The 2016 Lirac Domaine du Clos de Sixte is a terrific wine, easily the rival to many Ch?teauneufs from across the river, starting with its alluring aromas of flowering garrigue and ripe cherries. A blend of 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 15% Mourv?dre, this ...
Now that it's in the bottle, the 2016 Cotes du Rhone les Champauvins is looking as good as I predicted last year. It's a full-bodied, concentrated wine that could mop the floor with many Ch?teauneufs. Rich black cherry fruit is joined by complex herb and ...
The 2017 C?;tes du Rh?;ne Blanc has lots of Grenache Blanc as well as other permitted varieties. Notes of white flowers, citrus, and honeysuckle all emerge from this medium-bodied, vibrant white that has good acidity and a clean finish. As usual, it over-...
Notes of lilac, dark cherries and flowers preface Guigal’s 2022 Côtes du Rhône, a juicy, round and elegant wine that is also remarkably dense for the vintage and represents excellent value.
The 2005 Cote Rotie la Landonne is a massive, decadent and seriously concentrated Cote Rotie that, even now at age 10, is still backward and unevolved. Inky purple to the rim, it offers full-bore notes of plums, blackberries, violets, incense and charcoal...
Leading off the 2020s, the 2020 Côtes Du Rhône is ripe, medium to full-bodied, and loaded with charm. Sunny red and black fruits, spice, and garrigue notes define the bouquet, and it's going to drink nicely right out of the gate. It shows the fruit-driven...
The 2019 Côtes Du Rhône will be a no-brainer purchase. This Syrah-heavy red has lots of blackberry, bouquet garni, and peppery notes in a ripe, full-bodied, textured style. It’s well worth buying and drinking over the coming 5-7 years.
Glass-staining ruby. Powerful, mineral- and smoke-accented black and blue fruit, potpourri, olive and vanilla aromas acquire a spicy nuance as the wine opens up. Offers densely packed cherry-cola, cassis and blueberry flavors that show excellent clarity a...