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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.
SP9393 pts. - Wine Spectator - Oct 15, 2014 A dark, loamy style, with warm tar and espresso notes underscoring the core of black Mission fig, Black Forest cake and steeped plum fruit. Juniper and singed alder hints add texture and contrast on the finish. Best from 2015 through 2027. 500 cases imported.RP92+92–95 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 30th Oct 2013 Made from older vines and a tank-aged blend of roughly 85% Grenache and the balance Mourvedre and Syrah, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes has additional levels of kirsch, garrigue, ground herbs and black raspberry as well as a full-bodied, decadently textured profile on the palate. Despite the richness level here, it remains gorgeously fresh and even elegant. Enjoy it over the coming 10–12 years. Drink now–2024.
JD97+97–100 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 10/6/2020 The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Sanctus Sanctorum is going to be one of the wines of the vintage. All Grenache sourced from a single parcel in the La Crau lieu-dit and raised all in demi-muids, it sports a more ruby/purple hue that’s not completely opaque and has an incredible bouquet of kirsch liqueur, ripe blackcurrants, scorched earth. graphite, ground pepper, and assorted cured meats. With an incredibly singular character, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness and carries incredible power and richness, yet it nevertheless still glides over the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness, ultra-fine tannins, and a remarkable sense of purity and elegance. This is another magical Grenache from this team. It’s going to benefit from 4–5 years of bottle age and knock your socks off over the following 20 years or more.RP96+96–98 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 30th Oct 2020 The 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Sanctus Sanctorum — a 100% Grenache cuvée (from vines planted in 1905) matured in new demi-muids — looks to have the concentrated fruit to handle the oak better than the 2018. Dark and intense, it delivers waves of purple berries and black cherries, barely touched by vanilla and cedar. It’s full-bodied and rich, and although the wood tannins do leave an impression, it’s a gentle one relative to the wine’s overall profile. While it may not quite equal the near-perfect 2016, it’s close.
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.”
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)
RP9696 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 30th Oct 2012 The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Trois Sources comes from the estate’s vineyards planted in sandy soils. About 10,000 bottles have been produced. One of the great wines of the vintage, this unbelievable Chateauneuf is still extremely young and primary. Its opaque purple color is followed by scents of ink, acacia flowers, blueberries, black raspberries and blackberries. While full-bodied, extremely concentrated and massive, the wine is totally harmonious with beautifully integrated acidity, tannin and alcohol (which is no doubt in excess of 16%). Give this 2010 five more years of cellaring and drink it over the following 20–25 years.ST9494 pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - Jan/Feb 2013 Bright purple. Explosive aromas of dark berry liqueur, potpourri, candied licorice and sandalwood. Lush and expansive, offering sweet blackberry and blueberry flavors and an exotic floral pastille nuance. Closes sappy, sweet and impressively long, with intense lavender and dark berry flavors and harmonious, framing tannins.
JD96+96–99 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - 10/6/2020 Even better, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes boasts a deeper ruby/purple color as well as a heavenly nose of Provençal garrigue, ground pepper, flowery incense, and both red and black fruits. Delivering incredible elegance as well as full-bodied power, it offers silky tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great, great finish. Two to three years of bottle age are going to be warranted, and it’s going to have two decades of overall longevity. This is a brilliant Châteauneuf Du Pape in the making!
RP94+94–96 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 30th Oct 2013 As to the 2012s, while there will be no Cuvee da Capo in the vintage, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee is a beauty. Tasted out of multiple barrels (all of which rated between 94 and 97), it should be a classic Pegau with aromatics similar to the 2010, yet not quite as much depth or richness. Full-bodied and nicely concentrated, all of the samples showed the freshness of the vintage, with ample mid-palate depth, high quality tannin and loads of character. It should benefit from short-term cellaring and have 15–20 years of longevity. Drink 2016–2032.SP9393 pts. - Wine Spectator - Sep 30, 2015 A dark, alluring style, with tobacco, chestnut and alder notes surrounding a core of blackberry, plum and cherry fruit. Lots of garrigue details line the finish, showing a warm paving stone hint. Should settle in nicely in the cellar. Best from 2016 through 2023. 6,670 cases made.ST92+92–94 pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - Jan/Feb 2014 Bright purple. Smoky, spice-accented aromas of blackberry and cherry-cola, with sexy floral and mineral overtones. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering an array of red and dark berry preserve flavors complicated by hints of Indian spices and black pepper. Rich and energetic, with strong finishing thrust, slow-building tannins and a late kick of smoky minerality. I was looking for some funky gaminess here but didn’t find any.
JD98+98–100 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - August 28, 2018 The usual blend of 60/40 Grenache and Mourvèdre, the 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Collection Charles Giraud is unquestionably the more powerful and concentrated in the lineup and gives up a rocking bouquet of chocolaty dark fruits, ground pepper, earth, licorice, and cured meats. Massively concentrated and opulent, yet also layered and nuanced, with polished tannins, it should be reasonably approachable on release, yet be at its best with 2–4 years of bottle age and cruise for 10–15.VN95+95–96 pts. - Vinous - Dec 2019 Saturated ruby. Explosive, smoke- and mineral-accented black raspberry, cherry cola, exotic spice and candied lavender aromas show outstanding delineation and pick up a succulent herb nuance with air. Sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated red and dark berry preserve, fruitcake and floral pastille flavors and hints of star anise and musky rhubarb. The strikingly long, energetic finish shows strong minerally cut, an echo of sappy blue fruit and molten tannins that sneak in late.
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.
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Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes
