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Northern Rhone

Generally cooler than the South, the Northern Rhone is synonymous with France's indigenous 'Hermitage' (Syrah) as well as white varieties such as Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne (the latter often blended with the reds). Within a narrow band of vineyards along the Rhone river from Vienne to Valence, the leading appellations here are Hermitage and Cote-Rotie, (Condrieu for whites). Crozes-Hermitage, Cornas and St.Joseph also offer distinctive, (and more affordable) expressions, though the wines are less age-worthy.

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- 97
- 95
- 95
- 96
- 97
2020 Delas Hermitage Les Bessards

Hermitage, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$350. 00
Bottle
$4200.00 Dozen

ABV: 14%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
Looking terrific out of barrel, the 2020 Hermitage Les Bessards boasts classic aromas of crushed stone, black cherries and cassis on the nose. It's full-bodied, perhaps a touch warm, but with wonderfully silky, rich tannins and a long, licorice-tinged finish. It should drink well for close to two decades. Drink: 2025-2040.
95-97 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 2022)
Inky violet. Displays assertive aromas of blackcurrant, cherry-cola and violet, along with olive, smoked meat and vanilla nuances that gain strength with aeration. Vibrant, focused and ppealingly sweet, offering intense, mineraldriven black and blue fruit, floral pastille and smoky bacon flavors that become deeper and spicier as the wine opens up. The floral note comes back strong on the impressively long, penetrating finish, which features youthfully chewy tannins and exotic spice notes.
97-98 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
All Syrah from unquestionably one of the greatest terroirs on the planet for the variety, the dense purple-hued 2020 Hermitage Les Bessards offers up a monster of a bouquet of primordial blue fruits, camphor, burning embers, and scorched earth. This carries to a powerful yet incredibly pure Hermitage with building tannins, bright acidity, stunning mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It's going to push the upper boundary of my rating scale, but it's for consumers with plenty of patience and will be mostly only educational for the first decade of life or so.
97-99 points
Jeb Dunnuck
Full-bodied, fine and tightly wound, but with a good sense of harmony and typicity. Stretching skywards, this is a tense, saline style but with sufficient fat around the bones to make for a long-lasting wine. You can really feel the granite. From their oldest parcel of lieu-dit Les Bessards, fermented in concrete, then aged for 12 months in new and one-year-old barrels. Drink: 2028-2045.
96 points
Matt Walls - Decanter
Rock-solid, with a core of clearly defined red and black cherry compote flavors that bristle with energy, as apple wood, savory and anise notes sparkle throughout. A racy graphite spine drives the finish, where a long, lingering twang of iron plays out amid the fruit. Best from 2024 through 2038.
95 points
James Molesworth - Wine Spectator

Delivery Information
- 97
- 92
- 95
- 96
2020 Delas Hermitage Lieu Dit Ligne de Crete Les Grandes Vignes

Hermitage, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$385. 00
Bottle
$4620.00 Dozen

ABV: 14%

Closure: Cork

Beginning with the 2015 vintage, Delas have introduced a new wine in the range from the hill of Hermitage made exclusively from the "Les Grandes Vignes" lieu-dit. Situated above L'Ermite and just east of the chapel at the peak of the Hermitage hillside at around 325m altitude, this south-facing plot forms an amphitheatre of semicircular vine terraces planted to Syrah.
Other Reviews....
Looking a bit more supple and red fruited than the Les Bessards, the 2020 Hermitage Ligne de Crete Les Grandes Vignes (tasted from two barrels) features hints of crushed stone and bright raspberries. Full-bodied and supple, it finishes long and silky textured. It should be drinkable soon after release and continue to drink well for more than a decade. Drink: 2023-2035.
92-94 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 2022)
Deep, vivid ruby. Smoky, mineral- and spiceaccented red and dark berry preserve scents show excellent clarity and a sexy floral top note. Offers concentrated but wonderfully energetic blackberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors that become sweeter and pick up hints of candied flowers, vanilla and olive on the back half. Finishes chewy, sharply focused and extremely long, with solid tannins adding shape and final grip.
97-98 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
The 2020 Hermitage Ligne De Crête comes all from the Les Grands Vignes lieu-dit, at the very top of Hermitage Hill, and is aged for 20 months in fine-grain barrels. It's another inky hued Hermitage yet has a more rounded, supple style compared to the Les Bessards, with gorgeous cassis and black raspberry fruits, notes of crushed stone, bacon fat, new leather, and flowery incense, full-bodied richness, velvety tannins, and a great finish. This seamless, sexy, incredibly floral Hermitage will be drinkable with just 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 20-30 years.
96-98 points
Jeb Dunnuck
This is packed with inviting boysenberry and mulberry pâte de fruit flavors, harnessed for now by taut mesquite and apple wood notes and set against a backdrop of anise, violet and black tea. Remarkably fresh through the finish, belying a well-buried iron note. Hard to resist now, but just you wait. Best from 2023 through 2036.
95 points
James Molesworth - Wine Spectator

Delivery Information
- 96
- 92
- 94
- 95
2020 Delas Cote-Rotie La Landonne

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$480. 00
Bottle
$5760.00 Dozen

ABV: 13.5%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
The Delas parcel of this fabled vineyard is under one hectare in size, reliably yielding 22–28 hectoliters each vintage. The 2020 Cote Rotie La Landonne offers forward raspberry and herb notes underscored by hints of roasted meat. Medium to full-bodied, it's silky and long on the finish. Not a huge, blockbuster vintage, but it is one that nicely expresses the site and should be approachable young. Drink: 2023-2035.
92-94 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 2022)
Dark purple. A highly complex bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, incense and potpourri; olive and exotic spice nuances build in the glass. Offers palatestaining cassis, bitter cherry, olive, licorice and violet pastille flavors that show superb delineation and a spicy snap of cracked pepper on the back half. Closes extremely long and smoky, with repeating mineral and floral notes and gripping tannins that build steadily.
96-97 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
The 2020 Côte Rôtie La Landonne is also incredibly elegant and pure, yet it brings another level of concentration and richness. Blackberries, black rasp[berries, smoked meats, violets, and floral notes all emerge from this full-bodied, rich, incredibly impressive barrel sample. It shows the pure, classic style of the vintage yet brings beautiful richness as well as seamless tannins. It's going to offer loads of pleasure any time over the coming 20 years or more.
95-97 points
Jeb Dunnuck
Juniper and warm herbal notes behind berry fruits on a fresh nose. Rounded and juicy on the palate, this is a ripe, well-shaped wine with fine tannins, a good sense of energy and true focus. A slick of ripe, fine tannin in reserve gives this some ageing potential. Fermented in open-top concrete tanks for 20 days, then matured in new and one-year-old barrels for 14 months. Drink: 2023-2030.
94 points
Matt Walls - Decanter

Delivery Information
- 96
- 94
- 96
2019 Delas Hermitage Lieu Dit Ligne de Crete Les Grandes Vignes

Hermitage, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$370. 00
Bottle
$4440.00 Dozen

ABV: 14.5%

Closure: Cork

Beginning with the 2015 vintage, Delas have introduced a new wine in the range from the hill of Hermitage made exclusively from the "Les Grandes Vignes" lieu-dit. Situated above L'Ermite and just east of the chapel at the peak of the Hermitage hillside at around 325m altitude, this south-facing plot forms an amphitheatre of semicircular vine terraces planted to Syrah. Winemaking is sensitive to retain the finesse and subtlety of this vineyard, with the grapes completely destemmed before being transferred by gravity to stainless steel vats for alcoholic fermentation. The wine is then transferred to barrel for malolactic fermentation and 20 months elevage. The barrels used are fine grained and no more than 30-40% are new. In a good year production is limited to only 1,800 to 2,000 bottles.
Other Reviews....
Marked by scents of cedar, mint, violets and cherries, the 2019 Hermitage Ligne de Crete Les Grandes Vignes really opened up and added weight and texture with air, so I suspect my rating may be stingy. On the palate, it's currently medium to full-bodied, tight and silky in feel, with hints of licorice and maple syrup on the long, mouthwatering finish. Give it a few years, at minimum, in the cellar. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes. Drink 2025 - 2040.
94+ points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 2022)
Powerful, highly perfumed aromas of black/blue fruit liqueur, licorice, olive and potpourri are complemented by an exotic suggestion of incense. Stains the palate with intense boysenberry, cherry, cassis and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily through the midpalate. Shows a suave blend of power and delicacy and betrays no rough edges. Youthfully chewy tannins add shape to an extremely long, mineral-driven finish that delivers outstanding clarity and floral thrust.
96-98 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
Plum, damson and blackberry coulis. Dense fruit, very fine tannins and a seamless texture. The alcohol here is quite high, but it's a very impressive wine nonetheless, with great concentration and length, not to mention fine tannins and balanced acidity. An authentic expression of the Hill. There is some cinnamon and cola oak spice running through it and the fruit can take it, it's well balanced. From lieu-dit Les Grandes Vignes, the highest plot on the hill of Hermitage, a new cuvée first made in 2015. Drinking Window 2026 - 2038.
96 points
Matt Walls - Decanter

Delivery Information
- 95
- 98
- 95
- 94
2015 Delas Hermitage Lieu Dit Ligne de Crete Les Grandes Vignes

Hermitage, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$350. 00
Bottle
$4200.00 Dozen

ABV: 14%

Closure: Cork

Beginning with the 2015 vintage, Delas have introduced a new wine in the range from the hill of Hermitage made exclusively from the "Les Grandes Vignes" lieu-dit. Situated above L'Ermite and just east of the chapel at the peak of the Hermitage hillside at around 325m altitude, this south-facing plot forms an amphitheatre of semicircular vine terraces planted to Syrah. Winemaking is sensitive to retain the finesse and subtlety of this vineyard, with the grapes completely destemmed before being transferred by gravity to stainless steel vats for alcoholic fermentation. The wine is then transferred to barrel for malolactic fermentation and 20 months elevage. The barrels used are fine grained and no more than 30-40% are new. In a good year production is limited to only 1,800 to 2,000 bottles.
Other Reviews....
Since the wine was finally released with a name and label, I've taken the opportunity to update readers on Delas's 2015 Hermitage Ligne de Crete Les Grandes Vignes. Unfortunately, it's in a bit of a quiescent phase on the nose, but determined swimming coaxes out hints of crushed stone, pencil shavings, machine oil and blueberries. In the mouth, it's considerably more dramatic, with mouthfilling richness balanced by fine-grained tannins and a sense of stone-shackled restraint. Possessing tremendous power and length, it should age well for at least two decades. Drink 2025 - 2045.
98 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (May 2021)
Glass-staining ruby. Mineral-accented dark berries, licorice, incense, olive and succulent flowers on the intensely perfumed nose. Impressively concentrated, expansive flavors of blueberry, black raspberry, spicecake, smoked meat and candied violet are complicated by licorice and bitter chocolate notes that sneak in on the back half. Sweet, sappy and sharply delineated on the floral- and dark-berry-driven finish, which shows outstanding clarity and well-knit but substantial tannins that build smoothly and steadily. Drink 2025-2035.
95 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
From one of the all-time great vintages for the Northern Rhône, the 2015 Hermitage Les Grandes Vignes reveals a ruby/plum color as well as a tight, closed, full-bodied style that's going to benefit from bottle age. Offering notes of darker currants, loamy soil, new leather, graphite, and obvious minerality, it's nicely balanced, has ripe tannins, and outstanding length. Certainly a more elegant, classic 2015, I suspect it’s in a more closed phase (as are many 2015s today) since it wasn't until the second day that this really opened up. Do your best to hide bottles for another 4-5 years, and it's going to deliver the goods over the following two decades. Drink 2026 - 2047.
94+ points
Jeb Dunnuck
There's a little dusty element to the red fruits on the nose, likely from the élevage; the wood is a little prominent still, the acidity quite noticeable for a typical Hermitage. It has a very silky, seamless, relatively lightweight palate, but not without intensity, and has a strong mineral core. It's as if there's a little Vosne-Romanée blended in. Elegant and well-balanced with exceptionally fine tannin. Don't expect classic Hermitage muscle and weight here - this is much more about finesse and contour. Not showing huge complexity now, so I would wait, even though the tannic load is relatively light. Certainly approachable now; better from 2026. Drinking Window 2021 - 2036.
95 points
Matt Walls - Decanter

Delivery Information
- 93
- 93
- 94
2019 Delas Saint-Joseph Saint-Epine

Saint Joseph, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$130. 00
Bottle
$1560.00 Dozen

ABV: 15%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
An impressive showing, the 2019 Saint Joseph Sainte-Epine features aromas and flavors of blueberries and black cherries, plus hints of violets, peppery spice and black olives. It's full-bodied, but it carries its labeled 15% alcohol well, with no sign at all of alcoholic warmth, while supple tannins give a welcome sense of gentle structure and add a softly dusty feel to the long finish. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. Drink 2022 - 2035.
93 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 2022)
A highly fragrant bouquet evokes ripe, mineral-accented black/blue fruits, Moroccan spices, olive and candied flowers, along with a smoky mineral element that builds as the wine opens up. Juicy, energetic and focused on the palate, offering appealingly sweet boysenberry, cherry preserve and violet pastille flavors that deepen steadily through the midpalate. The floral note resonates on the impressively long finish, which features well-knit tannins and a smoky mineral quality.
93-95 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
This flows beautifully, with a ripe, pure and steady beam of cassis and dark cherry preserves that shows good brightness and delineation through the finish, picking up light floral and mineral accents along the way. Seductive in style, with a lovely mouthfeel and sneaky length. Best from 2022 through 2032.
94 points
James Molesworth - Wine Spectator

Delivery Information
- 94
- 94
- 96
- 97
2019 Delas Cote-Rotie La Landonne

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$430. 00
Bottle
$5160.00 Dozen

ABV: 15%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
The 2019 Cote Rotie La Landonne features its typical dark, meaty, espresso-like aromas, leavened by hints of raspberry and black cherry. It's full-bodied and concentrated but supple and relatively approachable, with soft, velvety tannins and a long, mouthwatering finish. It's delicious now, but I would not be surprised to see it close up for several years before reemerging into maturity, so catch it now, or hold it another 5+ years. Drink 2025 - 2040.
94 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 2022)
Expressive blackberry, potpourri, smoky bacon and licorice aromas show excellent clarity and minerally lift. Deeply concentrated, spice-laced dark berry preserve, floral pastille and fruitcake flavors are supported by a spine of juicy acidity that adds back-end cut. Becomes more energetic on the impressively persistent finish, which repeats the dark berry and floral notes and leaves behind a spicy suggestion of cracked pepper.
94-96 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
This is dark and still a bit reticent, with a cast iron cloak around the core of dark currant, plum and blackberry paste flavors, showing lots of sweet bay leaf, anise and singed apple wood notes in the background. There's serious grip through the finish. For the cellar. Best from 2024 through 2038.
96 points
James Molesworth - Wine Spectator
Immediately this has the darkness and aromatic austerity of La Landonne. Very full-bodied, expansive on the palate with mouthcoating flavour and tannin but not heavy. This is seriously tannic, but it's not tough. Great character, great power and perfect balance. Alcohol is just a little raised, but this is a blockbuster. Around 3,000 bottles made. Fermented in open-top concrete tanks for 20 days, then matured in new and one-year-old barrels for 14 months. Drinking Window 2026 - 2035.
97 points
Matt Walls - Decanter

Delivery Information
- 93
- 94
- 96
2015 Delas Cote-Rotie La Landonne

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$399. 00
Bottle
$4788.00 Dozen

ABV: 14%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
There are two Côte Rôties and the top cuvée is the utterly sensational 2015 Côte Rôtie La Landonne, which should be a candidate for perfection when it’s released. Coming all from the La Landonne lieu-dit and made from 100% Syrah that will see 18 months in 40% new French oak, it offers a huge, layered and ripe style, as well as notes of blueberries, blackberries, crushed violets, graphite and minerality. It has sweet tannin, but there are plenty of them, so it’s not for those looking for instant gratification.
96-100 points
Jeb Dunnuck - Wine Advocate #228 (Dec 2016)

Very impressive dark stony and peppery aromas with ripe blackberry and licorice. Attractive brooding style. The palate has a wealth of spicy blackberry fruit flavors. Plush tannins and a warming mocha-dusted finish. Drink from 2020.
94 points
James Suckling

Dark purple. Potent smoke- and spice-accented aromas of ripe black and blue fruits, licorice and violet, enlivened by a zesty mineral element. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering deeply concentrated boysenberry and cassis flavors and suggestions of star anise, olive and allspice. The smoky quality repeats emphatically on an extremely long, sweet finish framed by smooth tannins.
93-95 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous

Delivery Information
- 92
- 92
2020 Domaine Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage

Crozes Hermitage, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$89. 99
Bottle
$1079.88 Dozen

ABV: 13%

Closure: Cork

Alain Graillot has proved beyond a doubt that it is possible to make rich wines from the gently sloped alluvial plain where the Isère River meets the Rhone. His concentrated reds demonstrate all that is exciting about the Syrah grape: black fruit, intense aromaticity, pepper and spice complexity underpinned by crisp acidity and fine tannins.
Graillot works organically, harvesting fruit by hand and fermenting in whole bunches. He chooses to age his wines in used barrels, one to three-years-old, purchased from Burgundy’s best estates. His Crozes-Hermitage is difficult to resist young. Despite the tannins that inevitably come from the inclusion of whole bunches in fermentation, Graillot wines are seldom hard-edged, overly tannic, or in need of extended cellaring. In fact, they are often flat-out delicious very soon after release. That being said, their track record for rewarding patient cellaring is exemplary.
Other Reviews....
Saturated magenta. Displays expressive red and dark berry, smoked meat, olive and floral qualities on the spice-accented nose. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering gently sweet cherry-cola, blackberry and baking spice flavors that show fine detail and a mineral, back-end lift. Finishes very long and subtly chewy, with repeating smokiness, harmonious tannins and strong persistence. Drink 2026-2034.
92 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
While the 2020 Crozes-Hermitage comes from an incredibly ripe, powerful vintage, it still comes across as classic Northern Rhône in both its aromatics and mouthfeel, which could be explained by the earlier harvesting as well as the 100% stem inclusion. Ripe blackberries, violets, ground pepper, blueberries, smoked meats, and subtle savory, earthy, foresty nuances all define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied on the palate, with a layered mouthfeel, ripe yet perfectly integrated tannins, good acidity, and a great finish. This gorgeous Crozes-Hermitage is already hard to resist yet will evolve gracefully for another 10-15 years. Give bottles a quick 30-minute decant if drinking any time soon. Drink 2023 - 2038.
92 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 92
- 92
2020 Domaine Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage Magnum (1500ml)

Crozes Hermitage, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$185. 00
Bottle
$2220.00 Dozen

ABV: 13%

Closure: Cork

Alain Graillot has proved beyond a doubt that it is possible to make rich wines from the gently sloped alluvial plain where the Isère River meets the Rhone. His concentrated reds demonstrate all that is exciting about the Syrah grape: black fruit, intense aromaticity, pepper and spice complexity underpinned by crisp acidity and fine tannins.
Graillot works organically, harvesting fruit by hand and fermenting in whole bunches. He chooses to age his wines in used barrels, one to three-years-old, purchased from Burgundy’s best estates. His Crozes-Hermitage is difficult to resist young. Despite the tannins that inevitably come from the inclusion of whole bunches in fermentation, Graillot wines are seldom hard-edged, overly tannic, or in need of extended cellaring. In fact, they are often flat-out delicious very soon after release. That being said, their track record for rewarding patient cellaring is exemplary.
Other Reviews....
Saturated magenta. Displays expressive red and dark berry, smoked meat, olive and floral qualities on the spice-accented nose. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering gently sweet cherry-cola, blackberry and baking spice flavors that show fine detail and a mineral, back-end lift. Finishes very long and subtly chewy, with repeating smokiness, harmonious tannins and strong persistence. Drink 2026-2034.
92 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
While the 2020 Crozes-Hermitage comes from an incredibly ripe, powerful vintage, it still comes across as classic Northern Rhône in both its aromatics and mouthfeel, which could be explained by the earlier harvesting as well as the 100% stem inclusion. Ripe blackberries, violets, ground pepper, blueberries, smoked meats, and subtle savory, earthy, foresty nuances all define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied on the palate, with a layered mouthfeel, ripe yet perfectly integrated tannins, good acidity, and a great finish. This gorgeous Crozes-Hermitage is already hard to resist yet will evolve gracefully for another 10-15 years. Give bottles a quick 30-minute decant if drinking any time soon. Drink 2023 - 2038.
92 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 95
- 95
2019 Domaine Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage La Guiraude

Crozes Hermitage, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$130. 00
Bottle
$1560.00 Dozen

ABV: 14%

Closure: Cork

Alain Graillot has proved beyond a doubt that it is possible to make rich wines from the gently sloped alluvial plain where the Isère River meets the Rhone. His concentrated reds demonstrate all that is exciting about the Syrah grape: black fruit, intense aromaticity, pepper and spice complexity underpinned by crisp acidity and fine tannins.
Graillot works organically, harvesting fruit by hand and fermenting in whole bunches. He chooses to age his wines in used barrels, one to three-years-old, purchased from Burgundy’s best estates. His Crozes-Hermitage is difficult to resist young. Despite the tannins that inevitably come from the inclusion of whole bunches in fermentation, Graillot wines are seldom hard-edged, overly tannic, or in need of extended cellaring. In fact, they are often flat-out delicious very soon after release. That being said, their track record for rewarding patient cellaring is exemplary.
La Guiraude is a tête de cuvée, a barrel selection made only in vintages where it is felt there are some barrels that exhibit particularly intense and age-worthy personalities. Not necessarily a ‘better’ wine than the Domaine Crozes, it is typically more powerful and in need of longer cellaring.
Other Reviews....
The 2019 Crozes Hermitage la Guiraude was bottled in March 2021, but it is just being sold this spring (2022). It's a full-bodied, rich effort, almost a bit over the top, with bold flavors of blackberry jam, uncluttered and unsoftened by much in the way of new oak. It's concentrated and intense, a bit chewy without being overly hard, with a long, velvety finish. Drink 2025 - 2035.
95 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 21, 2022)
Glass-staining ruby. Cassis, cherry-cola, olive paste, exotic spices and pungent flowers on the highly expressive nose. Shows impressive depth as well as energy to its sweet black and blue fruit, allspice, salty olive and candied violet flavors, which take on a mineral aspect with air. Youthfully chewy tannins add grip to an impressively long and focused finish that emphatically repeats the floral and mineral notes. I've no doubt that this wine will reward patience, and my drinking window is probably overly conservative. Drink 2027-2037.
95 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous

Delivery Information
- 92
2018 Domaine Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage La Guiraude

Crozes Hermitage, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$120. 00
Bottle
$1440.00 Dozen

ABV: 13.5%

Closure: Cork

Alain Graillot has proved beyond a doubt that it is possible to make rich wines from the gently sloped alluvial plain where the Isère River meets the Rhone. His concentrated reds demonstrate all that is exciting about the Syrah grape: black fruit, intense aromaticity, pepper and spice complexity underpinned by crisp acidity and fine tannins.
Graillot works organically, harvesting fruit by hand and fermenting in whole bunches. He chooses to age his wines in used barrels, one to three-years-old, purchased from Burgundy’s best estates. His Crozes-Hermitage is difficult to resist young. Despite the tannins that inevitably come from the inclusion of whole bunches in fermentation, Graillot wines are seldom hard-edged, overly tannic, or in need of extended cellaring. In fact, they are often flat-out delicious very soon after release. That being said, their track record for rewarding patient cellaring is exemplary.
La Guiraude is a tête de cuvée, a barrel selection made only in vintages where it is felt there are some barrels that exhibit particularly intense and age-worthy personalities. Not necessarily a ‘better’ wine than the Domaine Crozes, it is typically more powerful and in need of longer cellaring.
Other Reviews....
Looking considerably more roasted in style than the 2019, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage la Guiraude features notes of grilled dark-skinned plums and savory black olives. It's full-bodied, rich and velvety, but with its layers of super ripe, slightly cooked fruit, it should probably be consumed in its first decade, despite having plenty of concentration and tannin. Drink 2022 - 2030.
92+? points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 2022)

Delivery Information
- 94
2017 Domaine Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage La Guiraude

Crozes Hermitage, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$115. 00
Bottle
$1380.00 Dozen

ABV: 13%

Closure: Cork

Alain Graillot has proved beyond a doubt that it is possible to make rich wines from the gently sloped alluvial plain where the Isère River meets the Rhone. His concentrated reds demonstrate all that is exciting about the Syrah grape: black fruit, intense aromaticity, pepper and spice complexity underpinned by crisp acidity and fine tannins.
Graillot works organically, harvesting fruit by hand and fermenting in whole bunches. He chooses to age his wines in used barrels, one to three-years-old, purchased from Burgundy’s best estates. His Crozes-Hermitage is difficult to resist young. Despite the tannins that inevitably come from the inclusion of whole bunches in fermentation, Graillot wines are seldom hard-edged, overly tannic, or in need of extended cellaring. In fact, they are often flat-out delicious very soon after release. That being said, their track record for rewarding patient cellaring is exemplary.
La Guiraude is a tête de cuvée, a barrel selection made only in vintages where it is felt there are some barrels that exhibit particularly intense and age-worthy personalities. Not necessarily a ‘better’ wine than the Domaine Crozes, it is typically more powerful and in need of longer cellaring.
Other Reviews....
Opaque ruby. Powerful, mineral-accented black and blue fruit, olive and allspice aromas are energized by a suave floral overtone. Fleshy, juicy and broad in the mouth, offering concentrated black currant, cherry liqueur, fruitcake and floral pastille flavors that tighten up with aeration. Densely packed yet energetic as well, finishing with sharp delineation, steadily building tannins and excellent persistence.
94 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous

Delivery Information
- 90
- 91
- 90
2021 Domaine Auguste Clape Le Vin des Amis

Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$99. 99
Bottle
$1199.88 Dozen

ABV: 12%

Closure: Cork

Auguste Clape first came to Cornas in 1949 to marry his wife Henriette whose family owned 5 hectares of vineyards in the appellation. Today his son, Pierre-Marie and grandson Olivier Clape run the estate, which is considered to be the benchmark producer in the region. They farm 5.38 acres of Cornas including a resounding 3 hectares on the granitic soils of what is the finest plot in Cornas - Reynards. An “old-style” producer with no destemming, wild yeast ferments that take place in concrete vats and aging in older, neutral foudres for 20 months before bottling without filtration. If you seek a traditional Syrah from the sun-drenched, terraced slopes of the Northern Rhône, the stunning wines of Auguste Clape should be at the top of your list.
While Le Vin des Amis may be the entry point for the Domaine, it's no less serious and age worthy than their other bottlings. Sourced from various plots of Syrah vineyards situated between the village of Cornas and the Rhone river, the average vine age is 40 years. Le Vin des Amis is fermented and aged in cement tanks before spending two months in oak foudres prior to bottling.
Other Reviews....
Glimmering violet color. Mineral-accented dark berries and licorice on the pungent, incisive nose. Offers gently sweet blackberry, blueberry and bitter cherry flavors that show very good clarity and spicy lift. A floral note appears on the nicely tannic, persistent finish, which features resonating cherry and black pepper notes.
90-91 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
A seductive nose with dark berries, black pepper, sweet spices, some bark and undergrowth. Medium body with fine-grained tannins. Juicy with a blueberry character at the center. Textured, almost chalky, towards the finish. Drink or hold.
91 points
JamesSuckling.com
Just bottled, the 2021 Vin De Pays Le Vin des Amis is quintessential Clape and has lots of meaty dark fruits, pepper, and olive notes in a medium-bodied, juicy, charming package. It's best enjoyed in its youth and is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
90 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 92
- 93
- 90
2021 Domaine Auguste Clape Cotes du Rhone Syrah

Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$130. 00
Bottle
$1560.00 Dozen

ABV: 12.5%

Closure: Cork

Auguste Clape first came to Cornas in 1949 to marry his wife Henriette whose family owned 5 hectares of vineyards in the appellation. Today his son, Pierre-Marie and grandson Olivier Clape run the estate, which is considered to be the benchmark producer in the region. They farm 5.38 acres of Cornas including a resounding 3 hectares on the granitic soils of what is the finest plot in Cornas - Reynards. An “old-style” producer with no destemming, wild yeast ferments that take place in concrete vats and aging in older, neutral foudres for 20 months before bottling without filtration. If you seek a traditional Syrah from the sun-drenched, terraced slopes of the Northern Rhône, the stunning wines of Auguste Clape should be at the top of your list.
Domaine Clape Cotes du Rhone is sourced from two parcels of Syrah, one planted within Saint-Péray and classified as Cotes du Rhone, and a second at the bottom of a slope just beneath the boundary of Cornas, level with the village of Cornas. In some years a small amount of press wine from young-vine Cornas is added. Fermentation and elevage occurs in cement tanks with part of the wine passing briefly in foudre.
Other Reviews....
Saturated violet. An expressive bouquet evokes black and blue fruits and smoky bacon, along with suggestions of olive and pipe tobacco. Appealingly sweet, smoke- and spice-accented blackberry and cherry liqueur flavors show fine delineation and are braced by a spine of juicy acidity. A smoky mineral nuance builds with air and carries through a long, youthfully gripping finish that echoes the olive and spice notes.
92-93 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
Plenty of forest berries, dark plums, currants, stones and baking spices on the nose. Medium to full body with fine tannins. Dark berries on the palate with structure and texture. Focused and rather ample and crisp for the appellation, with bright acidity and a succulent finish with excellent length. Best after 2024.
93 points
JamesSuckling.com
The 2021 Côtes Du Rhône brings more structure but has similar wild dark fruits, pepper, game, and iron notes in a medium-bodied package. It too is delicious.
90 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 95
- 96
- 91
- 93
2020 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas Renaissance

Cornas, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$265. 00
Bottle
$3180.00 Dozen

ABV: 13.5%

Closure: Cork

Auguste Clape first came to Cornas in 1949 to marry his wife Henriette whose family owned 5 hectares of vineyards in the appellation. Today his son, Pierre-Marie and grandson Olivier Clape run the estate, which is considered to be the benchmark producer in the region. They farm 5.38 acres of Cornas including a resounding 3 hectares on the granitic soils of what is the finest plot in Cornas - Reynards. An “old-style” producer with no destemming, wild yeast ferments that take place in concrete vats and aging in older, neutral foudres for 20 months before bottling without filtration. If you seek a traditional Syrah from the sun-drenched, terraced slopes of the Northern Rhône, the stunning wines of Auguste Clape should be at the top of your list.
Other Reviews....
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 and mouthwatering acids (90 - 92). From Reynard and 30-year-old vines, a medium to full-bodied sample that showed more cassis fruit, silky tannins and great freshness (93 - 95). They should make a lovely Cornas for drinking over the next 10-15 years. Drink 2023 - 2035.
91-94 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 21, 2022)
Dark violet. Offers dark berry preserves, fruitcake, smoky minerals, olive and pungent flower notes on the highly perfumed nose. Stains the palate with sappy black and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors; black pepper and mineral accents add lift and back-end cut. Quite deep but energetic as well, finishing on a building tannic note and with impressive, dark fruit-dominated persistence.
95-96 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
A delicate nose of forest berries, dark cherries, blackcurrants, undergrowth, stones and baking spices. Medium body yet so ample and intense. Great concentration at the center, expanding all along. It’s well-balanced and harmonious with finely grained tannins, a pure and juicy core of berries, and crisp acidity. Expansive and long finish. Best after 2025.
96 points
JamesSuckling.com
I loved the 2020 Cornas Renaissance, a ripe, fleshy, supple, and already undeniably delicious Cornas. Darker berries, plums, garrigue, and peppery game notes all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, with lots of fruit and texture. It should evolve nicely for 10-12 years or more, and there's no harm in opening bottles now either. Drink 2022 - 2035.
93 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 97
- 97
- 95
- 97
- 97
2020 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas

Cornas, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$350. 00
Bottle
$4200.00 Dozen

ABV: 13.5%

Closure: Cork

Auguste Clape first came to Cornas in 1949 to marry his wife Henriette whose family owned 5 hectares of vineyards in the appellation. Today his son, Pierre-Marie and grandson Olivier Clape run the estate, which is considered to be the benchmark producer in the region. They farm 5.38 acres of Cornas including a resounding 3 hectares on the granitic soils of what is the finest plot in Cornas - Reynards. An “old-style” producer with no destemming, wild yeast ferments that take place in concrete vats and aging in older, neutral foudres for 20 months before bottling without filtration. If you seek a traditional Syrah from the sun-drenched, terraced slopes of the Northern Rhône, the stunning wines of Auguste Clape should be at the top of your list.
Other Reviews....
I tasted four different components of the 2020 Cornas from foudre. From 40-year-old vines in La Côte, a medium to full-bodied sample with attractive menthol, red plum and violet notes, ample structure but a bit short (92 - 94). From 50- to 60-year-old vines in La Sabarotte, an earthier, more savory example, with a rich, velvety texture and crisp acids (93 - 95). From 60- to 70-year-old vines in La Côte, a wine that seems to have it all: intense cassis, crushed stone, licorice and black olives, plus amazing richness and length (97 - 99). And finally, from old vines in Reynard, a breathtaking, hauntingly floral rendition marked by purple raspberries and fantastic concentration (98 - 100). The blend should be terrific. Drink 2026 - 2045.
95-97 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 21, 2022)
Glass-staining ruby. Intensely perfumed dark berry preserve, violet oil, olive, cured meat and woodsmoke scents show fine definition and vibrant spice- and mineral-driven lift. Offers palate-staining, spice-laced blackberry, bitter cherry, fruitcake and violet pastille flavors that deepen and open up steadily through the midpalate, while maintaining energy. The strikingly long, penetrating finish features youthfully chewy tannins, a sweet touch of cola and lingering floral and exotic spice qualities. All whole clusters and no new oak, as usual.
97-98 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
A fragrant nose of blackberries, dark cherries, wild herbs, baking spices, stones and black pepper. Medium body with fine, firm tannins. It has volume and structure, but remains extremely agile. It has bright acidity and a vibrant peppery character, giving vitality and tension on the palate. Well-rounded and vivid with a succulent and textured, long developing finish. Best after 2026.
97 points
JamesSuckling.com
The flagship 2020 Cornas is a beauty! Clearly in the same league as recent top vintages, it has a wild bouquet of black and blue fruits, liquid violets, game, and iron, with some incense and spice thrown in for good measure. It's slightly more round and sexy compared to the more powerful 2019, but it’s perfectly balanced, with ripe tannins and a great finish. This heavenly Cornas will be drinkable in just 3-4 years and evolve for two decades. Drink 2026 - 2046.
97 points
Jeb Dunnuck
A vibrant, focused and intense style of Cornas, a return to a classic style after the richness of 2018 and the power of 2019. Their Renaissance will be made this year, so both wines will need to be bottled before a more precise evaluation of each blend can be made, but the outlook is good. Whole-bunch fermented in unlined concrete tanks, matured in small old foudres. Drink 2026 - 2039.
97 points
Matt Walls - Decanter

Delivery Information
- 96
2020 Domaine Bernard Gripa Saint-Joseph Parady

Saint Joseph, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$150. 00
Bottle
$1800.00 Dozen

ABV: 14%

Closure: Cork

Domaine Bernard Gripa own sixteen hectares of vineyards, based primarily around Mauves in the heart of the Saint-Joseph appellation. While Bernard is still assisting at the winery, it is his son Fabrice that now directs the winemaking activities for the family. Fabrice and his team work the steep and challenging terrain of the vineyards, which unusually for the area are planted half to white grapes and half to red grapes. Much of the vineyard holdings are old vines averaging 65 years of age, with some vineyards over 80 years old. In addition to Saint-Joseph, the Gripa family also own 3.5 hectares of Marsanne and Roussanne in white-grape-only appellation of Saint-Péray.
Parady is sourced from a relatively new planting of Syrah (2001) from the 1.2 hectares plot of Paradis in Mauves. Like all the top wines from Domaine Bernard Gripa, the vines are planted solely on the granite soil terraces famous in the area.
Other Reviews....
Deep, dark purple. Powerful dark berry liqueur, candied violet, cracked pepper and licorice scents, along with hints of olive paste, espresso and smoky minerals. Offers deep, palate-staining boysenberry, cherry liqueur, floral pastille and fruitcake flavors that show superb depth and are braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Opens up steadily with air and finishes wonderfully long and spicy, with reverberating minerality, mounting tannins and lingering smokiness. 25% whole clusters and 20% new oak. Drink 2028-2039.
96 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous

Delivery Information
- 96
2020 Domaine Bernard Gripa Saint-Joseph Le Berceau

Saint Joseph, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$180. 00
Bottle
$2160.00 Dozen

ABV: 14%

Closure: Cork

Domaine Bernard Gripa own sixteen hectares of vineyards, based primarily around Mauves in the heart of the Saint-Joseph appellation. While Bernard is still assisting at the winery, it is his son Fabrice that now directs the winemaking activities for the family. Fabrice and his team work the steep and challenging terrain of the vineyards, which unusually for the area are planted half to white grapes and half to red grapes. Much of the vineyard holdings are old vines averaging 65 years of age, with some vineyards over 80 years old. In addition to Saint-Joseph, the Gripa family also own 3.5 hectares of Marsanne and Roussanne in white-grape-only appellation of Saint-Péray.
The top Saint-Joseph cuvée from Domaine Gripa is named Le Berceau, and is a selection from one hectare of their oldest vines planted exclusively on granite soil terraces.
Other Reviews....
Glass-staining ruby. Suave, mineral-accented aromas of cherry liqueur, cassis and exotic spices are complemented by building floral and mineral notes. Sappy and energetic on the palate, showing powerful thrust to its concentrated red and blue fruit preserve, violet pastille and spicecake flavors. Finishes extremely long, spicy and smooth, with resonating florality and subtly chewy, well-knit tannins. One-third whole clusters. Drink 2027-2037.
96 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous

Delivery Information
- 94
2019 Domaine Bernard Gripa Saint-Joseph Parady

Saint Joseph, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$135. 00
Bottle
$1620.00 Dozen

ABV: 14.5%

Closure: Cork

Domaine Bernard Gripa own sixteen hectares of vineyards, based primarily around Mauves in the heart of the Saint-Joseph appellation. While Bernard is still assisting at the winery, it is his son Fabrice that now directs the winemaking activities for the family. Fabrice and his team work the steep and challenging terrain of the vineyards, which unusually for the area are planted half to white grapes and half to red grapes. Much of the vineyard holdings are old vines averaging 65 years of age, with some vineyards over 80 years old. In addition to Saint-Joseph, the Gripa family also own 3.5 hectares of Marsanne and Roussanne in white-grape-only appellation of Saint-Péray.
Parady is sourced from a relatively new planting of Syrah (2001) from the 1.2 hectares plot of Paradis in Mauves. Like all the top wines from Domaine Bernard Gripa, the vines are planted solely on the granite soil terraces famous in the area.
Other Reviews....
Opaque ruby. Spice- and mineral-tinged dark berry preserves, potpourri, olive and a suggestion of smoky bacon on the deeply perfumed nose. Juicy, expansive and appealingly sweet, offering lush blueberry, cherry liqueur, licorice and candied violet flavors that are supported by a core of juicy acidity. Slowly building tannins add grip to an impressively long, finely detailed finish that strongly echoes the floral note. 25% whole clusters and 20% new oak. Drink 2026-2036.
94 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous

Delivery Information
- 93
2020 Domaine Bernard Gripa Saint-Joseph

Saint Joseph, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$99. 99
Bottle
$1199.88 Dozen

ABV: 14%

Closure: Cork

Domaine Bernard Gripa own sixteen hectares of vineyards, based primarily around Mauves in the heart of the Saint-Joseph appellation. While Bernard is still assisting at the winery, it is his son Fabrice that now directs the winemaking activities for the family. Fabrice and his team work the steep and challenging terrain of the vineyards, which unusually for the area are planted half to white grapes and half to red grapes. Much of the vineyard holdings are old vines averaging 65 years of age, with some vineyards over 80 years old. In addition to Saint-Joseph, the Gripa family also own 3.5 hectares of Marsanne and Roussanne in white-grape-only appellation of Saint-Péray.
As with many of the wines from Domaine Bernard Gripa, their Saint-Jospeh is sourced from older vineyards that range from 30-45 years old, with the vines are planted solely on the granite soil terraces famous in the area.
Other Reviews....
Dark violet color. Fragrant, spice-tinged blackberry, cherry, smoky bacon and olive aromas take on a floral nuance with aeration. Sappy and focused on the palate, offering intense dark fruit preserves, espresso, cracked pepper and floral pastille flavors that are energized by a hint of smoky minerality. Closes with repeating floral and spice notes, gently gripping tannins and strong persistence. 25% whole clusters here and 15% new oak. Drink 2026-2035.
93 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous

Delivery Information
- 94
- 94
2018 Domaine Christophe Billon Cote Rotie Cote Rozier

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$199. 00
Bottle
$2388.00 Dozen

ABV: 14%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
Made from 100% Syrah and from a terrific terroir in the northern part of the appellation, the 2018 Côte Rôtie Côte Rozier will spend a full 26 months in 50% new French oak. It offers a more complex, nuanced vibe, with lots of black raspberries, spice, new leather, and dried flower aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, with a great mid-palate, integrated oak, and a seamless texture, it's another brilliant wine from this estate.
94-96 points
Jeb Dunnuck
Full-bodied and concentrated with dark, brooding fruit, but crucially there's freshness here. Clarity of texture, some saline, grippy, lightly serrated tannins. It finishes long, with a saline, sappy grip. This has some serious character and muscle. Robust oaking, but it will swallow it in time to yield a highly impressive wine. 45-year-old vines on average (some up to 60-years-old), 30% whole bunch, fermented in stainless steel. Matured in 300l French oak barrels - 50% of which are new - for 26 months. Malolactic fermentation in barrel. Drinking Window 2026 - 2032.
94 points
Matt Walls - Decanter

Delivery Information
- 95
- 91
- 94
2020 Domaine Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie Ampodium

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$180. 00
Bottle
$2160.00 Dozen

ABV: 14%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
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, violets, raspberries and a touch of orange zest. Medium to full-bodied and velvety in feel, it looks like a strong year for the estate's blended wine. Drink: 2023-2032.
91-93 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 2022)
Saturated ruby. Highly perfumed aromas of ripe dark berries, cherry, olive and pungent flowers are sharpened by a suggestion of black pepper. Supple and appealingly sweet, offering concentrated black raspberry, cherry-cola and violet pastille flavors and a suggestion of star anise. Finishes pliant, sweet and focused on the penetrating finish, showing smooth tannins and excellent tenacity. Drink: 2025-2033.
95 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
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 graphite, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a round, lush mouthfeel, and building tannins. I've always thought the 2010 was the greatest vintage for this cuvée, but this is going to give it a run for its money.
94 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 95
- 97
2020 Domaine Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie La Viaillere

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$295. 00
Bottle
$3540.00 Dozen

ABV: 14.5%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
While this vineyard suffered immensely from frost in the spring of 2021, the 2020 Cote Rotie la Viaillere looks amazing. Marked by vibrant, intense notes of purple raspberries and violets, this is full-bodied, rich and velvety, with wonderfully fine tannins and a nearly never-ending finish. While La Viallière is not my favorite lieu-dit, this is truly special. Drink 2025-2040.
95-98 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 2022)
From a great terroir in the northern part of Côte Rôtie, the 2020 Côte Rôtie Le Viallière is another perfumed, mineral-laced 2020, offering a beautiful nose of darker raspberries, camphor, violets, woodsmoke, and grilled bread. Possessing huge minerality, it's medium to full-bodied, has a tight, compact mouthfeel, lots of tannins, and a great finish. It needs to be hidden in the back of the cellar for 7-8 years if possible. Drink after 2030.
97+ points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 97
- 94
- 98
2020 Domaine Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie La Landonne

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$375. 00
Bottle
$4500.00 Dozen

ABV: 14%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
Reasonably floral and red-fruited at the moment, the 2020 Cote Rotie la Landonne may not have the richness and power of the very best vintages, but it's still a terrific wine. Tasted as a barrel sample drawn just hours earlier, in addition to those violets and raspberries, it's also marked by the vineyard's characteristic dark notes of roasted meat, black olives and espresso, ample tannins and a long, silky-textured finish. Drink 2025-2040.
94-96 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 2022)
Opaque ruby. Displays an array of intensely perfumed, mineral-accented black and blue fruit, floral, botanical herb and exotic spice aromas, along with suggestions of licorice, smoked meat and olive. Shows serious depth as well as unlikely energy, offering palate-staining kirsch, cassis, bitter chocolate, olive paste and violet pastille flavors that slowly turn sweet and become more energetic through the back half. Youthfully gripping tannins add grip to the smoky, mineral- and spice-driven finish, which emphatically repeats the licorice and blue fruit notes. Drink: 2028-2039.
97 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
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 ground pepper, with more violet and floral nuances in the background. These all carry over to the palate, where the wine is full-bodied, dense, and powerful, with building tannins and an incredibly layered mouthfeel. It's not for the instant gratification crowd, but this is one seriously good Côte Rôtie.
98 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 98
- 96
- 100
2020 Domaine Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie Cote Brune

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$615. 00
Bottle
$7380.00 Dozen

ABV: 14.5%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
Another enormously impressive barrel sample, the 2020 Cote Rotie Cote Brune is dark and plummy, with overtones of black olives, espresso and crushed stone. Full-bodied, concentrated and rich, it's dense, velvety and long on the finish. It's not as flattering to taste currently as the Cote Blonde, but it will be interesting to watch how the wines evolve over time—expect them to run neck and neck for a couple of decades. Drink 2025-2040.
96-98 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 2022)
Dark purple color. Hugely perfumed, mineral-accented black and blue fruit preserve, exotic spice, espresso, olive, smoked meat and incense aromas show superb clarity and pick up hints of mocha and candied licorice with aeration. Sweet, chewy and penetrating in the mouth, offering densely packed boysenberry, cherry liqueur, fruitcake, bacon and espresso flavors and a touch of salty olive paste. Shows outstanding energy on the strikingly long finish, which features youthfully gripping tannins and resonating floral, blue fruit and smoky mineral qualities. Made with whole clusters. Drink: 2028-2038.
98 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
A completely different beast, yet every bit as good, the 2020 Côte Rôtie Côte Brune reveals a dense purple hue to go with powerful, layered aromatics of black and blue fruits, iron, rose petal, violets, and pepper. Where the Côte Blonde is expansive and sexy, this stays incredibly focused, with remarkable purity, perfect tannins, and a finish that won't quit. Hats off to the team at Rostaing for another monumental Côte Rôtie that I wish every reader could taste. Hide bottles for 7-8 years and enjoy over the following 20-25+ years. Drink: 2030-2056.
100 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 90
- 93
- 93
2020 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30

Cornas, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$74. 99
Bottle
$899.88 Dozen

ABV: 14%

Closure: Cork

Vincent Paris is a native of Cornas, a Northern Rhône appellation famous for its steep, granite, terraced slopes. Vincent’s first vintage was in 1997, having inherited vineyards from his grandfather and purchased some from his uncle, legendary Cornas vigneron Robert Michel, on his retirement in 2006. The biodynamically farmed vineyards are located in various parcels along the southeast facing Cornas slope. Vincent’s Granit 30 and Granit 60 take their names from the slope and gradient of the vineyards and average vine age respectively. Vincent’s famed 100+ year old, 1.3 hectare La Geynale parcel, in the Reynard area of Cornas and owned by his family for four generations, is comprised of old vines planted by his great-grandfather in 1910.
Other Reviews....
Consumers loath to explore Cornas because of ever-increasing prices should consider Vincent Paris's 2020 Cornas Granit 30 when it is released. Hints of violets, crushed stone, licorice and cassis all appear on the nose of Paris's entry-level cuvée, providing ample complexity. A strong effort, it's full-bodied, ripe and silky in texture, with a lingering finish. It may not be classic, put-hair-on-your-chest rustic Cornas, but it's a delicious mouthful of Syrah that's true to its granitic origins. Drink 2023 - 2032.
90-92 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 2022)
Starting with what could be considered the entry level cuvée, the 2020 Cornas Granit 30 comes from further down the slope, from vines closer to the village. That's obviously not a bad thing, since this plump, full-bodied, beautifully textured Cornas has remarkable purity and elegance as well as richness. Blackberries, blueberries, subtle smoke, graphite, and violets all emerge from the glass, and it has a seamless, incredibly elegant texture.
93-95 points
Jeb Dunnuck
Very herbal, with leafy herbs like tarragon alongside woody herbs such as rosemary. Blueberry and liquorice too. Middleweight style, good concentration of fresh, juicy berry fruit and good persistence. Fresh, intense, gently saline and well-balanced. A good value pick this year. From 10-year-old vines, all destemmed. Drinking Window 2022 - 2028.
93 points
Matt Walls - Decanter

Delivery Information
- 92
2019 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30

Cornas, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$69. 99
Bottle
$839.88 Dozen

ABV: 14%

Closure: Cork

Vincent Paris is a native of Cornas, a Northern Rhône appellation famous for its steep, granite, terraced slopes. Vincent’s first vintage was in 1997, having inherited vineyards from his grandfather and purchased some from his uncle, legendary Cornas vigneron Robert Michel, on his retirement in 2006. The biodynamically farmed vineyards are located in various parcels along the southeast facing Cornas slope. Vincent’s Granit 30 and Granit 60 take their names from the slope and gradient of the vineyards and average vine age respectively. Vincent’s famed 100+ year old, 1.3 hectare La Geynale parcel, in the Reynard area of Cornas and owned by his family for four generations, is comprised of old vines planted by his great-grandfather in 1910.

Other Reviews....
Mineral-driven aromas of ripe black/blue fruits, peony, olive and exotic spices on the nose. Sappy and focused on the palate, offering gently sweet, mineral-kissed cherry and blueberry flavors that deepen slowly with air and show sharp delineation. The blue fruit note drives an impressively long, spicy finish that's given subtle grip by fine-grained, even tannins.
92-94 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous

Lovely ripe freshness to the fruit, really bright summer pudding aromas. Mouthcoating fruit and tannin, very fine tannin. Acidity is surprisingly marked. Plenty of ripe tannins, they're quite lively, textural, fruit-derived. Very juicy, very fruity, concentrated and ripe. No great depth, very accessible. 10-year-old vines, all destemmed.
93 points
Matt Walls - Decanter

Delivery Information
- 92
- 89
2017 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30

Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$69. 99
Bottle
$839.88 Dozen

ABV: 13%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
Bright purple. Highly perfumed blue fruit, violet and candied licorice aromas show excellent clarity and pick up hints of woodsmoke and menthol as the wine opens up. Juicy and appealingly sweet, offering sappy boysenberry, cherry and spicecake flavors and a touch of smoky bacon. A sexy floral note emerges on the gently tannic finish, which hangs on with strong, spice-tinged persistence.
92 Points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous

The 2017 Cornas Granit 30 features flattering aromas of cracked pepper, ground clove, fresh raspberries and crushed stone. But while the wine is full-bodied, it comes across as slightly austere and lacking mid-palate texture, before finishing long, with hints of Berry Zinger tea.
89-91 Points
Joe Czerwinski - The Wine Advocate

Delivery Information
- 95
- 91
2018 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas La Geynale

Cornas, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$115. 00
Bottle
$1380.00 Dozen

ABV: 14%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
For whatever reason, the sample of Paris's 2018 Cornas la Geynale seemed less expressive than his Granit 60 (both were tasted blind). Herb notes accent mixed berries in a wine that's medium to full-bodied and impeccably balanced, with firm but ripe tannins and a long, gently dusty finish. With its strong track record, I have to think it's likely to show better next year when I revisit it.
91-93 Points
The Wine Advocate
Opaque ruby. Highly aromatic aromas of ripe black and blue fruits, incense, exotic spices, violet and a hint of olive. Densely packed and lively on the palate, offering intense dark berry liqueur, floral pastille and salty olive flavors, a hint of smoky minerality and building spiciness. Finishes chewy, focused and extremely long, with mounting tannins lending shape and grip to vivid dark fruit and floral notes. Drink 2024 - 2034.
95 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
The 2018 Cornas La Geynale is largely in the same style as the Granit 60, only with the gamey, bloody and meaty character (as well as tannins) turned up a notch. Black and blue fruits, rare meat, ground pepper, and wild herbs all give way to a structured, tannic wine that has beautiful purity and elegance. It's not for those looking for instant gratification, however. This cuvée comes from a single parcel, is not destemmed, and will see 16 months in 2- to 8-year-old barrels.
94-96+ points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 91
2018 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30

Cornas, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$69. 99
Bottle
$839.88 Dozen

ABV: 14%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
Deep, bright-rimmed magenta. Bright and energetic on the fragrant nose, displaying intense black/blue fruit and floral scents that pick up olive and cracked pepper notes as the wine stretches out. In a juicy, fruit-driven style, offering appealingly sweet cherry, blueberry flavors, suggestions of spicecake, licorice and cola. Finishes very long and smooth, with just a hint of fine-grained tannins and resonating spiciness.
91-93 Points
Vinous

Delivery Information
- 96
- 97
- 98
- 98
2019 Guigal Cote Rotie La Landonne

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$1099. 00
Bottle
$13188.00 Dozen

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
The impenetrably dark 2019 Cote Rotie La Landonne represents the essence of this fabled lieu-dit, combining peppery, herbal notions with espresso and roasted meat, all carried by ample plum and black cherry fruit. It's full-bodied, concentrated, richly tannic and long on the finish—simply a superb wine that should be flirting with perfection when it is released in a couple of years. Drink 2025 - 2045.
98-100 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Feb 11, 2022)
Powerful, spice- and mineral-accented black/blue fruit liqueur, exotic spice, olive and incense aromas show superb clarity and pick up hints of smoky bacon, mocha and candied licorice with aeration. Sweet, seamless and penetrating in the mouth, offering densely packed boysenberry, cherry liqueur, fruitcake and vanilla flavors and a touch of salty olive paste. Shows outstanding energy on the strikingly persistent finish, which features polished tannins and resonating floral, blue fruit and smoked meat qualities.
96-98 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
Still very youthful, this has a deep nose of smoke, bitter chocolate and herbal liqueur. The gigantic tannin structure on the palate will need many years of further aging to completely resolve, but the tannins are fine which gives the super-long finish an extraordinary texture, like old-fashioned velvet. So much smoke and crushed rock character! A pure syrah which is then fermented with 100% whole bunches. Matured in 100% new oak for 42 months. Drinkable now, but best from 2026, and even then you should decant it.
97 points
JamesSuckling.com
As always, the 2019 Côte Rôtie La Landonne is all Syrah that was not destemmed and will spend four years in new French oak. A wine with perfection written all over it, it's one of the most impressive barrel samples to ever pass this critic's lips. Deep purple/black-hued with a massive, full-bodied, brooding style, it has classic smoky, meaty black fruits, a touch of iron, graphite, tobacco, and pepper, building tannins, and a huge finish. This is pure brilliance in Syrah, yet as with just about every vintage here, it will require a solid decade of bottle age.
98-100 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 95
- 98
- 98
- 98
2019 Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$1099. 00
Bottle
$13188.00 Dozen

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
The extroverted 2019 Cote Rotie La Turque is about as impressive a young wine as I've tasted at Guigal, with extravagant, blossom-like aromas and oodles of cassis and blueberries. Full-bodied, it's simultaneously concentrated and rich yet airy and almost weightless, an outrageous juxtaposition of characters that must be tasted to be understood. Drink 2025 - 2045.
98-100 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Feb 11, 2022)
Bright and energetic on the intensely fragrant nose, displaying ripe black/blue fruit, vanilla and floral scents that pick up olive and exotic spice notes as the wine stretches out. In a powerful, fruit-driven style, offering appealingly sweet cherry, blackberry, mocha and allspice flavors, plus suggestions of licorice and cola. Finishes extremely long and smooth, with just a hint of fine-grained tannins and an assertive jolt of minerality.
95-97 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
From the haunting nose through to the end of the extremely long finish this wine embodies the rocky personality of Cote-Rotie, along with the special ripeness that the syrah achieves here. As floral as it is stony, as structured as it is concentrated, yet all of this builds an imposing and enchanting whole. A cuvee of 93% syrah and 7% viognier. Matured in 100% new oak for 42 months. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.
98 points
JamesSuckling.com
I was blown away by the 2019 Côte Rôtie La Turque, which comes from a tiny parcel in the Côte Brune and is fermented with a touch of Viognier as well as a small amount of stems. It too has a smoky, meaty, gamey profile as well as full-bodied richness and tons of mid-palate depth and concentration. It's another serious 2019 with structure to spare, remarkable purity, flawless balance, and a great finish. As usual, it's not for the instant gratification crowd and is going to demand 10-15 years of bottle age.
98-100 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 96
- 97
- 94
- 97
2019 Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$1099. 00
Bottle
$13188.00 Dozen

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
While just as aromatic and charming on the nose—where ephemeral floral notes join ripe cherries—as previous years, the 2019 Cote Rotie La Mouline isn't quite as impressive on the palate. It's medium to full-bodied, silky and caressing, without the same power, yet it's supremely elegant. Drink 2024 - 2035.
94-96 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Feb 11, 2022)
Bright, highly perfumed blueberry, black raspberry, violet and exotic spice aromas, along with a wild touch of blood orange. Juicy and lithe on the palate, offering intense red and blue fruit flavors that stain the palate while showing little in the way of excess weight. Finishes extremely long and sweet, with a building floral note, even tannins and a late jolt of five-spice powder.
96-98 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
Great nose of summer flowers and ripe blackberries with a glaze of toasty oak. A very graceful wine in spite of all the power and concentration. Feels almost weightless until you get to the finish where you feel the enormous structure that lurks just below the surface. A cuvee of 89% syrah and 11% viognier. Matured in 100% new oak for 42 months. Drink or hold.
97 points
JamesSuckling.com
The 2019 Côte Rôtie La Mouline is a bigger, richer Côte Rôtie. Co-fermented with a solid chuck of Viognier and around 85% destemmed (the same as the La Turque), this full-bodied effort has a kaleidoscope-like bouquet of bloody black and blue fruits, tapenade, salted meat, woodsmoke, and a touch of violets. This cuvée is always an exotic wine, and the 2019 is no exception, offering full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, plenty of structure, and a great finish.
97-100 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 94
2019 Guigal Crozes-Hermitage

Crozes Hermitage, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$59. 99
Bottle
$719.88 Dozen

Cellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2023-2029)

ABV: 13.5%

Closure: Cork

100% Syrah sourced from 85 year old vines and matured for 18 months in oak barrels. Totally opaque black dark red colour with a dark red black tinged hue. Elevated black raspberry and liquorice aromas combine with some ripe blackberry, scorched earth, provincial herb and peppered meat notes. Delicious black raspberry, liquorice and black cherry fruits carry a juicy feel over a back drop of scorched earth, dried herbs and peppered meats. Smooth and supple mid palate with gently chewy tannins leading into a long generous yet refined finish that’s laced with peppered earth characters.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5%

Delivery Information
- 97
- 98
- 100
2018 Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$1050. 00
Bottle
$12600.00 Dozen

ABV: 14.5%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
Does the scale go higher than 100? Guigal's 2018 Cote Rotie La Turque is a sure candidate for perfection down the road. With more concentration and richness than the aromatic 2017, it seamlessly blends grilled cherries, espresso, black olives and even exotic hints of black truffle into a full-bodied, powerhouse that should drink well for at least two decades. Drink 2025 - 2045.
98-100 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Dec 2019)
Dark violet. Deeply perfumed black and blue fruit aromas, along with suggestions of Moroccan spices, potpourri, olive and smoky minerals. Densely packed cassis, bitter cherry and violet pastille flavors show excellent definition and are underscored by a vein of juicy acidity. The mineral and floral notes repeat on a wonderfully long and subtly chewy finish that's shaped by dusty, steadily building tannins. Drink 2029-2042.
97 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
In comparison to the La Mouline, the 2018 Côte Rôtie La Turque shows a darker, more Côte Brune-like character (which is where this is from) in its broody black fruits, scorched earth, smoked meats, graphite, and exotic flowers. As with the other single vineyards in 2018, the purity of fruit is off the charts, it's full-bodied, has incredible tannins, perfect balance, and a finish that won't quit. It shows that classic 2018 ripeness with no sensation of weight or heaviness. It too has some up-front appeal but won't hit maturity for another 7-8 years, if not a decade, and is a 30-year-wine. Drink 2030 - 2048.
100 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 98
- 98
- 99
2018 Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$1050. 00
Bottle
$12600.00 Dozen

ABV: 14.5%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
The 2018 Cote Rotie La Mouline is immensely seductive, offering up enticing notes of floral potpourri and red berries on the nose. Those strawberries and raspberries persist onto the full-bodied palate and through the long, lush finish, buoyed by supple, creamy-textured tannins. This is the most complete, compelling vintage of La Mouline I've tasted. Drink 2025 - 2045.
98-100 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Feb 2022)
Deep ruby. A complex, highly perfumed bouquet evokes mineral-accented black raspberry, cherry-cola, olive, violet candy, vanilla and cracked pepper. Sweet, focused and penetrating on the palate, offering intense red and blue fruit, floral pastille and exotic spice flavors that flesh out with aeration. The spice and floral notes come back emphatically on a strikingly long, focused finish that's given shape by fine-grained, slowly mounting tannins. Drink 2032-2045.
98 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
Just about pure perfection as well as a desert Island wine, the 2018 Côte Rôtie La Mouline comes from a tiny parcel in the Côte Blonde lieu-dit and spent four years in new barrels. Incredible notes of black raspberries, spring flowers, bacon fat, smoked game, violets, and pepper all emerge on the nose. These carry to a full-bodied, round, supple, sexy Côte Rôtie offering ultra-fine tannins, an insane level of purity, no hard edges, and a monster of a finish. As with the other 2018s here, it leads with its fruit and has a supple, ethereal style on the palate. It doesn't have the sheer wealth of material or density of the 2010, 2015, or 2019, but it’s possibly a slightly richer, sexier version of the 2016. Hide bottles for just 4-5 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following two decades or so. Drink 2027 - 2047.
99 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 98
- 98
- 98
2018 Guigal Cote Rotie La Landonne

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$1050. 00
Bottle
$12600.00 Dozen

ABV: 14.5%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
Subtle hints of fresh pea shoots accent characteristic dark notes of roasted meat, espresso and black olives in the full-bodied 2018 Cote Rotie La Landonne. Rich, concentrated and velvety-textured, with ample length and plenty of ripe tannins on the finish, it should benefit from a decade or more of bottle age—once it gets there. It's a brooding beast of a Cote Rotie that serious collectors will want to have in their cellars. Drink 2025 - 2045.
98-100 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Feb 2022)
Vibrant purple. A deeply perfumed, mineral-accented bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, potpourri, incense and olive, and a dusty mineral nuance gains power as the wine stretches out. Shows superb depth as well as energy on the palate, offering gently sweet blackberry, cherry preserve, smoky bacon and fruitcake flavors that are supported by a core of juicy acidity. In a powerful yet vibrant style, displaying sharp focus, mounting tannins and a strikingly long, floral- and smoke-tinged finish All whole clusters and 100% new oak. Drink 2032-2045.
98 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
The 2018 Côte Rôtie La Landonne is a different beast, as always. Inky black-hued, with a monster of a nose revealing tons of smoked black fruits, cured meats, tobacco, ground pepper, and graphite. It has an almost Pauillac-like profile and is full-bodied, deep, and concentrated on the palate, with building tannins, flawless balance, and a huge finish. Pure raw power, this needs at least a decade of bottle age and will be one of the longest-lived wines in the vintage. Drink after 2032.
98+ points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 98
- 99
- 99
2017 Guigal Cote Rotie La Landonne

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$999. 00
Bottle
$11988.00 Dozen

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
The 2017 Cote Rotie La Landonne is 100% whole cluster, yet the stemminess—at the moment—is represented on the nose as just the merest hint of fresh pea shoots. As always, La Landonne is a bastion of strength and power, with dark flavors that range from black cherries and plums to smoke, roasted meat and on into mocha and espresso. Full-bodied and densely concentrated, with a long, long finish, it's the most impressive of Guigal's single-vineyard Cote Roties this vintage. Drink 2025 - 2045.
99 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Feb 2022)
Inky violet color. Highly perfumed, mineral-tinged aromas of ripe black and blue fruits, smoky bacon, olive paste and incense, along with suggestions of woodsmoke and exotic spices. Offers palate-staining, appealingly sweet and deeply concentrated blueberry, cassis, floral pastille, smoked meat, licorice and fruitcake flavors that show excellent concentration and are supported by a core of juicy acidity. Finishes sweet, broad and extremely long, with resonating florality and chewy tannins that build steadily. Drink 2031-2044.
98 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
In a completely different style, the more blockbuster, masculine style 2017 Côte Rôtie La Landonne sports a dense purple hue as well as quintessential Landonne notes of smoked meats, black fruits, scorched earth, and chocolate. Pure, focused, and remarkably delineated on the nose, it’s full-bodied and incredibly concentrated on the palate, with building tannins, perfectly integrated oak, and a monster of a finish. It’s going to require at least a decade to be drinkable, but it’s one of those seemingly immortal Côte Rôties that will continue drinking brilliantly for longer than most of us will be around. Drink After 2032.
99+ points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 97
- 97
- 100
2017 Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$999. 00
Bottle
$11988.00 Dozen

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
A common refrain regarding the La-Las is that they require a decade or more of cellaring to come around. In fact, they're often quite open and appealing soon after release, only to close down shortly thereafter. The 2017 Cote Rotie La Turque offers up hints of crushed stone and struck flint, smoky, bacon-fat aromas and ripe, mouthwatering blackberries. Full-bodied, creamy and rich, it's a powerful, concentrated effort that should still be drinking well in two decades. Drink 2022 - 2045.
97+ points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Feb 2022)
Opaque ruby. Displays seductively perfumed aromas of ripe, mineral-drenched black and blue fruits, incense, potpourri and exotic spices. Sweet, gently chewy and penetrating in the mouth, offering sappy blueberry, cherry-cola and floral pastille flavors, with smoky mineral and vanilla nuances. Shockingly lithe for its depth, this finishes wonderfully long and juicy, with velvety tannins sneaking in late. Drink 2028-2040.
97 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
One of the legendary vintages for this cuvée is the 2017 Côte Rôtie La Turque, a blend of 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier from a tiny parcel in the Côte Brune lieu-dit. Always aged 4 years in new French oak, it offers a dense, saturated purple color as well as slightly more masculine notes of blackberries, smoked meats, dark chocolate, and graphite. Full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, and perfectly balanced, with incredible purity of fruit, it already offers pleasure but will ideally be given 5-7 years of bottle age. It will deliver the goods for 30 to 40 years. It’s the star of the show in 2017 and one of the wines of the vintage. Drink 2027 - 2067.
100 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 97
- 96
- 98
2017 Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$999. 00
Bottle
$11988.00 Dozen

ABV: 14%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
The 2017 Cote Rotie La Mouline has developed quickly and is already approachable—although I wouldn't be surprised to see it close down shortly, only to emerge even better a decade from now. Complex, charming scents of jasmine, sandalwood, raspberries and stone fruit appear on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is silky-textured, with a long, plush finish. Drink 2022 - 2040.
96+? points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Feb 2022)
Saturated violet. Ripe, spice- and mineral-tinged red and blue fruits, incense, vanilla and strong violet notes are highlighted on the exotically perfumed nose. Sappy, penetrating and lively on the palate, showing impressive delineation and spicy lift to its blueberry, kirsch, floral pastille and cola flavors. Distinctly lively in character, especially in the context of the vintage, finishing with impressive power, polished tannins and echoing spice, mineral and floral notes. As usual, this wine was aged for 42 months in new French oak barrels that were coopered at Guigal. Drink 2027-2039.
97 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous
Bottled in February of 2021, the 2017 Côte Rôtie La Mouline is a seamless, exotic, perfumed, full-bodied effort that offers a classic floral character in its ripe black raspberry and blackberry fruit as well as notes of spice box, espresso, and chocolate. Co-fermented with roughly 10% Viognier, it’s all about gorgeous fruit and texture, and this cuvée has that rare ability to bring incredible richness and depth with no sensation of weight or heaviness. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will keep for 20-25 years. This reminds me slightly of the 2011 as well as the 2007. Drink 2026 - 2052.
98 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 97
- 98
2016 Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$999. 00
Bottle
$11988.00 Dozen

ABV: 13.5%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
Loaded with exotic perfumes of spring flowers and ripe berries, the 2016 Cote Rotie La Turque looks more like the wine I first tasted back in 2017. Medium to full-bodied, it's exquisitely silky and elegant from start to incredibly long finish; while there is ample concentration and a fine, lacy framework of tannins to support the fruit, the tannins virtually melt away into the background, leaving behind lingering notes of salted licorice and mocha. Approachable now, it should drink well for at least two decades.
98 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

Inky magenta. Candied cherry, blackcurrant, exotic spices, violet oil and a hint of olive on the powerfully scented nose. Velvety, seamless and alluringly sweet, offering palate-staining, mineral-laced black/blue fruit preserve, floral pastille, smoky bacon and spicecake flavors that open up steadily on the back half. Displays sharp delineation and a resonating floral note on a strikingly long finish that's framed by plush, rounded tannins.
97 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous

Showing beautifully, the 2016 Côte Rôtie La Turque comes from the Côte Brune (along with the La Landonne) and includes a solid chunk of co-fermented Viognier. As with all the top La Las, it spends a full four years in new French oak and is bottled with no finning or filtration. Resembling the La Landonne with its smoky, meaty style, this deep purple-hued effort is medium to full-bodied and has complex notes of black raspberry, cassis, roast coffee, camphor, and flowers, silky tannins, and a great finish. It shows the more elegant style of the vintage yet is still concentrated, with fabulous tannins and impeccable balance. It's a beautiful, classic example of this cuvée to enjoy over the coming 20-25 years.
96 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
- 98
- 97
2016 Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline

Cote Rotie, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$999. 00
Bottle
$11988.00 Dozen

ABV: 13.5%

Closure: Cork

Other Reviews....
Like the La Turque, the 2016 Cote Rotie La Mouline is about as approachable a young La La as you're likely to find. Floral notes include hints of violet and hibiscus set against a backdrop of blackberries and cassis. Medium to full-bodied, it's richly concentrated and textured, leaving behind a velvety, tannic feel on the long finish, accompanied by hints of cedary spice, mocha and salted licorice. It's another beauty that should drink well for at least two decades.
97 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (May 2021)

Deep, glistening violet color. Highly perfumed aromas of fresh black/blue fruits, exotic spices, peony, vanilla and incense are complemented by a smoky mineral nuance. Juicy and expansive in the mouth, displaying alluringly sweet, mineral-tinged blueberry, cherry preserve and floral pastille flavors along with hints of licorice and cola. The floral and spice notes repeat emphatically on an extremely long, penetrating finish that features mounting tannins and a resonating mineral flourish.
98 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous

Probably one of my favorite wines in the world is the La Mouline Côte Rôtie from the Guigal family. Coming from old vines and a warmer, steep, terraced parcel not far from the estate, it also includes a big chunk of Viognier and spent 4 years in new French oak. The 2016 Côte Rôtie La Mouline shows the more classic, elegant style of the vintage perfectly, offering a kaleidoscope feel in its classic jammy black raspberry fruits and notes of spice box, acacia flowers, bacon fat, and smoked game-like aromas and flavors. Possessing incredible elegance, full-bodied richness, silky tannins, and a layered, multi-dimensional texture, this heavenly Syrah can be enjoyed any time over the coming 25-30 years.
98 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Delivery Information
2022 Herve Souhaut Saint Joseph Sainte Epine

Saint Joseph, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$165. 00
Bottle
$1980.00 Dozen

ABV: 12.5%

Closure: Cork

Hervé Souhaut is one of a kind, producing some of the most lithe, perfumed, and exuberant wines from the Rhone. He and his wife converted the cellars of her parents' centuries-old hunting lodge into the winery and now draw on four parcels of vines totaling 8.5 acres in Saint Joseph, as well as 20 additional acres of Vin de Pays vineyards on the plateau, planted primarily to Gamay, Roussanne and Viognier. The AOC wines are labeled under Souhaut's name, while the Vin de Pays cuvées are named Domaine Romaneaux-Destezet, in homage to the name of her parents' estate combined with Béatrice's family name.
The methods of Jules Chauvet are followed here, which is to say grapes are hand-harvested and then the whole bunches undergo a pre-fermentation maceration at low temperature. Fermentation follows using natural yeasts in wooden and concrete tanks – the wine is then aged on fine lees in seasoned oak casks for eight to twelve months. Following that there is just a teeny dose of sulfur at bottling, which is done without filtration.
The iconic Saint-Joseph Sainte Épine hails from vines over 100 years old and is the jewel in the crown at this estate. It's a wine of contemplation and inspiration displaying Syrah’s nobility and virility alongside myriad exquisite fragrances and the superfine texture that are the hand of the maker. Something very rare indeed and will repay careful cellaring handsomely.

Delivery Information
2022 Herve Souhaut Saint Joseph Clos des Cessieux

Saint Joseph, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$150. 00
Bottle
$1800.00 Dozen

ABV: 12.5%

Closure: Cork

Hervé Souhaut is one of a kind, producing some of the most lithe, perfumed, and exuberant wines from the Rhone. He and his wife converted the cellars of her parents' centuries-old hunting lodge into the winery and now draw on four parcels of vines totaling 8.5 acres in Saint Joseph, as well as 20 additional acres of Vin de Pays vineyards on the plateau, planted primarily to Gamay, Roussanne and Viognier. The AOC wines are labeled under Souhaut's name, while the Vin de Pays cuvées are named Domaine Romaneaux-Destezet, in homage to the name of her parents' estate combined with Béatrice's family name.
The methods of Jules Chauvet are followed here, which is to say grapes are hand-harvested and then the whole bunches undergo a pre-fermentation maceration at low temperature. Fermentation follows using natural yeasts in wooden and concrete tanks – the wine is then aged on fine lees in seasoned oak casks for eight to twelve months. Following that there is just a teeny dose of sulfur at bottling, which is done without filtration.
Recently a new wine came into play due to inheritance, a super parcel of red Saint-Joseph in the lieu-dit Les Cessieux is born. This joins the established and iconic Saint-Joseph Sainte Épine (from vines over 100 years old) and together they are the jewels in the crown at this estate.

Delivery Information
2022 Herve Souhaut Syrah

Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$69. 99
Bottle
$839.88 Dozen

ABV: 12.5%

Closure: Cork

Hervé Souhaut is one of a kind, producing some of the most lithe, perfumed, and exuberant wines from the Rhone. He and his wife converted the cellars of her parents' centuries-old hunting lodge into the winery and now draw on four parcels of vines totaling 8.5 acres in Saint Joseph, as well as 20 additional acres of Vin de Pays vineyards on the plateau, planted primarily to Gamay, Roussanne and Viognier. The AOC wines are labeled under Souhaut's name, while the Vin de Pays cuvées are named Domaine Romaneaux-Destezet, in homage to the name of her parents' estate combined with Béatrice's family name.
The methods of Jules Chauvet are followed here, which is to say grapes are hand-harvested and then the whole bunches undergo a pre-fermentation maceration at low temperature. Fermentation follows using natural yeasts in wooden and concrete tanks – the wine is then aged on fine lees in seasoned oak casks for eight to twelve months. Following that there is just a teeny dose of sulfur at bottling, which is done without filtration.
The Syrah grapes come from a tiny parcel of land along the slopes of the Doux River and the vines are on average 50 years old. This beauty has a most expansive and pretty profile – violets, black cherry, flowers and wet stone all billow out of the glass. The palate echoes the aroma and the tannins that gradually frame the finish are in the featherweight division and only serve to highlight the vibrant components of this lithe, fresh and captivating wine.

Delivery Information
2022 Herve Souhaut La Souteronne (Gamay)

Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$69. 99
Bottle
$839.88 Dozen

ABV: 12.5%

Closure: Cork

Hervé Souhaut is one of a kind, producing some of the most lithe, perfumed, and exuberant wines from the Rhone. He and his wife converted the cellars of her parents' centuries-old hunting lodge into the winery and now draw on four parcels of vines totaling 8.5 acres in Saint Joseph, as well as 20 additional acres of Vin de Pays vineyards on the plateau, planted primarily to Gamay, Roussanne and Viognier. The AOC wines are labeled under Souhaut's name, while the Vin de Pays cuvées are named Domaine Romaneaux-Destezet, in homage to the name of her parents' estate combined with Béatrice's family name.
The methods of Jules Chauvet are followed here, which is to say grapes are hand-harvested and then the whole bunches undergo a pre-fermentation maceration at low temperature. Fermentation follows using natural yeasts in wooden and concrete tanks – the wine is then aged on fine lees in seasoned oak casks for eight to twelve months. Following that there is just a teeny dose of sulfur at bottling, which is done without filtration.
La Souteronne is made from Gamay - the vines are between 70 to 90 years old. This is a truly superb fruit driven Gamay with an edgy mountain freshness and an attractive Rhône accent that gives it an incisive, meaty drive.

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2021 Herve Souhaut Saint Joseph Clos des Cessieux

Saint Joseph, Northern Rhone, FRANCE

$140. 00
Bottle
$1680.00 Dozen

ABV: 12%

Closure: Cork

Hervé Souhaut is one of a kind, producing some of the most lithe, perfumed, and exuberant wines from the Rhone. He and his wife converted the cellars of her parents' centuries-old hunting lodge into the winery and now draw on four parcels of vines totaling 8.5 acres in Saint Joseph, as well as 20 additional acres of Vin de Pays vineyards on the plateau, planted primarily to Gamay, Roussanne and Viognier. The AOC wines are labeled under Souhaut's name, while the Vin de Pays cuvées are named Domaine Romaneaux-Destezet, in homage to the name of her parents' estate combined with Béatrice's family name.
The methods of Jules Chauvet are followed here, which is to say grapes are hand-harvested and then the whole bunches undergo a pre-fermentation maceration at low temperature. Fermentation follows using natural yeasts in wooden and concrete tanks – the wine is then aged on fine lees in seasoned oak casks for eight to twelve months. Following that there is just a teeny dose of sulfur at bottling, which is done without filtration.
Recently a new wine came into play due to inheritance, a super parcel of red Saint-Joseph in the lieu-dit Les Cessieux is born. This joins the established and iconic Saint-Joseph Sainte Épine (from vines over 100 years old) and together they are the jewels in the crown at this estate.

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Wind, Rocks & Vines.

Often perched on dizzying gradients, granitic and schistous soils form foundations for the steeply sloped vineyards of Cote Rotie and Hermitage. Since the topsoil here is prone to erosion, the construction of terraces is common. The Northern Rhone is subject to greater seasonal temperature differences than the South (hot summers and severe winters), and the Mistral wind also influences viticulture. Blowing down from the Massif Central, it's both a blessing and a curse, reducing yields but also drying the vineyards, so preventing diseases such as mildew from taking hold.

Northern Rhone wine styles & regions.

Generally speaking, the Syrah (Shiraz) based wines are medium to full-bodied, with aromas and flavours of smoke, game, grilled meat, mineral and white pepper. Several appellations permit small percentages of white grapes to be blended into the reds, usually co-fermented. For example, in the Côte-Rôtie, up to 20% Viognier may be added. In Hermitage / Crozes-Hermitage, a total of 15% Marsanne & Roussanne is allowed. St-Joseph may include up to 10% Marsanne and Roussanne. The aim of co-fermenting and blending is to create more fragrant and delicate wines.

While Hermitage is home to the most prestigious sites, including climats such as le Méal, les Bessards, Gréffieux, Beaume and Péléat, Cote-Rotie is a close second. Here Guigal's special bottlings of La Mouline, La Landonne and La Turque, (aka the 'La-La wines'), have become some of the most sought-after bottles in the wine-world. Behind the hill of Hermitage are the vineyards of Crozes-Hermitage producing generally lighter and less long-lived wines, although the best examples can approach Hermitage in quality (and be significantly more affordable). Smaller, and arguably under-rated appellations such as Cornas, St. Joseph and Saint-Péray produce full bodied, entry-level, early drinking reds offering a great introduction to the region's style.

Buy Hermitage & Cote-Rotie from Guigal, Chapoutier and more online.

When you purchase Rhone reds from Nicks Wine Merchants you can get them delivered to most areas of Australia. We also taste and rate much of the range and/or offer third party reviews to further guide you in your choice.