I tasted two components that will make up the bulk of the 2020 Cornas Renaissance, both still in foudre. From Patou and 15- to 20-year-old vines, a medium to full-bodied sample featuring mentholated red plum notes, chewy tannins... Read More

A pure syrah that is juicy and charming, with a vivacious personality on the medium-bodied palate. Gentle tannins underline the fruit and give it a very smooth finish. Charcuterie aroma alongside the red berries. From flat vineyards... Read More

Made from the domaine's younger vines, Renaissance showcases top terroirs across the Cornas appellation in a slightly more accessible way than Clape's flagship bottling. Given the same treatment—vinified naturally... Read More

Matured 100% in foudres, the 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape from Château de Beaucastel evokes aromas of dark wild berries, dark cherries, spices and licorice mingled with a touch of chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, deep and dense,... Read More

Tasted from foudre, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin is approximately 60% Mourvèdre (from the same parcel, year after year), with the balance a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Counoise. Ripe plums... Read More

Ripe raspberry, pressed violets, licorice and dried herbs compose the multifaceted aromatic profile of the 2022 Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel. Shaped gently by soft tannins, this refined red contains solid... Read More

Already bottled (I believe, anyway), the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Demoiselles checks in as 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah that was all destemmed and aged in a mix of concrete tanks and very old barrels. It has a medium-bodied,... Read More

A pink appearance like raspberry, expressive nose with notes of little red berries. On the palate, the wine is very balanced and in line with the nose. The palate is full with a long length. Good acidity provides a tense finale.... Read More

The aromas of cherry and blackcurrant are balanced by sweet spices including cinnamon. The elegant cherry continues on the palate, supported by fine tannins and a long, refreshing finish.

Intense nose with red fruit aromas combined with complex smokiness. Tight and focused tannins on the palate. Enjoyable now but requires a few years of bottle maturation to fully integrate aging notes. Very elegant and refined... Read More

The 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina is a strong candidate to be wine of the vintage. A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre, it combines scents of black truffles and black cherries with hints of cedar and vanilla... Read More

The color is deep crimson. The powerful yet subtle nose of Côte-Rôtie Seigneur de Maugiron has blackcurrant, red currant, licorice and smoky aromas, underscored with light woody notes. The palate shows a tightly knit... Read More

Monsieur Clape's Cornas is systematically considered the best in the appellation, constantly attaining the most amazing levels of excellence. There is always an extremely deep purple, almost black color that exudes a never-ending... Read More

Notes of dark cherries and dark wild berries mingled with flowers and violet preface the 2023 Côtes du Rhône from Clape, a moderately weighted, round and supple wine with a juicy character, elegant tannins and a long,... Read More

Aged for 11 months in a combination of concrete, old oak foudres and 500-liter terracotta jars, the 2022 Saint-Péray blends 80% Marsanne with 20% Roussanne. Wafts of lemon peel, yellow apple, white peach and a tropical... Read More

...the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve is another magical wine, and I might have rated this cuvée a perfect score more than any other Southern Rhône. Unquestionably in the same realm as the 2017, 2016, 2010,... Read More

With the Côtes du Rhône Villages Roaix Les Hautes Granges, Madeline Ferran takes her hat off to the great Syrah wines of the northern Rhône. However, the vines in Roaix are planted not on granite, as there, but... Read More

The 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau is going to turn heads for a long time to come. Pronounced violets, wild strawberries and melted licorice mingle with blackberry and garrigue on the complex aromatic profile. Alluring,... Read More

The spicy and red-fruited 2023 Châteauneuf- du-Pape Télégramme is shaping up to become yet another rock-solid red Châteauneuf from the talented Brunier family. Anchored by polished tannins, the fruit-driven and expressive 2023... Read More

Bright purple. Mineral-accented aromas of ripe dark berries, licorice and violet show fine clarity and spicy lift. Energetic and focused in the mouth, offering juicy blackberry, bitter cherry, smoked meat and fruitcake flavors... Read More

Bright purple. Mineral-accented aromas of ripe dark berries, licorice and violet show fine clarity and spicy lift. Energetic and focused in the mouth, offering juicy blackberry, bitter cherry, smoked meat and fruitcake flavors... Read More

The 2022 Hermitage from Jean-Louis Chave is broad and deep, bursting with aromas of smoke, licorice and dark wild berries mingled with delicate notes of fresh thyme and spices. Full-bodied, dense and powerful, layered and concentrated,... Read More

Pierre Rostaing has been shortening the cuvaison for this cuvée, and the 2020 Cote Rotie Ampodium received closer to three weeks on the skins than four. It's still impressively dark and rich, with scents of black olives,... Read More

Lastly, and from the oldest vines in the Reynard and La Gnale lieux-dits, the 2022 Cornas La Geynale is not destemmed and spent 16 months in used barrels. Its on another level and brings a locked and loaded profile delivering... Read More

The broad-shouldered 2022 Cornas Granit 60 offers pronounced intensity of spice-box, cured meat, blackberry jam, cedarwood and wet tea bag alongside crushed violets and iodine subtleties. Full-bodied, concentrated and framed by... Read More