 Hermitage le Meal Estate last year on release, and I loved it this year as well. Its inky color is followed by terrific notes of black raspberries (which I almost always find in wines from le Meal)...
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Great wine selection, great articles, whats not to love?
-Chase M., August 2020