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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.
JD9393 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 3/16/2023 Moving to the 2020s from bottle, the 2020 Ventoux Quintessence is beauty revealing assorted blackberry and black raspberry-like fruits, some obvious chalky minerality, medium to full body, and a complex bouquet of violets, flowers, and spice. I love its purity, and it’s going to age for 10–15 years in cold cellars. (Jeb Dunnuck)
JD9595 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 3/16/2023 Just bottled, the 2021 Ventoux Quintessence Blanc is 80% Roussanne and 20% Clairette that spent nine months in roughly 20% new oak. A gorgeous white, it has tons of crushed citrus, pear, ripe melon, honeyed flowers, and a chalky sense of minerality. These carry to a medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, pure, lengthy white that will stand up to any white out there. It’s brilliant juice. (Jeb Dunnuck)
SP9696 pts. - Wine Spectator - Sep 7, 2011 Sinewy and reserved, with a light dusting of cocoa powder over the tangy damson plum, red licorice and cassis notes. The long, supple finish, with a lovely wafting note of Lapsang souchong tea, is packed with minerality and tight-grained tannins that will need time to fully evolve. One of the more backward 2009s, though this should pick up steam in the cellar. Best from 2013 through 2025.RP9595 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 30th Oct 2011 The 2009 is showing better out of bottle than it was last year. Gorgeous kirsch liqueur notes, raspberry jam, forest floor, spice box, new saddle leather and a peppery spiciness are all present in this deep, voluptuously textured, open-knit Clos des Papes, which is atypically forward, luscious and approachable already. These wines often need a good 5–10 years of cellaring in the more structured vintages, but the 2009 is gorgeous from the get-go. This full-bodied, deep, concentrated wine has a deep purple color and should drink well for 20–25 years without ever really closing down. Readers may want to think of this as a slightly more concentrated version of the 2003, which is one of the great stars of that vintage.ST93+93–95 pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - Mar/Apr 2011 Deep ruby. Intensely perfumed cherry, garrigue and flowers on the nose, plus notes of licorice and smoky Moroccan spices. At once fleshy and sappy, with incisive, spicy red fruit flavors complicated by herbs and floral pastilles. Finishes spicy and with superb intensity, echoing the spice and floral notes emphatically. This sample was a blend from five of Avril’s giant, mostly old foudres Avril averred that “14.5% alcohol is the jumping off point for high-quality grenache, any less and the flavors aren’t complete. This should be just above that so it will be fresh and balanced.”
VN9393 pts. - Vinous - Oct 2021 Full, vivid ruby. Expansive, mineral- and herb-accented raspberry and cherry aromas are complemented by hints of succulent herbs and flowers. Concentrated yet lithe on the palate, offering sappy, finely detailed red and dark berry flavors and powerful back-end lift. The long, spicy finish features resonating floral and red berry notes and smooth tannins that emerge slowly and steadily.SP9393 pts. - Wine Spectator - Web only – 2021 Kirsch, linzer and cherry purée notes stream through in this vibrant and expressive offering, displaying a lovely, silky feel from start to finish. Light iron and shiso hints filter through at the very end, adding range and subtle persistence. Drink now through 2034. 1,000 cases made, 400 cases imported.JD9292 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 11/3/2021 Moving to the classic 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape, this little gem should be snatched up by readers, as it’s as textbook as they come. Ruby/plum-hued, with a medium to full-bodied, round, elegant mouthfeel, it has ample red and black fruits, notes of peppery herbs and licorice, supple tannins, and a great finish. A wonderful 2019, it will have two decades of longevity. (Jeb Dunnuck)
JD96+96+ pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 11/11/2022 The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Cuvée Du Papet is made in a more structured, age-worthy style and is 90% Grenache and 5% each Syrah and Mourvedre. Its slightly darker ruby color is followed by a gorgeous perfume of savory red and black fruits, ground pepper, garrigue, and chalky minerality. These all carry over to the palate, where the wine is full-bodied, has a dense, powerful mid-palate, lots of ripe tannins, and a great, great finish. It needs to be hidden for 4–5 years and will evolve beautifully over the following two decades. I suspect it will be one of the longest-lived wines in the vintage. (Jeb Dunnuck)SP9494 pts. - Wine Spectator - Web only – 2022 An alluring wine, with a mix of ripe damson plum, red currant and spice cake wrapped around a core of firm iron. Reveals clove and apple wood smoke that add depth and warmth, and the long finish is powered by minerality and grainy tannins. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Best from 2024 through 2035. 500 cases made, 125 cases imported. (Kristen Bieler)
JD9494 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 11/3/2021 One of the appellation’s top whites comes from Clos Saint Jean (although it’s their reds that get all the attention), the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc is brilliant, with a fresh, vibrant, focused style to go with classic crushed citrus, tart quince, and acacia flower-like notes. It builds on the palate and is medium-bodied, with richness and depth. Drink it over the coming 10–15 years. (Jeb Dunnuck)
JD96+96–98 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - August 16, 2019 Deeper colored, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Combe Des Fous is a normal blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and the rest Vaccarèse and Cinsault. Incredible notes of blackcurrants, graphite, candle wax, white flowers, and pepper garrigue all emerge from the glass, and it has both complexity and intensity. With fabulous purity of fruit, full body, a tannin quality that’s just about off the chart, and a killer finish, it’s one of the most polished, seamless vintages of this cuvée I can remember. It’s going to shine with just short-term cellaring yet also age gracefully on its flawless balance and length. (Jeb Dunnuck)VN9595 pts. - Vinous - Oct 2021 Opaque ruby. A powerfully scented bouquet displays mineral-accented boysenberry and Chambord scents complemented by suggestions of pungent flowers, Indian spices and incense. Intense red/blue fruit preserve, cherry cola and fruitcake flavors show superb definition and silky texture. Comes off graceful despite its depth and finishes on a repeating floral note, displaying outstanding persistence and bright, mineral lift.RP94+94–96 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 30th Aug 2019 As almost always, this cuvée is a big step up in concentration. The 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape La Combe des Fous comes from vines planted in 1905 and is roughly 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault and 10% Vaccarèse. Intense red berries accented by orange zest and dried spices appear on the nose and palate, which is full-bodied and velvety.
JD95+95–97 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - August 16, 2019 The tiny production 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Sanctus Sanctorum comes from a single parcel of very old vines in the La Crau lieu-dit and is brought up in demi-muids. Young and primordial, yet concentrated and structured, it has impressive purity, building tannins, and will certainly be a sensational Grenache. It’s more backward and unevolved at this stage compared to both the Combe Des Fous and Deux-Ex Machina, so readers are advised to give this at least a handful of years in the cellar. (Jeb Dunnuck)RP9595 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 30th Oct 2020 When I visited in June 2019, the selection for the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Sanctus Sanctorum hadn’t yet been done, so this is my first look at the wine. It’s marked by the new oak demi-muids, with layers of vanilla and cedar sitting atop luscious cherry fruit on the nose, and slightly drying wood tannins evident on the full-bodied palate and extending through the long finish. Personally, I prefer the less-obvious wood and nuanced complexities in the estate’s other premium cuvées in 2018, but there is no denying the hedonistic appeal of this 100% Grenache.
SP9797 pts. - Wine Spectator - Web only – 2022 Very alluring, and while densely packed, this is very silky and refined in feel. Presents perfumed raspberry, cherry and plum puree notes laced with sandalwood, incense and rooibos tea. Flirts with exotic as the fruit hangs on the finish, where a sweet wood spice hint echoes late. Approachable for its beguiling nature, but there’s no rush at all. Drink now through 2040. 800 cases made, 200 cases imported. (James Molesworth)JD96+96–98 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 11/3/2021 I’d wager a candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Sanctus Sanctorum is 100% Grenache from a single parcel of old vines in the La Crau lieu-dit that’s still resting in demi-muids. Incredible Provençal notes of kirsch liqueur, blackberries, ground herbs, lavender, and garrigue all emerge from the glass. This beauty is like liquid Provence in a bottle! Full-bodied, rich, structured, and balanced, certainly don’t miss a chance to try this wine. (Jeb Dunnuck)
JD92+92–94 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - August 16, 2019 The 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is slightly darker fruited, more structured, and concentrated, with more tannins as well as awesome notes of black currants, smoked garrigue, ground pepper, and licorice. Complex, full-bodied, and incredibly polished on the palate, it’s another terrific wine from this domaine. Drink it any time over the coming decade or more. (Jeb Dunnuck)VN9292 pts. - Vinous - Oct 2021 Deep, bright-rimmed ruby. Mineral-accented blue fruit, baking spice and floral scents are complicated by suggestions of smoky minerals and garrigue. Juicy, seamless and broad on the palate, offering boysenberry and cherry cola flavors that tighten up and become sweeter through the back half. Shows firm thrust and spicy lift on the sweet, energetic finish, which is framed by gently building tannins.RP91+91–93 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 30th Aug 2019 The entry-level cuvée for the U.S. importer, the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a bit richer and darker fruited than the regular CdP. Black cherries dominate, picking up hints of chocolate on the finish. It’s full-bodied, silky and lush.
SP9595 pts. - Wine Spectator - Web only – 2022 Leads with warm ganache and fig bread notes, followed quickly by raspberry reduction accents that take some time to unwind. Showcases plum pâte de fruit, sanguine and black licorice notes, with a flicker of Turkish coffee underscoring the finish and giving this a decidedly dark profile in the end. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Vaccarèse and Muscardin. Best from 2024 through 2038. 900 cases made, 670 cases imported. (James Molesworth)JD92+92–94 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 11/3/2021 The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is cut from the same cloth as the base cuvée yet brings more mid-palate depth and richness. It’s a classic 2020, with elegance, freshness, and purity as well as loads of Provençal charm. It should drink nicely right out of the gate yet also evolve for 10–15 years. (Jeb Dunnuck)
SP9797 pts. - Wine Spectator - Web only – 2022 Boasts bitter plum, raspberry and black cherry reduction notes that have a lively savory, garrigue streak, while grippy-edged tar, tobacco and ganache notes pepper the finish. Muscular and dense but the cut is there, and the fruit core takes a late encore for good measure. Grenache and Mourvèdre. Best from 2025 through 2040. 500 cases made, 56 cases imported. (James Molesworth)JD95+95–97+ pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 11/3/2021 As always, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Deus-Ex Machina (60/40 Grenache and Mourvèdre) is a more powerful, mineral-laced wine, offering a fabulous nose of cassis, blackcurrants, ground pepper, Provençal herbs, and cured meats. This full-bodied, concentrated 2020 has incredible purity of fruit, silky yet building tannins, and a great finish. It should round into form with just short-term cellaring and have two decades of longevity. (Jeb Dunnuck)
JD9191 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 11/11/2022 Bottled a month ago, the 2020 Côtes Du Rhône Coudoulet sports a vivid ruby hue and is a blend of 30% each of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, with the balance Cinsault. It’s a ripe, rounded, medium to full-bodied effort that has lots of ripe red and blue fruits as well as notes of peppery garrigue and leather. Drink this juicy, elegant Côtes Du Rhône over the coming decade. (Jeb Dunnuck)RP90+90–92 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 5th May 2022 The 2020 Cotes du Rhone Coudoulet de Beaucastel continues this cuvée's hot streak. A blend of approximately 30% each Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah, with 10% Carignan, it boasts attractive floral overtones, hints of crushed stone and ripe cherry fruit. Full-bodied and impressively silky for such a young wine, it should be drinkable upon release and for at least a decade thereafter. (Joe Czerwinski)
JD9292 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - September 26, 2019 Another brilliant wine from this estate is the 2017 Cairanne La Brunote. It’s made from 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, and 10% Carignan that spent 18 months in concrete tanks followed by six months in bottle. Blackberries, black cherries, applewood, garrigue, and floral notes all flow to a medium to full-bodied Cairanne that has loads of Provençal charm, notable complexity, fine tannins, and a great finish. (Jeb Dunnuck)RP90+90+ pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 31st Oct 2019 Low yields in the Grenache means the 2017 Cairanne la Brunote is only 50% Grenache, with the balance 30% Mourvèdre and 20% Carignan. There’s a slight green-peppercorn note on the nose, which accents the red-raspberry fruit. Medium to full-bodied, it’s crisp and a bit tannic at the moment, so let it mellow for a year or two if you can, then drink it over the next 5–6 years.
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