From 75-year-old Grenache grown in sandy soils, the 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape La Guigasse was fermented as whole clusters and will spend two whole years in older demi-muids. On the nose, intriguing spice, herbal and savory notes... Read More
Big, rich and packed with smoky black fruits, this is not a shy wine. Dark chocolate and black-plum flavors mingle with the solid structure and concentrated tannins. With its ripe, juicy fruitiness at the end, the wine has all... Read More
This single-vineyard wine, from Aana, is made in a modern style: concentrated and slightly reductive. It shows notes of new oak barrels, lovely red berry fruit (reminiscent of Grenache) and garrigue aromas. So Mediterranean on... Read More
The 2009 Croft has a tightly wound bouquet of blackberry, black plum, and touches of glycerine and graphite that are well-defined but persistently broody. The palate is full-bodied with a burly, powerful entry. There is real structure... Read More
I was deeply impressed with these wines from Domaine de Chevalier. The red has a slight upper hand in 2014, but both wines are distinctive and full of character. Olivier Bernard owns one of the crown jewels of Bordeaux, as these... Read More
Not as rich or concentrated as I was expecting, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes still delivers ample layers of dark fruit, hints of cola, mint and spice elements. It's full-bodied, silky and long, but it looks... Read More
Including slightly more Mourvèdre and from a cooler, higher elevation terroir, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Hauts-Lieux has more cassis, game, peppery herbs, and olive notes, as well as the classic violets and... Read More
A ripe wine that has great fruit as well as tannins, this is rich and perfumed. It has a layer of minerality that brings it close to the tough schist of the Douro. At the same time, the rich fruits are generous. The potential... Read More
Checking in as a final blend of 40% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Fenix reveals a saturated purple color as well as sexy notes of black cherries, currants, ground herbs, chocolate,... Read More