France

Rhône Valley

Showing 51 Delicious Wines!

Show out of stock items

Auguste Clape Cornas ‘Renaissance’ 2016

Shiraz/Syrah | Rhône Valley, Cornas

Since 1998, a second Cornas has also been bottled: Renaissance. It’s made from 20 to 25-year-old vines on the Domaine’s best slopes as well as older vines from the lower slopes. An earlier maturing wine than the classique, it should develop for two decades.

$230

Auguste Clape Cornas ‘Renaissance’ 2020

Shiraz/Syrah | Rhône Valley, Cornas

I tasted two components that will make up the bulk of the 2020 Cornas Renaissance, both still in foudre. From Patou and 15- to 20-year-old vines, a medium to full-bodied sample featuring mentholated red plum notes, chewy tannins and mouthwatering acids (90 - 92). From Reynard and 30-year-old vines, a medium to full-bodied sample that showed more cassis fruit, silky tannins and great freshness (93 - 95). They should make a lovely Cornas for drinking over the next 10-15 years. Joe Czerwinski, The

$275

$265ea in any 3+

$255ea in any 6+

Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-Du-Pape 2019

Rhône Blend | Châteauneuf du Pape, France

"Powerful, mineral-accented cherry, blackberry, licorice and -garrigue- scents, along with a hint of candied flowers. Deep, penetrating and alluringly sweet, offering cherry liqueur, dark berry, lavender, exotic spice and cola flavors that are given spine by a core of juicy acidity. In a concentrated yet lively, fluid style. Finishes extremely long and precise, with building tannins and a powerful echo of spiciness and florality. (10/2021)" Josh Raynolds, Vinous

$278

$268ea in any 3+

$258ea in any 6+

Domaine Pierre Usseglio Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Reserve des 2 Frères’ 2015

Grenache | Châteauneuf du Pape, France

Half aged in new and used barriques, 25 percent in new and used demi-muids and the rest in concrete tanks. Opaque ruby. A complex, expansive bouquet evokes ripe dark berries, candied flowers, vanilla and woodsmoke, and a suave Indian spice nuance builds in the glass. Broad and seamless in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated blackberry, cherry cola and violet pastille flavors and a sweetening mocha flourish. Closes extremely long and sappy; smooth, sneaky tannins shape the lush dark fruit.

$290

$280ea in any 3+

$270ea in any 6+

Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2020

Rhône Blend | Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf du Pape

"A blend of 55% Grenache, 35% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah and other permitted varieties, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape looked exceptional on this day, offering up scents of framboise and kirsch alongside dried flowers and Asian spices. Full-bodied yet weightless, silky and long, this is special stuff, complex and balanced. "The phenolic maturity is there, the sugars are there," Avril said. "No, it won't be like 2019, but I think we will come in around 14.5–15 degrees [of alcohol]. I think, I don'

$310

$300ea in any 3+

$290ea in any 6+

Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017

Rhône Blend | Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf du Pape

"One of the strongest wines in the vintage is the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape from Vincent Avril. This beauty has everything you could ask for. As with the 2018, the blend is heavily shifted toward Mourvèdre, and it offers a mammoth bouquet of black cherries, graphite, cured meats, Asian spices, and assorted garrigue-like nuances. Deep, full-bodied, and concentrated, it stays straight and focused on the palate (whereas the 2016 is more expansive and voluptuous), with a stacked mid-palate, ripe, s

$337

$327ea in any 3+

$317ea in any 6+

Auguste Clape Cornas 2016

Shiraz/Syrah | Rhône Valley, Cornas

Clape’s masterpiece is, of course, the classic Cornas, precisely blended from five to six cuvées of the oldest vines in the best sites. The backbone comes from Reynard, La Côte and Sabarotte. The old vines here are la Petite Syrah—the old clone considered by many to be the true Syrah—which creates a stunningly deep and complex wine that will develop for decades. By all accounts 2016 is a superb follow up equalling the epic 2015 and will go down as one of Clape's great vintages.

$360

$350ea in any 3+

$340ea in any 6+

Auguste Clape Cornas 2017

Shiraz/Syrah | Rhône Valley, Cornas

It's a hat trick for Clape with 2015, 2016 and 2017 all stunning vintages! Clape’s masterpiece is, of course, the classic Cornas, precisely blended from five to six cuvées of the oldest vines in the best sites. The backbone comes from Reynard, La Côte and Sabarotte. The old vines here are la Petite Syrah—the old clone considered by many to be the true Syrah—which creates a stunningly deep and complex wine that will develop for decades.

$360

$350ea in any 3+

$340ea in any 6+

Auguste Clape Cornas 2018

Shiraz/Syrah | Rhône Valley, Cornas

Four in a Row for Clape with 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 all stunning vintages! Clape’s masterpiece is, of course, the classic Cornas, precisely blended from five to six cuvées of the oldest vines in the best sites. The backbone comes from Reynard, La Côte and Sabarotte. The old vines here are la Petite Syrah—the old clone considered by many to be the true Syrah—which creates a stunningly deep and complex wine that will develop for decades.

$360

$345ea in any 3+

$330ea in any 6+

Auguste Clape Cornas 2019

Shiraz/Syrah | Rhône Valley, Cornas

Five in a Row for Clape with 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 all stunning vintages! Clape’s masterpiece is, of course, the classic Cornas, precisely blended from five to six cuvées of the oldest vines in the best sites. The backbone comes from Reynard, La Côte and Sabarotte. The old vines here are la Petite Syrah—the old clone considered by many to be the true Syrah—which creates a stunningly deep and complex wine that will develop for decades.

$360

$345ea in any 3+

$330ea in any 6+

Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2015

Rhône Blend | Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf du Pape

Bottled in May, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape is a floral, elegant, unbelievably complex wine. Roses and violets, cherries and stone fruit, cinnamon and allspice and more are carried across the full-bodied yet almost weightless palate, finishing in a swirl of silky tannins and lingering spice. Drink it over the next two decades. (10/2017) Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate 97 Points Deep ruby. Hugely aromatic red and dark berry, potpourri and floral scents are underscored by smoky minera

$360

$350ea in any 3+

$340ea in any 6+

Auguste Clape Cornas 2020

Shiraz/Syrah | Rhône Valley, Cornas

Five in a Row for Clape with 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 all stunning vintages! I tasted four different components of the 2020 Cornas from foudre. From 40-year-old vines in La Côte, a medium to full-bodied sample with attractive menthol, red plum and violet notes, ample structure but a bit short (92 - 94). From 50- to 60-year-old vines in La Sabarotte, an earthier, more savory example, with a rich, velvety texture and crisp acids (93 - 95). From 60- to 70-year-old vines in La Côte, a wine

$390

$370ea in any 3+

$350ea in any 6+

Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Le Secret des Sabon’ 2017

Rhône Blend | Châteauneuf du Pape, France

“On another level, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Secret Des Sabon is stacked and packed and ranks with the top 2-3 wines in this great vintage. A huge nose of blackcurrants, melted licorice, graphite, garrigue and pepper gives way to an uber-full-bodied, concentrated, massively endowed wine that has an insane level of opulence and decadent, sweet tannins, and a huge finish. This is a tour de force in wine that readers need to taste to believe. Given its wealth of fruit and texture, it’s a

$495

$480ea in any 3+

$465ea in any 6+

Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Le Secret des Sabon’ 2019

Rhône Blend | Châteauneuf du Pape, France

“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 buildi

$502

$487ea in any 3+

$472ea in any 6+

Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape MAGNUM 2020

Rhône Blend | Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf du Pape

"A blend of 55% Grenache, 35% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah and other permitted varieties, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape looked exceptional on this day, offering up scents of framboise and kirsch alongside dried flowers and Asian spices. Full-bodied yet weightless, silky and long, this is special stuff, complex and balanced. "The phenolic maturity is there, the sugars are there," Avril said. "No, it won't be like 2019, but I think we will come in around 14.5–15 degrees [of alcohol]. I think, I don'

$620

$605ea in any 3+

$590ea in any 6+

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave ‘L’Hermitage’ Rouge 2020

Shiraz/Syrah | Rhône Valley, France

The one that makes Grange look like Jacob's Creek! Readers will note that the score range I've provided for Chave's 2020 Hermitage is much broader than typical. That's because my ratings for the numerous barrel samples tasted varied considerably, with one lot scoring as low as (91 - 93), while others were near-perfect (98 - 100). I should be able to provide a more precise picture following my next visit, but it was clear to me that—even more than usual—much will depend on Jean-Louis's skills

$740