Rhone Valley

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From the importer: A tiny production of just 3,500 bottles, this is a balanced Viognier that leans towards fresh fruit and acid, rather than any tropical notes. The grapes are sourced from a partially-terraced 1.05ha parcel in Verin, located 2km from Condrieu. The Malolactic fermentation is blocked, keeping a high level of acidity in this sharp expression of granite-infused soil. The dominant notes are white flowers, violets, with persistent minerality through the finish.

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97 Points! The 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Trois Sources comes from a terroir similar to the Reserve and is based on 70% Grenache, 10% Cinsault, 5% each Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Counoise, and the rest a mix of varieties. Ripe blackberries, roasted garrigue, loamy soil, licorice, and a kiss of graphite all emerge on the nose, and this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless mouthfeel, beautiful yet building tannins, and a great finish. It's slightly more open and expressive than the Les Hauts-Lieux, yet I suspect both of these cuvées will cruise for two decades. - Jeb Dunnuck

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The oldest among the family’s Cotes du Rhone vines are assembled to produce this cuvée of Grenache (70%), Syrah and Mourvedre. Bursting with ripe, red fruit, aromatically, the Domaine Jaume Côtes du Rhône 2022 is powerfully fruity with hints of spice, cocoa and licorice. Supple and rich, this is a splendid example of a superb vintage. Learn More

Vines planted on steep slopes (with a grade of up to 55%) facing south by south-east. Grapes are hand picked and pressed gently in a pneumatic press. Fermentation in stainless steel cuves. Aged 11 months on lees, 10% new barrels, 30% 2 to5 year-old barrels, and 60% stainless steel.

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60% Marsanne, 40% Roussanne planted between 1979 and 1998, ages for 10 months on lees, 30% in 1 to 5 year-old barrels, 70% in stainless steel Learn More

From the importer: 55+ year-old vines. East of Erôme and Gervans, two of Crozes-Hermitage’s granite terroirs, lies Les Picaudières, perhaps the most singular terroir within the entire appellation. An unexpected fusion of Côte-Rôtie-like elegance with penetrating mineral textures and Hermitage’s rich, upfront earthiness and darker fruit, it is indeed unique, especially to its own appellation of humble terroirs. A small hike is required to reach the vineyard tucked a few kilometers on the backside of Hermitage, back into a forest that surrounds the vineyard on all sides, except the ridgeline.

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Sourced from 60+ year-old vines in Landonne, Lancement and Chavaroche

95+ Points! Like the Hermitage, the 2022 Côte Rôtie Vieilles Vignes is ripe and unevolved, yet it brings another level of mid-palate density and overall concentration. Awesome red and blue fruits, spring flowers, pepper, and violet notes all define this beauty, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless mouthfeel, and ripe tannins. It's a big Côte Rôtie that has balance as well as finesse, although the cellar will be your friend on this one, and it has ample baby fat to shed. Give bottles 4-5 years if you can, and enjoy over the following two decades. Drink 2027-2047. - Jeb Dunnuck

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Sourced from 45+ year-old vines in Paton, Lys de Volan, la Bonnette, Rochecourbe, Les Rivoires, Merlant

95 Points! Slightly deeper hued (barely) than the classic Condrieu, the 2023 Condrieu Vieilles Vignes is another tour de force from this producer. Stone fruits, toasted nuts, orange liqueur, and crushed stone all give this a slightly more mineral-laced, masculine style. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's concentrated, has a pure, layered mouthfeel, a terrific sense of freshness, and outstanding length, with a touch of salinity on the finish. It's geared for the dinner table and should drink nicely through 2033. Both of these latest Condrieu from Tardieu-Laurent are brilliant wines. - Jeb Dunnuck

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From 100+ year-old Grenache vines in Bas de La Crau...

97 Points! The 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvee Speciale is on another level, with a blockbuster perfume of ripe black cherries, melted licorice, jus de viande, lavender, and roasted garrigue. A rich, opulent style of Châteauneuf du Pape, it brings full-bodied richness while staying graceful, weightless, and flawlessly balanced, with ripe tannins and incredible length. This tour de force 2022 should be snatched up by savvy readers and enjoyed over the coming 15 years or so. - Jeb Dunnuck

 

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90 Points! A destemmed blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and the rest Carignan, the 2023 Côtes Du Rhône is ruby/plum-hued and offers a beautifully pure, medium-bodied, elegant profile in its red and black fruits, peppery herb, and leather-like aromas and flavors. This juicy, vibrant, balanced Côtes Du Rhône will drink well for at least 4-5 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

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92 Points!  Floral notes redolent of iris and violet mingled with peony preface the 2023 Vacqueyras from Domaine Santa Duc, a moderately weighted, tense and straight wine with a lot of energy, a juicy texture and a long, ethereal, tangy and endless finish. With time in the cellar, this wine promises to develop greater complexity, revealing its full potential. - Yohan Castaing, robertparker.com

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93 Points! The 2023 Ventoux Quintessence Blanc was made from 80% Roussanne and 20% Clairette, with 60% brought up in 10% new demi-muids and the rest in tank and concrete. Ripe pears, white flowers, spice, and subtle toasted notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a beautiful texture and the fresh, pure, precise style of the vintage. - Jeb Dunnuck

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92-94 Points! Youthful purple. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh black and blue fruits, star anise, olive, violet and tobacco. A smoky mineral accent builds steadily in the glass and energizes the spice-laced, dark berry liqueur, smoky bacon and floral pastille flavors that are underscored by a vein of juicy acidity. Clings with strong tenacity on the youthfully tannic finish, leaving behind sappy blue fruit, cracked pepper and mineral notes. - Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media

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98 Points! A fine-tuned, silky, refined and well-crafted Cornas from younger (under 40-year-old) vines and whole-cluster vinification. It expresses aromas of damson plums, dark cherries, warm spices and some wild herbs. It's medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Such delicacy to the dense core, with a silky, caressing feel and incredible purity, vitality and transparency. Very long, vibrant finish. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

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95 Points! Reminding me of a classy Hermitage, the deep purple-hued 2020 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine Des Grands Chemins offers up a brilliant perfume of redcurrants, blackberries, saddle leather, lavender, and bouquet garni. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, richly textured, balanced Crozes that has velvety tannins, some classic northern Rhône gamey, peppery nuances, and a great finish. It needs a decant if drinking any time soon, but the tannins are supple and ripe, and this beauty will have a broad drink window. I wouldn't be surprised to see it still going strong at age 20. Bravo. - Jeb Dunnuck

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94 Points! A well-rounded. textural and succulent white with notes of fresh lemons, blanched almonds, sage and some stones. It’s medium-bodied with a mineral drive. Succulent green apple character, with a positive bitterness throughout. It’s precise, lively and textured with a salivating, floral finish. Drink or hold. - jamessuckling.com

93 Points! Prominent quince, white peach, vanilla, melon, candy, apricot jam, cedar and pastry introduce the 2022 Condrieu Invitare. Viscously textured and offering excellent purity of fruit, the 2022 is neatly balanced by moderate levels of soft acidity. Offering a little more ripeness and expression than the 2021, this complex 2022 Condrieu should drink well over the next three years. - Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous Media

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90 Points! The 2022 Cairanne Vieilles Vignes is incredibly floral, with notes of rose, red fruits, raspberries, spice, and some minerals all defining its aromatics. Medium-bodied and elegant on the palate, if a touch mid-weight, it’s nevertheless nicely balanced and seamless. This 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and 10% Carignan blend was aged 18 months in concrete vats and will drink well for 5-7 years. - Jeb Dunnuck

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92-94 Points! A prospective blend of 50% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache and 20% Carignan, the 2022 Cairanne la Brunote offers up notions of black truffles, black cherries and black licorice. Full-bodied and richly concentrated, it's almost creamy in texture, with a lingering finish. Yum. - Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

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