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The French wine region known as the Rhone straddles the Rhone river valley from just south of Lyon and ending 125 miles later just south of Avignon near the Mediterranean. There are well over 20 grape varieties used in the production of Rhone wines with each appellation having rules permitting the use of only certain grapes. The major red grape variety in Southern Rhone wines is Grenache followed by Syrah, Carignan, and Mourvedre. The major white grape varieties in white wines of the Rhone are Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier.
The major appellations (or AOC's) in the Southern Rhone wine region are: Cotes du Rhone (the lowest classification and allowed for use in all 171 communes in the Northern and Southern Rhone), Cotes du Rhone Villages, Cotes du Rhone Villages (with the name of the particular village placed after), Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Vacqueyras, Rasteau, and Gigondas. Most of the red wines in the south are dominated by the Grenache grape. The sweet wines called Beaumes de Venise or Muscat de Beaumes de Venise, and dry rose; wines of Tavel should also be noted.
The major appellations (or AOC's) in the Northern Rhone are: Condrieu, Cornas, Cote-Rotie, Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, and Saint-Joseph. The major red grape variety in all Northern Rhone wines is Syrah.
WS8787 pts. - Wine & Spirits - October 1, 2003 Simple but delicious, this offers crisp, sweet, green-grape flavors laced with a delicate and refreshing sparkle. Keep it on hand, chilled, for picnics and impromptu toasts.SP8585 pts. - Wine Spectator - Nov 30, 2003 The floral and grapey aromas burst from the glass in this lightly sweet, delicately effervescent wine. A fruity, attractive sparkler ideal for summer sipping. 90 percent Muscat, 10 percent Clairette. Drink now.
SP9595 pts. - Wine Spectator - Oct 15, 2014 A lush, velvety style, with gorgeous flavors of raspberry ganache, plum pâte de fruit and cherry preserves, lined with ample graphite-edged grip and driving authoritatively through a finish studded with licorice snap, black tea and tar notes. Has power, grace and serious length. Impressive. Best from 2016 through 2026. 56 cases imported.RP94+94–96+ pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 31st Oct 2013 The top wine of the estate, the tiny production 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Secret des Sabon is almost all Grenache and was aged in 600-liter demi-muids. Gorgeous all around, with a sexy, voluptuous profile, it gives up notions of sweet blackberries, currants, underbrush, strawberry and mineral on the nose. Full-bodied, rich and brilliantly textured, with a relatively accessible profile, it should still be given a year, or three, in the cellar once released. It should age effortlessly for 15–20 years or more. Drink 2015–2027.VN9494 pts. - Vinous - Apr 2015 Bright ruby. A complex, intensely perfumed bouquet displays scents of black raspberry, cherry-cola, Asian spices and floral oils, with a smoky mineral note emerging with air. Stains the palate with vibrant red and dark berry flavors, with juicy acidity and a jolt of white pepper providing focus and lift. Wonderfully balanced and deep, finishing with serious power and smooth tannins that are quickly absorbed by the wine’s sappy fruit.ST93+93–95 pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - Jan/Feb 2014 Inky ruby. Blackberry, singed plum, cassis, vanilla, bitter chocolate and potpourri on the intensely perfumed nose. Dense, concentrated, sweet and seamless, offering primary black and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors and a spicy oak accent. Finishes with broad, supple tannins, a suggestion of licorice and excellent length.
JD100100 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 11/3/2021 The tiny production 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Secret Des Sabon is a field blend of mostly Grenache brought up all in wooden tronconique barrels. It’s closest in style to the Prestige Cuvée yet brings another level of opulence and richness without losing any sense of elegance or class. Blackberries, peppery herbs, graphite, crushed violets, and a liquid rock-like minerality all define the nose, and it hits the palate with incredible depth of fruit, full-bodied richness, and ripe yet building tannins. While the acidity is technically quite low (the pH is 3.8), it holds onto an undeniable sense of freshness and purity. It is just a thrilling, magical wine from this estate. While young and unevolved, with 3–5 years of cellaring required, it is a modern-day legend capable of evolving for over two decades. (Jeb Dunnuck)VN9696 pts. - Vinous - Oct 2021 Shimmering ruby. Powerful, mineral-accented black raspberry and cherry liqueur aromas are complemented by incense, licorice and potpourri flourishes. Juicy, sweet and impressively concentrated, offering palate-staining red/blue fruit, spicecake and lavender pastille flavors braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Brawny yet surprisingly lithe as well, showing outstanding clarity and youthfully chewy tannins on the strikingly long, floral and spice-tinged finish.SP9696 pts. - Wine Spectator - Nov 15, 2021 Juicy, dense and packed, yet remarkably defined, with a mix of plum and racy-edged blackberry, boysenberry and raspberry reduction flavors, all laced with a licorice snap thread. Black tea, garrigue and humus accents underscore the finish as the fruit sails through with aplomb. A beauty. Drink now through 2038. 125 cases made, 42 cases imported.WS9494 pts. - Wine & Spirits - 10/21 The Sabon family’s 45-acre estate is in the northeast of Châteauneuf, where the soils are sandy and rich in limestone; the oldest vines date to the early 1900s. They are the focus of this cuvée, mainly grenache with an undisclosed amount of other varieties blended in. The details of its vinification are also kept a secret, until its final destination, a single demi-muid barrel. The clarity of the 2019 suggests a light hand in the cellar: It radiates red fruit like sun filtered through a ruby. Underneath, fine-grained tannins gird the juicy fruit and draw out a meaty spice, the wine steadfast and lively at the same time. This will age well but it’s also delicious now, the balance of bright fruit and substantial spice suggesting a match with a paella studded with merguez sausages.
SP9696 pts. - Wine Spectator - Web only – 2022 Exuberant blackberry and boysenberry flood the palate in this lush, polished red. Shows impressive density, and though ripe and decadent, this has a refreshing beam of iron and menthol notes that bring balance. Offers baked cherry pie, fruitcake and salty black licorice accents that add interesting detail through the powerful, nicely framed finish. Drink now through 2038. 275 cases made, 42 cases imported. (James Molesworth)RP94+94–97+ pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 5th May 2022 The full-bodied 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape le Secret de Sabon offers up stunning aromas of roses, raspberries, black cherries, pine sap and garrigue. Silky and elegant, it finishes long and mouthwatering. Almost entirely Grenache from a couple of old-vine parcels on sandier sites than the majority of the domaine’s offerings, it’s a beautiful wine by any measure. (Joe Czerwinski)
VN9191 pts. - Vinous - Jun 2023 The 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine is full-bodied, concentrated and well-structured. Mingling aromas of cooked strawberry, raspberry jam, crème de cassis, licorice, dried herbs and a dash of mint. There’s a touch of heat on the long finish, undermining the freshness. (Nicolas Greinacher)JD9191 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 11/11/2022 The entry level release from Chapoutier, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Bernardine (80% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Mourvèdre) shows the supple, charming, pretty style of the vintage and has medium-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe cherries, framboise, and peppery herbs. This rounded, forward, front end-loaded beauty is perfect for drinking over the coming 7–8 years or more. (Jeb Dunnuck)
RP100100 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 22nd Dec 2011 A perfect wine, the 2009 Ermitage Le Pavillon (1,093 cases) boasts a black/purple color as well as an extraordinary bouquet of acacia flowers, blackberries, blueberries, roasted meats, creme de cassis, truffles, graphite, powdered rock and new saddle leather. Extremely dense, noble and pure, this monumental Ermitage is built for 50–100 years of cellaring.SP9797 pts. - Wine Spectator - Jul 31, 2012 This has a very alluring ganache edge, which melds nicely into the core of crushed plum, blackberry and currant notes. Lots of anise and briar emerge on the back end, along with ample toasted spice and incense. The very long finish has riveting acidity, while the fruit and ganache notes echo on and on. Dense but precise. Best from 2015 through 2035. 1,093 cases made.
RP100100 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 29th Dec 2013 Even better and a prodigious effort that hits all my sweet spots, the 2011 Ermitage Le Pavillon comes from one of the top terroirs on Hermitage hill, the granite soils of the Les Bessards lieu-dit. Spectacularly perfumed, with raspberry, blackberry, licorice, toasted spices and assorted floral nuances, this full-bodied effort has massive depth and richness, no hard edges and masses of finely polished tannin that emerge on and frame the finish. It will be approachable at an earlier age than either the 2009 or 2010, yet should nevertheless have 2–3 decades of ultimate longevity.
RP97+97+ pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 22nd Dec 2011 As I wrote last year, the 2009 Hermitage La Chapelle is easily the greatest, most profound La Chapelle since the 1990. Most of this cuvee comes from Le Meal and Les Bessards vineyards, with a touch of Les Roucoules fruit in the blend. It is an opaque purple-colored wine with enormous concentration in addition to an extraordinary bouquet of graphite, creme de cassis, blackberries, licorice, beef blood and a touch of smoked game. Boasting phenomenal intensity, a full-bodied mouthfeel and 50 years of longevity, the only thing that could possibly hold it back is that most consumers should plan on laying it away for 8–10 years.SP9595 pts. - Wine Spectator - Jun 30, 2012 This is packed and well-rendered, with notes of fig, boysenberry confiture and ganache at the core and powerful structure pushing from behind. Shows plenty of roasted tobacco and vanilla bean on the slightly stolid finish, but there’s a density and brooding length here that sets it apart form the pack. Best from 2017 through 2032. 250 cases imported.ST94+94–96 pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - Jan/Feb 2011 Glass-staining purple. Intense, assertively perfumed aromas of blueberry preserves, cherry, licorice and violet, with a strong incense quality. Impressively deep and spicy, offering floral-accented dark berry flavors that show superb clarity and a lively mineral quality. Tangy acidity adds lift and cut to an endless, sappy finish. This wine’s blend of richness and energy is outstanding.
JD9999 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - December 12, 2019 Reminding me of the 2009 La Chapelle (which is a personal favorite), the brilliant 2017 Hermitage La Chapelle knocks it out of the park with its massive, opulent personality. Notes of smoked black fruits, scorched earth, burning embers, and graphite as well as subtle background meatiness flow to a monster of a Hermitage that has full-bodied richness, incredible depth of fruit, and an overwhelming, sexy style that’s already impossible to resist. Do your best to hide bottles for 4–5 years, but it’s going to evolve for 40 years or more. There are roughly 2,000 cases of this elixir, and every Syrah lover out there should have a bottle (or more) in their cellar. (Jeb Dunnuck)JS9898 pts. - JamesSuckling.com - Tuesday, December 3, 2019 The icon is in dangerously seductive form. Such pristine dark cherries, blackberries and dark plums, dark chocolate, finely crushed spices and plenty of crushed dark stones on offer. The palate is very intense, very slick and fine tannins deliver an almost playfully soft impression. The oak is super integrated. Like La Maison Bleue, this approachability is an aberration, as it has immense power, concentration and length with such regal and alluring swagger at the finish. But there is so much more to come. Try from 2024, better after 2030.RP97+97–99 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 31st Oct 2018 In need of serious air to open up, the 2017 Hermitage La Chapelle became more and more impressive the longer I kept it in the glass. At first it seemed a bit simple, if admirably plummy and rich, but by the time ten minutes had elapsed, it was showing off elegant notes of crushed stone, pencil shavings and cassis, while remaining full-bodied, rich and concentrated. It’s velvety and long on the finish, but something left me wanting a bit more. It’s surely a great La Chapelle, but will it reach that elusive triple-digit score?VN95+95–96 pts. - Vinous - Jul 2019 Brilliant magenta. A highly complex bouquet evokes ripe dark berries, cherry liqueur, incense and potpourri, while olive and exotic spice nuances build in the glass. Displays intense, alluringly sweet black/blue fruit, spicecake and violet pastille flavors that show sharp delineation and are braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Closes extremely long and precise, displaying a smoky, intensifying mineral quality and youthfully gripping tannins that build steadily.
RP98+98–100 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 19th Dec 2019 Jaboulet’s 2018 Hermitage La Chapelle features scents of crushed stone, violets and cassis. It’s a classic trio, backed by a wine that’s full-bodied, rich and powerful yet also airy, somehow carrying intense plum and black olive flavors without any sense of heaviness or excess weight. Then the wine finishes long and softly dusty, with tannins that accentuate its savory character, picking up delicious hints of licorice at the very end. The proportion of new oak has been trimmed back to a very reasonable 20% and is hardly noticeable in the wine.JD97+97–99 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - December 12, 2019 A deep, powerful, primordial wine (which is exactly what you’d expect for a great vintage of this cuvée), the inky hued 2018 Hermitage La Chapelle offers tons of crème de cassis as well as a liquid rock-like minerality, peppery herbs, burning embers, and graphite aromas and flavors. The palate mirrors the intensity of the bouquet and is full-bodied, concentrated, and tight, yet still packs a huge amount of baby fat. The 2018 is a beautifully pure, balanced, massively endowed La Chapelle that will need a decade of cellaring and keep for 3–4 decades with no problems. (Jeb Dunnuck)VN9696 pts. - Vinous - Apr 2020 Opaque ruby. Displays powerful, highly perfumed aromas of black/blue fruit preserves, licorice, cola, baking spices and potpourri, along with an exotic suggestion of incense. Utterly stains the palate with intense blackberry, cherry, cassis, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that deliver a suave blend of weight and energy. Youthfully solid tannins add shape and grip to an extremely long, mineral- and floral-accented finish that shows outstanding clarity and dark fruit thrust.JS9696 pts. - JamesSuckling.com - Monday, August 3, 2020 Seems a little shy at the moment, but you can tell that this has serious poise and pedigree with subtle clove, crushed-brick, iron, black-cherry and plum-skin character. It’s full-bodied, yet very tight and reserved with super refined tannins that are so fine-textured, yet intense. Give this three or four years to show its true self. From organically grown grapes. Better after 2023.
SP9393 pts. - Wine Spectator - Web only – 2022 A captivating red, with cherry, incense, red tea, anise and fresh raspberry flavors that show density and polish on the palate, with a subtle note of apple wood smoke in the background. Reveals graphite shavings that give the palate a firming edge, with good energy through the finish. Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2032. 1,600 cases made, 280 cases imported. (Kristen Bieler)RP92+92–94 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 5th May 2022 Very flattering to taste, even at this early stage, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape les Olivets boasts layered, nuanced aromas of fresh flowers and ripe raspberries. Full-bodied and rich, yet silky, this blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Cinsault and 10% Syrah finishes long, with just a touch of warmth. It looks like a delicious CdP for early drinking. (Joe Czerwinski)
RP94+94–96+ pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 5th May 2022 Black raspberries and flowers gently intertwine on the nose of the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Prestige, a Grenache-dominated blend drawn from the lieux-dits of les Brusquières and Cabrières. Full-bodied and silky, it’s dense and rich yet finishes fresh, adding seemingly contradictory hints of dark chocolate. (Joe Czerwinski)SP9494 pts. - Wine Spectator - Web only – 2022 Dark and brooding, this reveals layers of black fruit edged in iron and smoke. Tightly coiled on the palate, with highlights of violet, tea, forest floor and cumin emerging with time. Slightly grippy tannins hold firm, and this will benefit from a few years in the cellar for the full range of flavors to open up. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise and Vaccarèse. Best from 2024 through 2038. 1,000 cases made, 200 cases imported. (James Molesworth)
SP9494 pts. - Wine Spectator - Web only – 2022 A dense, powerful red, with a vein of graphite coursing through sappy black fruit and melted licorice. Shows charred sandalwood and a bitter kick of herbs and iodine that offset the ripeness, with tannic grip through the smoky finish. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Best from 2023 through 2035. 1,600 cases made, 200 cases imported. (James Molesworth)RP91+91–93 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 5th May 2022 A blend of 80% Grenache with 10% each Mourvèdre and Syrah, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve marries hints of dried flowers with black cherries and a touch of cocoa. Full-bodied and concentrated, this is less flattering to taste than the Les Olivets at this stage, but it should still be excellent in time. (Joe Czerwinski)
RP91+91–93 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 31st Mar 2021 The 2019 Gigondas Classique Vieilles Vignes shows a touch of cedary oak on the nose — nothing obtrusive, but enough to notice alongside the black cherries and subtle garrigue notes. Full-bodied and generous, with a smooth, silky feel on the palate, it ends with a gentle wash of dusty tannins and an attractive hint of licorice.JD91+91–93 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 12/14/2020 Moving to the three Gigondas I was able to taste, the 2019 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes comes from a mix of terroirs on the lower plain, around the estate, and is mostly Grenache brought up in larger, very old foudre and concrete tanks. Deep purple/ruby hued, with a beautiful perfume of black raspberries, candied flowers, and sweet garrigue, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a silky texture, great tannins, and plenty of length on the finish. This is a more finesse-driven, silky, elegant wine than past vintages and it’s going to drink nicely for over a decade. (Jeb Dunnuck)
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