(95-97 points) Not yet bottled, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is all very old vine Grenache from the sandy soils of the Cristia lieu-dit. Brought up in demi-muids and a mix of new and used barrels, it gives...

Saturated ruby. Assertively perfumed, mineral-tinged red berry, cherry, lavender and incense scents show outstanding clarity and spicy lift. Concentrated yet lively black raspberry, cherry-cola, succulent herb and floral...

This is ripe, juicy and mouthfilling, with lots of enticing raspberry, boysenberry and fig compote flavors enlivened with anise, fruitcake and mulling spice accents. Shows good energy through the finish. Grenache, Syrah...

The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is up with the crème de la crème of the vintage and in the same league as the perfect 2010. Awesome notes of blackberries, crème de cassis, charred meats, licorice, and violets...

I am loving all the perfectly ripe Mourvedre here as it imparts such a cool, peppery, meaty, full-bodied quality to the layers of plums, kirsch, black raspberries and cherries. The wine is dark, deep, opulent and rich, as...

Highly Recommended. Vibrant and captivating, with exuberant fruitcake, cinnamon and black tea aromas leading the way for a fleshy core of raspberry pâte de fruit, plum sauce and cassis, all allied to a lovely velvety...

Light orange-pink. Mineral-accented red berry and citrus fruit aromas are complemented by subtle floral and botanical herb accents. Juicy and animated on the palate, offering fresh cherry, raspberry and blood orange...

Exuberant in its fruit character, this rosé layers dragonfruit, watermelon and lemon-lime citrus notes, finishing honeyed and rich. It took two days for that complexity to emerge from the finish, so decant it before...

(94+ points) The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape is terrific, offering classic darker berry fruits as well as peppery garrigue and sappy flower notes. As with the Boisrenard release, this has plenty of tannins and structure, but...

The 2015 L'Amiral is an impressive, savory, refined Cabernet Franc that is almost Bordeaux-like in its classicism. This cuvée is only made in what the producer deems to be an exceptional year, and then aged in barrel for...

The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is up with the crème de la crème of the vintage and in the same league as the perfect 2010. Awesome notes of blackberries, crème de cassis, charred meats, licorice, and violets...

Very expressive and fruit-driven, with a gorgeous beam of raspberry, plum and cherry puree flavors stitched together seamlessly, while enticing red tea, incense and red licorice notes fill in throughout. Gorgeous...

This is beautifully rendered, with a core of focused red currant, plum and raspberry coulis flavors that stretches out nicely while flecks of tobacco, bergamot, and singed sandalwood weave around. A bolt of iron...

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...

In contrast to the bigger, richer Deus-Ex Machina, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Combe Des Fous is all about finesse and elegance, probably due to the inclusion of Cinsault and Vaccarese in the blend. Deeper...

A bright, high-pitched style, with makrut lime, green apple and green melon flavors laced with a jasmine note. A subtle mineral edge provides balance on the finish. Drink now through 2024. 850 cases made, 170 cases imported.

(90-92 points) There are two Rasteau from this reference point Châteauneuf du Pape producer. Starting with the 2019 Rasteau, it has plenty of chocolatey black raspberry and cherry fruits as well as loads of minerality...

(91-93+ points)A step up, with more depth and density, the 2018 Rasteau Les Argiles Bleues is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah that was brought up in foudre. Incredibly pure notes of cassis, black raspberries, new...

Bright onion skin. Incisive red berry, cherry and citrus fruit aromas are complemented by building mineral and floral accents. Silky and energetic on the palate, offering intense strawberry, blood orange and honeysuckle...

(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...

A blend of 90% Grenache from century-old vines, aged in concrete, with 10% Syrah, aged in used barriques, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Gallimardes is a black-fruited beauty, with notes of blackberries, black cherries...

(97-99 points) Still in foudre working through the last few grams of sugar when I tasted it in July 2022, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes showcases bold black-cherry fruit that virtually knocked this taster's...

Limpid orange. A sharply focused, mineral-accented bouquet evokes fresh red berries and pit fruits, citrus pith and pungent flowers. Silky and penetrating on the palate, offering tangy redcurrant, pomegranate and blood...

(94 - 96 points) Still maturing in concrete at the time of my visit, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Gallimardes comes from the lieu-dit of the same name, located south of the village. It's a classic galets...

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...

Intensely concentrated, yet light on its feet, this is all about the purity of fruit, sensuous, sexy, velvet textures, and expansive layers of fruit in the finish that must last close to 60 seconds. There is a depth of...

This is beautifully rendered, with a core of focused red currant, plum and raspberry coulis flavors that stretches out nicely while flecks of tobacco, bergamot, and singed sandalwood weave around. A bolt of iron...

Château Romassan sits at the foot of the hilltop village Le Castellet, a few miles north of the Bay of Bandol. The Otts rely on mourvèdre for the bulk of their rosé (this one includes 30 percent cinsault and 15 percent...