Looking better than it did from tank, Cristina's 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape is ripe and rounded, with ample amounts of black cherries and plums, an exception to the overall red-fruited nature of the vintage. Full-bodied...

Sourced from the oldest vines in the domaine, the Charles Giraud is the flagship bottling of Saint-Préfert. A 60-40 blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre accented by a whisper of clove, it's a voluminous, dazzling wine packed...

An assemblage of 45% Grenache, 45% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah, the 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes follows the domaine's formula of maturing the Grenache in concrete tanks, while the Mourvèdre and Syrah go into...

Just a step behind the La Chapelle this vintage, the 2020 Hermitage La Maison Bleue expresses the non-granitic side of Hermitage, in its opulent fruit and early accessibility. Ripe cherries and raspberries dominate the...

The pale ruby-colored 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape opens with rose water, raspberry, strawberry, dried herbs and licorice aromas. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and built around a smooth tannic structure with absolutely...

A racy nose of black fruits, smoke, wet earth and violets. Medium- to full-bodied with fine tannins and bright acidity. It has tension and balance with plenty of blueberries on the palate and a supple finish. Drink or hold.

The 2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Trois Sources is showing wonderfully, opening in the glass with dark cherry and plum aromas, strawberry, leather and a dash of white pepper. Full-bodied, concentrated and framed by...

A fresh, pure and vibrant style, with abundant flavors of just-ripe plum and smoked cherry, bolstered by snappy, pepper-edged acidity and highlighted by beautiful violet notes. Shows a supple palate, with savory acidity...

Glass-staining ruby. Hugely perfumed, mineral-accented black and blue fruit preserves, floral oil, olive paste, pipe tobacco and exotic spice aromas show superb clarity and pick up a hint of smokiness with air. Juicy and...

Supple and high-toned, with a rush of smoked cherry, lavender and plum paste flavors. Heady and warm, with succulent acidity and savory details of salty mineral and forest floor. Packs serious power and density on the...

Deep, glistening violet color. Pungent, mineral-laced dark berry and cherry aromas are complemented by suggestions of licorice, smoked meat and exotic spices. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering juicy blackberry...

Checking in at 14.83% alcohol, the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a refined and predominately red-fruited beauty. Licorice and herbaceous components add more dimension. Framed by gentle tannins and more medium- than...

Sleek, ripe and focused at first, with a racy beam of black currant and blackberry fruit that drives through, carried by a graphite edge and flanked by sweet bay leaf, tapenade and pepper accents. The long finish has a...

An assemblage of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre, both aged in demi-muids, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Collection Charles Giraud features a hint of brown sugar on the nose, then waves of blueberries, black cherries and...

Densely packed with dark plum, boysenberry and black cherry reduction notes, this is nonetheless reserved in style, as graphite, alder, black tea and sweet tobacco nuances flicker in the background. The finish is tightly...

The 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Le Vieux Donjon is a beautifully balanced, classic expression of the appellation, as well as this estate. It has a vivid purple hue, with ripe berry fruits, peppery herbs, floral, and...

An extroverted style, with sweet, ripe chocolate-covered cherry and kirsch on a plush, generous frame. Leafy notes add an earthy dimension, while ballasts of iron keep everything firmly anchored. Shows pretty incense...

A brooding, dark version, with a floral perfume followed by a concentrated stream of black licorice, currant and mulberry notes edged in graphite. Alder smoke hovers throughout the rich, round palate, with softened...

Velvety and seductive, with smoothly polished tannins holding up ripe red currant and cherry flavors edged in iron and baking spices. A bitter cherry pit note at the end contributes to the focused, dry finish, which...

Offering up enticing aromas of very ripe red and black fruits, dried herbs, licorice and hints of white pepper, the complex 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is full-bodied, muscular and firmly structured. Already drinking well...

A textural, balanced and harmonious red with such patina already. The nose shows notes of dark cherries, fresh plums, forest floor and warm spices. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Dense and velvety, with a kick of...

The 2020 Crozes-Hermitage La Guiraude outperforms the 2022 in a landslide. Precise black cherry, red plum, cedar and pencil shaving come alive in the glass. Full-bodied, polished and complex, the 2020 engages the palate...

The 2021 Saint Joseph Blanc is clearly outstanding, offering bright citrus, orange blossom, and honeyed flower notes in a medium-bodied, elegant, beautifully balanced package. I like its mid-palate depth and...

The classic 2020 Saint-Joseph Les Grisières presents wafts of graphite, crushed violets, ripe red fruits and cedary undertones. Elegant and refined, this concentrated and neatly structured red has all the ingredients for...

Dark magenta. Intense dark fruit and floral scents, along with hints of olive paste, smoked meat and exotic spices. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering bitter cherry and cassis flavors that are underscored by a...

Now made entirely by Gills Ferran, the 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Villages Plan De Dieu is 70% Grenache and 30% Mourvèdre that's brought up in 10% new barrels. It has a classic Cambie mix of richness and elegance and offers...

The full-bodied 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin is one of the finest wines of the vintage. Precisely sculpted strawberry, raspberry, crushed violet, licorice, tangerine peel and lavender aromas emerge...