Southern Rhône

Domaine de la Charbonnière – Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 2019

Châteauneuf-du-pape

The wine shows medium ruby colour. The nose is slightly restrained, needs aeration. With air it reveals nuances of cooked red and blacked cherries, cooked strawberries, a touch of hibiscus, a hint of black pepper and cinnamon. The palate is juicy, opulent and rich, offering nice balance between elevated alcohol and exuberant body, a nice mineral backbone, bold, grippy, fine-grained tannins. The wine opens up with nuances of liquored black cherries, strawberry confiture, a touch of cinnamon and cloves, a touch of cocoa and garrigue. Long, juicy finish with a refreshing orange zest note. Good length.

Score : 15.5+/20 (91/100)

Domaine de la Charbonnière – Les Hautes Brusquières Cuvée Spéciale 2019

Châteauneuf-du-pape

The wine shows a bright ruby colour with a brightening rim. The nose is slightly restrained, the wine will benefit from being decanted. It opens up with notes of ripe and even overripe red cherries, a touch of strawberries and a hint of raspberry compote, as well as a touch of garrigue and rosemary in the echo, as well as a delicate hint of black pepper. The palate is juicy, intense and concentrated, with elevated alcohol, balanced by a nice freshness and bold but polished tannins. It reveals sweet and gourmet nuances of juicy red cherries and baked strawberries, a hint of dried herbs and tobacco, light herbal bitterness on the finish. Bold and powerful but well-balanced and juicy wine.

Score : 17/20 (94/100)

Domaine de la Janasse 2020

Châteauneuf-du-pape

The wine shows a medium ruby colour. The nose is perfumed and floral, revealing nuances of rosehip and roses, crushed strawberries, forest raspberries, complicated by nuances of hibiscus, red tea and sweet baking nuances. The palate is luscious and juicy, offering exuberant fruitiness, powerful structure, refreshing acidity and bold and muscular tannins. The wine is succulent and very attractive, showing ripe, juicy red cherry flavours, wild strawberries and raspberries, framed by delicate nuances of oak, sweet spices and cedar wood. Beautiful expression of the terroir and varieties. Long, juicy finish, highlighting the signature Grenache sweetness. Score : 16.75/20 (93-94/100)

Clos St Antonin 2019

Châteauneuf-du-pape

The wine shows a deep purple colour. The nose is slightly muted, the wine will benefit from being decanted. It opens up with nuances of red and black cherries, black plums, thorn and bramble, complicated by nuances of black tea, prunes and sweet baking spices. The palate is dense and concentrated with bold, astringent tannins, good freshness balancing the rich, opulent body. The wine is packed with black fruit aromas, complicated by hints of black olive tapenade, soya sauce and tar. Juicy, long finish with a lingering savoury note.

Score : 16/20 (92/100)

Château Jas de Bressy - Châteauneuf-du-pape Rouge 2019

Châteauneuf-du-pape

The wine shows a pale ruby colour with a brightening rim. The nose is intense and floral, offering delicious notes of cherry blossom, caramelized cherries and strawberry confiture, complicated by nuances of forest raspberries and sweet baking spices. The palate is equally delicious and gourmet, opening up with juicy notes of ripe strawberries, raspberries in sugar, a hint of milk chocolate and cocoa, complicated by nuances of Mediterranean herbs. The tannins are bold but luscious and polished. Good freshness and length. A gourmandise!

Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)

Vignobles Mousset-barrot - Fines Roches de Châteauneuf-du-pape 2019

Châteauneuf-du-pape

The wine shows a pale ruby colour with a brightening rim. The nose is dense and concentrated, revealing nuances of ripe forest raspberries, wild strawberries, a touch of cherry liqueur, complicated by notes of garrigue, anise and liquorice. The palate is opulent and luscious, with a serious oak imprint, good fruit concentration balancing the oak, nice freshness and elegance despite the opulent style, polished, sweet and ripe tannins. The wine opens up with sweet strawberries, a touch of cherry compote and raspberry jam, a hint of gentian bitterness that adds to the freshness. Long juicy, succulent finish. Good ageing potential.

Score : 16.5/20 (93/100)

Domaine Paul Autard – Cuvée la Côte Ronde 2019

Châteauneuf-du-pape

The wine shows a medium ruby colour with a brightening rim. The nose reveals nuances of dark berries, like black cherries, ripe blackberries and blueberries, complicated by nuances of black pepper, cinnamon and cloves. The palate is dense and heady, offering a lot of concentration, power and volume, a dark fruit character, bold and grippy tannins that stick to the gums. The wine opens up with intense notes of blackberries and bramble, black forest raspberries, a lot of spicy notes and a touch of thorn. A bold and powerful style with long, drying finish and good ageing potential. Score : 16/20 (92/100)

Comte de Lauze - Châteauneuf-du-pape Rouge 2019

Châteauneuf-du-pape

The wine shows a medium ruby colour. The nose is intense, floral and fruity, revealing nuances of ripe forest raspberries, bramble, ripe black cherries, supported by nuances of dark chocolate, cocoa and liquorice. The palate is concentrated and heady, with bold, drying tannins, good intensity and powerful body. The wine opens up with notes of ripe red and black cherries, a hint of blackberries, some pomegranate and sweet spices. The finish offers a certain rusticity and astringency, has a moderate length.

Score : 15+/20 (89-90/100)

Comte de Lauze - Châteauneuf-du-pape Rouge – Réserve de la Comtesse 2019

Châteauneuf-du-pape

The wine shows a medium ruby colour with a brightening rim. The nose is profound and multi-layered, revealing nuances of blueberries, bramble, blackberries, combined with notes of black pepper, cloves and cinnamon, with a touch of gentian in the background. The palate shows a good freshness, balancing elevated alcohol, a certain restraint and bold, massive tannins. It opens up with notes of bitter herbs, rosemary and garrigue, as well as kirsch and cherries in dark chocolate. The wine still needs time to reveal its potential. Herbal and juicy finish, still quite astringent.

Score : 15.25+/20 (90-91/100)

RASTEAU RED WINES

Les Grandes Serres 2019

Rasteau

The wine shows a pale ruby garnet colour. The nose is heady, revealing nuances of cherry liqueur, wild strawberry confiture, a touch of Mediterranean herbs and liquorice. The palate offers moderate acidity, opulent body and grippy, slightly rustic tannins. The wine opens up with nuances of red and black cherries, a touch of strawberries, a hint of red tea with a delicate note of coffee. Drying on the finish, moderate length.

Score : 14+/20 (87/100)

VINSOBRES RED WINES

Domaine Saint Vincent Rouge 2019

Vinsobres

The wine shows a deep ruby colour. The nose is fruity and intense, revealing nuances of blueberries and blackberries, supported by notes of violets and dried rose petals. The palate is juicy, dense and concentrated, offering refreshing acidity, bright fruitiness and bold but suave tannins. The wine opens up with nuances of dried red cherries, fresh black cherries, hint of garrigue and a pleasant touch of bitterness on the finish. Succulent, slightly herbal aftertaste.

Score : 15.25/20 (90/100)

Domaine Saint Vincent – Cuvée Saint-pierre Rouge 2016

Vinsobres

The wine shows a deep ruby colour. The nose is dense and spicy, revealing nuances of dark cherries and juicy blackberries, supported by rich notes of cocoa, dark chocolate, sweet spices and noble wood. The palate offers intense concentration, richness of body and suave and velvety tannins. Notes of ripe and overripe black cherries intertwine with nuances of Christmas spices and chocolate. A bold and powerful wine that still keeps the freshness and delicacy. Long, juicy and spicy finish.

Score : 15.5/20 (90-91/100)