Côtes du Rhône
Red wines
Domaine Chaume-Arnaud 2019
Côtes du Rhône Villages, Saint-Maurice
(Organic) The nose is racy offers freshness, a fine power, a fine grain as well as a small SO2 side. This wine should be decanted. It reveals notes of blackberry, wild cassis, small notes of tobacco associated with touches of laurel/laurel berries, local garrigue as well as hints of nutmeg and grey pepper. The palate is fruity, fresh, mineral, juicy, racy and offers a small fat, a good definition as well as a pulpy side. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy/juicy blackberry, fleshy/juicy raspberry, small notes of strawberry associated with touches of cherry blossom, violet, Badiane, liquorice as well as hints of local garrigue, caramelization, tobacco and fine hints of Badiane. Good length. There are fine hints of crushed almond and vanilla in the persistence.
Score : 15.5/20 (90-91/100)
Château La Thébaïde 2019
Côtes du Rhône Villages, Sablet
The nose is fruity and offers a small fleshiness. It reveals notes of fleshy cherry, fleshy strawberry, small notes of small wild berries associated with touches of flowers, laurel/garrigue as well as hints of caramelization, chocolate and toasted. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a small freshness, fullness, fat, small fleshiness as well as a very fine richness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy/juicy strawberry, fleshy/juicy raspberry, small notes of cherry associated with touches of pulpy plum, hints of lily, black olive, pink laurel as well as a discreet hint of racy minerality, tonka bean/chocolate and discreet hints of caramelization. Tannins are finely firm.
Score : 15.25/20 (90/100)
La Romaine – L’originale 2018
Côtes du Rhône Villages, Vaison La Romaine The nose is aromatic, racy and offers a certain power as well as a garrigue side. It reveals notes of rosemary, thyme flowers, small notes of blackberry associated with small red fruits, grey pepper, sage as well as fine hints of racy minerality (dry ground) and an imperceptible hint of tobacco/Badiane. The palate is mineral, fresh, racy and offers fluidity, tension as well as a fine concentration. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/fresh blackberry, fresh cassis, small notes of violet associated with touches of laurel berries, rosemary, thyme, sage, raspberry/small juicy red fruits, hints of white pepper, fresh mild tobacco as well as a subtle hint of nutmeg, saffron and a racy/almost saline minerality. Good length. There is a subtle hint of toasted almond, hazelnut and sugared mild tobacco in the finish/persistence.
Score : 15/20 (89-90/100)
Les Vignerons du Castelas – Signargues 2017, Vieilles Vignes
Côtes du Rhône Villages
The nose is fruity and offers a fine concentration. It reveals notes of bright cherry, crushed raspberry, small notes of fleshy redcurrant associated with touches of blackberry, camphor, grey pepper as well as small hints of laurel pepper and a subtle hint of garrigue. The palate is fruity and offers juiciness, freshness, a certain tension, precision, a fine acidulous frame, a fine suavity, concentration as well as a fine grain. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fresh bigarreau cherry, juicy/acidulous redcurrant, small notes of crunchy/fresh wild blackberry associated with touches of laurel, flowers, hints of sage/rosemary, mocha as well as a fine hint of tobacco and clove. Tannins are very finely soft. Good length. Score : 15/20 (89-90/100)
La Nyonsaise – Exubérance 2019
Côtes du Rhône Villages
The nose is fruity (on the fruit) and offers a small power as well as a small peppery side. It reveals notes of juicy/bright cherry, juicy/bright raspberry, small notes of crushed redcurrant associated with touches of grey pepper, a racy minerality, hints of juicy violet plum as well as fine hints of garrigue, dry thyme and a subtle hint of almost iodide hint. The palate is fruity, fresh, mineral, well-balanced and offers pulpiness, a beautiful fruit, gourmandize, tension, a full of length/stretchy side as well as a slightly marked tannic frame. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy red cherry, juicy/pulpy raspberry, small notes of bright plum associated with fine touches of pulpy redcurrant, lily, cherry blossom as well as hints of garrigue, thyme, laurel, a racy minerality and fine hints of dry oak. Good length (with a hint of zan).
Score : 15.25+/20 (90-91/100)
Gabriel Meffre – Laurus 2016
Côtes du Rhône Villages
The nose is aromatic, fruity and fresh. It reveals notes of fresh/ripe raspberry, bigarreau cherry, small notes of bright Boysen berry associated with touches of fresh violet plum, lilac, plum flowers as well as fine hints of local fresh grove and a very discreet hint of white pepper. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers an acidulous frame, juiciness, tension, precision, a fine grain as well as energy. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fresh/acidulous raspberry, fresh/acidulous bigarreau cherry, small notes of pulpy blackberry associated with touches of small pulpy/juicy fruits, fresh violet, fresh lily, hints of local grove, fleshy plum, liquorice as well as fine hints of toasted hazelnut, nutmeg and a subtle hint of coffee/vanilla. Good length. Score : 16+/20 (92-93/100)
La Nyonsaise – Quintessence 2019
Côtes du Rhône Villages
(Organic) The nose is aromatic and offers a small complexity. This wine should be decanted. It reveals notes of wild blackberry, bigarreau cherry, small notes of ripe cassis associated with touches of nutmeg, black olive, olive leaf, spices, grey pepper, fine hints of thyme flowers, toasted as well as a subtle hint of almost caramelized almond and coffee. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a mineral frame, juiciness, a fine tension, suavity, a small freshness, energy as well as a certain fluidity. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy cherry, juicy/pulpy raspberry, small notes of juicy/fresh blackberry associated with touches of lily, lilac, rose, hints of garrigue, black olive, mild tobacco as well as fine hints of nutmeg and toasted oak/vanilla. Tannins offer a fine softness. Good length. Score : 15+/20 (89-90/100)
Château de Montfrin « à la douceur d’aller » 2018
Côtes du Rhône Villages
(Organic) The nose is aromatic and offers power, a certain intensity, a certain deepness as well as a certain ampleness/largeness. This wine should be decanted. It reveals notes of ripe blackberry, quire ripe wild cassis, small notes of small black berries associated with touches of laurel berries, black pepper, hints of saffron, graphite, camphor, fine hints of hot black olive, fresh nutmeg as well as a very discreet hint of fresh rosemary and fresh black truffle. The palate is fruity, aromatic, stretch and offers gourmandize, ampleness, a stretchy side, a small fat, a fine acidulous frame as well as minerality. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy black plum, juicy wild blackberry, small notes of small black berries associated with touches of black pepper, Magagascar pepper, juicy blueberry, hints of rosemary, sage, a racy minerality, fine hints of black olive, nutmeg, caramelization, mild tobacco as well as a subtle iodide hint and fresh black truffle. Tannins are supple. Good length. Score : 15.5/20 (90-91/100)
Domaine Lucien Tramier – Plan de Dieu 2019
Côtes du Rhône Villages
The nose is aromatic. It reveals notes of wild cassis, small black berries, small notes of camphor/incense associated with touches of pulpy blackberry, violet, zan, small violet fruits, hints of cherry core, cherry blossom as well as very fine hints of garrigue/arbutus and a hint of pepper. The palate is fruity, well-balanced (full of balance), slightly tight and offers an acidulous frame, suavity, a beautiful precision/straightness, juiciness, darkness, a stretchy/full of length side as well as a certain gourmandize in the fruit. On the palate this wine expresses notes of wild cassis, small black berries, small notes of camphor associated with touches of black pepper berries, laurel berries, arbutus, small fleshy violet fruits, fleshy blackberry, fine hints of cherry/griotte, zan, cardamom, black olive, sense of the place (garrigue/arbutus, a racy minerality) as well as a hint of coal, peach flowers and an imperceptible hint of hazelnut. Tannins are precise and fine. Good length. Score : 16.25+/20 (93/100)