Côtes du Rhône
Red wines
Matthieu Barret – Et la bannière… 2019
Crozes-Hermitage
(Organic) The nose offers a certain power, concentration as well as a fine grain. It reveals notes of black cherry, bright red plum, small notes of violet associated with touches of bright Boysen berry, hints of crushed raspberry, cuben pepper, zan, black tea as well as discreet hints of spices and saffron. The palate is elegant, fruity, beautifully acidulous and offers tension, precision, energy, a small racy minerality, a beautiful finesse of the grain, power, concentration (full of delicacy), a beautiful finesse of the fat as well as a beautiful acidulous/juicy and ripe at the same time fruit. On the palate this wine expresses notes of acidulous/juicy red cherry, acidulous/juicy redcurrant, small notes of juicy violet plum associated with touches of plum flowers, bright cassis as well as hints of violet, small fresh flowers, cardamom, hazelnut and a fine hint of coconut (in the background). Tannins are elegant and delicate. A ample, elegant, delicacy and silky touch wine. Score : 16.5+/20 (93-94/100)
Jean Esprit – Le Zouave 2019
Crozes-Hermitage
The nose is fruity, elegant, aromatic and offers a beautiful ripe fruit. It reveals notes of griotte cherry, crushed violet plum, small notes of blueberry associated with touches of toasted, tonka bean, cherry steam, strawberry, hints of nutmeg, black olive as well as fine hints of crushed hazelnut and a discreet hint of liquorice. The palate is fruity, elegant, precise and offers finesse, a fine grain, tension, energy, an aerial side, a quite ripe fruit, delicacy as well as a fine concentration. On the palate this wine expresses notes of griotte, black plum, small notes of cornflower associated with touches of wild blueberry, tonka bean, mild tobacco as well as hints of crushed almond, vanilla and hazelnut. Tannins are elegant, fine, precise and fresh. Good length. There is a hint of dark chocolate/cocoa and a very discreet hint of coffee in the persistence. Score : 16/20 (92/100)
Les Héritier Gambert – Les Hauts du Fief 2017, Selection Parcellaire
Crozes-Hermitage
The nose offers gourmandize, a certain richness, concentration, a small power, a fine freshness as well as an unctuous touch. It reveals notes of pulpy violet plum, crushed blueberry, small notes of crushed raspberry, cornflower associated with touches of small crushed/unctuous fruit, bourbon vanilla as well as a subtle hint of green cardamom and toasted. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers freshness, juiciness, suavity, straightness, concentration, a small freshness as well as a juicy/mineral frame. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy cherry, creamy violet plum, small notes of vanilla, crushed strawberry associated with touches of creamy cassis, small fresh blue fruits as well as hints of chocolate, caramelization, tobacco, toasted oak and a subtle hint of cedar. Good length. Score : 15.25+/20 (90-91/100)
Domaine Pradelle – Evasion 2017, Hommage à Jean Pradelle
Crozes-Hermitage
The nose is fruity and offers a small concentration as well as a fine power. It reveals notes of ripe/crushed cherry, ripe/crushed raspberry, small notes of violet plum associated with touches of small crushed red berries, cherry blossom, a fine hint of lilac, very discreet hints of almost mild tobacco as well as an imperceptible hint of cola, juniper berries and cardamom. The palate is fruity, beautifully defined, elegant and offers minerality, gourmandize, a very beautiful pulpy fruit, flesh, a fine acidulous frame as well as an aerial side. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/ acidulous cassis, pulpy/acidulous blackberry, small notes of juicy/acidulous cherry associated with touches of acidulous violet plum, hints of black olive, sage as well as a very discreet hint of plum flowers, zan, fresh mild tobacco and very discreet hints of toasted in the background. Tannins are precise, elegant and fine. Good length. Score : 17/20 (94/100)
Domaine Melody – Premier Regard 2018
Crozes-Hermitage
The nose is aromatic and offers elegance, a small concentration, a fine grain as well as a certain power. It reveals notes of pulpy cherry, pulpy strawberry, small notes of violet plum associated with touches of small blue fruits, cornflower, nutmeg, sweet spices, fine hints of pink laurel, olive leaf/garrigue, discreet hints of dry mild tobacco as well as a very discreet hint of saffron and pepper. The palate is elegant, delicate, beautifully built, precise and offers suavity, sweetness/delicacy, a beautiful fine grain, gourmandize, a small stretchy side as well as a fine acidulous frame (in the background). On the palate this wine expresses notes of bright blackberry, small bright blue berries, small notes of raspberry associated with touches of pulpy cassis, blue plum, cornflower as well as hints of pink laurel, nutmeg and fine hints of vanilla. Tannins are precise and soft. Good length. There is a hint of dark chocolate in the persistence.
Score : 16.25+/20 (93/100)
Emmanuel Darnaud – Les Trois Chênes 2018
Crozes-Hermitage
The nose is racy and offers minerality, intensity as well as a certain deepness. It reveals notes of wild blackberry, cassis, small notes of small pulpy/juicy wild berries associated with touches of cherry blossom, cocoa/toasted, toasted oak/ caramelization, hints of roasted as well as a fine hint of graphite and spices. The palate is fruity, fresh, elegant, mineral and offers a certain delicacy, a beautiful touch, juiciness, finesse, an aerial approach of the matter, a mineral frame as well as a beautiful fine and finely tight grain. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/bright cassis, bright cherry, small notes of fleshy raspberry associated with touches of small juicy/ripe wild berries, toasted oak, toasted, violet/cherry blossom, fine hints of cocoa, a hint of caramelization as well as a subtle hint of patisserie and vanilla. Tannins are well-built. Good length.
Score : 16+/20 (92-93/100)
M. Chapoutier – Les Meysonniers 2018
Crozes-Hermitage
(Organic)The nose is elegant, precise, beautifully built, racy and offers power (full of delicacy), complexity as well as a beautiful multi layer side. This wine should be decanted. It reveals notes of bright bigarreau cherry, bright black plum, small notes of small red fruits associated with touches of sage, local grove/arbutus, hints of fleshy Boysen berry, grey pepper, nutmeg, olive leaf as well as fine hints of saffron, tea and cuben pepper. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, beautifully racy and offers an acidulous frame, a beautiful structure, a good definition, an aromatic purity, minerality, a fine grain, power as well as finesse. On the palate this wine expresses notes of bright cassis, bright black cherry, small notes of violet associated with touches of small bright red berries, red plum, a racy minerality, sense of the place (local biotope), black olive as well as fine hints of vanilla pod, nutmeg, sweet spices and a subtle hint of saffron (in the background). Tannins are elegant, precise and racy. Good length.
Score : 17.25+/20 (95/100)
Domaine de la Ville Rouge – Terre d’Eclat 2018
Crozes-Hermitage
(Organic) The nose is elegant and offers power, gourmandize, intensity as well as an aromatic purity. It reveals notes of bright cassis, ripe wild blueberry, small notes of wild strawberry associated with touches of small wild berries, plum flowers as well as hints of arbutus, olive tree, spices, ceylan tea, cuben pepper, cocoa as well as fine hints of nutmeg and a discreet hint of vanilla pod. The palate is fruity, racy and offers juiciness, a beautiful minerality, suavity a bright fruit, a certain aromatic purity as well as a fine acidulous frame. On the palate this wine expresses notes of bright red plum, bright cherry, small notes of juicy/fresh blueberry associated with touches of small crushed red berries, cherry blossom, a racy minerality as well as hints of tonka bean, cardamom, black olive, arbutus, fine hints of sweet spices and chocolate/vanilla. Tannins are well-built and fine. Good length. Good persistence on hints of chocolate, toasted/caramelization and fleshy fruits (bring gourmandize).
Score : 16+/20 (92-93/100)
Domaine Combier 2019
Crozes-Hermitage
(Organic) The nose is aromatic and offers power, a fine grain, energy as well as a small varietal and spicy side. It reveals notes of cherry, cherry blossom, small notes of red plum associated with touches of small wild red berries, hints of arbutus, exotic fruits, crushed blackberry as well as fine hints of Sichuan pepper, saffron and sense of the place (local biotope). The palate is fruity, flowery, well-balanced and offers an acidulous frame, a beautiful definition, tension, vivacity/energy, a good precision of the fruit as well as a small racy minerality. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy/fresh blackberry, ripe red plum, small notes of cherry steam associated with touches of cherry blossom, strawberry, small blue berries as well as hints of laurel berries, arbutus, pink laurel as well as fine hints of liquorice stick, black olive, fine hints of toasted/caramelization. Tannins are well-built and structuring. There is a fine hint of good bitterness in the finish. Good control of the bitterness.
Score : 16+/20 (92-93/100)