Rhone

94+ Jeb Dunnuck"Clearly from a better vintage, the 2020 Hermitage Le Vignon Vieilles Vignes sports a deeper purple hue to go with ripe, powerful aromatics of smoked black and blue fruits, smoked game, violets, and pepper. Medium to full-bodied, it has a...

94 points James Suckling"Very impressive youthful nose of laurier, black olives and forest berries. Rich, ripe and expansive on the palate, but with a wonderful interplay of fruit, full fine tannins, plus touches of tar and licorice character that...

91 points Jeb Dunnuck"The 2022 Tavel Vieilles Vignes (60% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, and 10% Syrah) has a classic Tavel deeper ruby hue as well as powerful aromatics of framboise, candied strawberries, white pepper, and hints of Provençal garrigue...

Vinous Reverie NotesThis is the part of Gigondas where the vineyards are in the high “saddle” that is on the other side of the Dentelle above the village. A very rocky terrain from the millions of years of rocks that have tumbled down into...

92 points Vinous"Opaque ruby. Dark fruit, floral and spice notes on the expansive nose, which picks up a subtle garrigue nuance with air. Stains the palate with primary black raspberry, blueberry and cherry flavors that turn sweeter through the...

91+ points John Gilman, View from the Cellar"The 2019 Gigondas Promesse bottling from Domaine les Aphillanthes is made from a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Mourvedre, with the vines ranging from sixty-five to seventy years of age... The wine is...

94 points Wine Spectator"Singed anise and juniper accents lead the way in this plush, ripe offering, with a set of warmed cassis, cherry paste and boysenberry pâte de fruit notes taking center stage and lasting through the graphite-laced finish...

93 points Vinous"Saturated garnet color. Pungent, spice-tinged cherry, blueberry and floral aromas are complemented by suggestions of olive, botanical herbs and smoked meat. Succulent and penetrating on the palate, offering concentrated red and blue...

93 points Decanter"Deep, rich and ripe with a focussed peach nose. Textured, creamy and yet fresh with telling acidity ensuring overall poise. Convincing finish too. Lovely!" 92 points Wine Advocate"Ripe tropical fruit aromas dominate the nose of...

99 points Jeb Dunnuck"I was blown away by the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvee Chaupin, a 100% Grenache release that comes almost exclusively from the Chaupin lieu-dit in the northern part of the appellation. It's never as inky-hued or powerful as...

Vinous Reverie NotesPreviously owned by Bernardin monks before being transformed into a wine estate. Family owned for five generations. The vineyards are plowed and fertilized with organic compost made of the marc from spent grape skins. There is a...

93 points Jeb Dunnuck"The Maret family is known for the top Châteauneuf du Pape, but they also make some brilliant Vacqueyras. Their 2020 Vacqueyras is a 60/40 split of Grenache and Syrah, and it has lots of darker fruits and peppery herb aromatics...