French Wine

La Fagotière · Châteauneuf-du-Pape · 2023

La Fagotière Châteauneuf-du-Pape Organic 2023 combines Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre in an elegant red with depth and silky tannins. Complex red and black berry aromas give the wine a generous fruit character, making it an inviting choice for a substantial meal.

Based near Orange, north of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and neighboring the vineyards of Château de Beaucastel, La Fagotière is a 17-hectare (42-acre), family-run domaine guided by fifth-generation siblings Pascal Chastan and Valérie Leoty. The family’s commitment to organic viticulture centers on thriving insect life, healthy soils and healthy vines.

Terroir & Winemaking

Vines averaging 50 years of age grow on clay over limestone, with the region’s characteristic galets pebbles and boulders evident in many plots. Grapes are harvested by hand and carefully selected, with each plot vinified separately in temperature-controlled concrete and stainless steel vats. Whole-berry fermentation lasts five to seven days, with daily pump-overs to develop fruit expression.

Winemaker Tasting Note

Complex aromas of red and black berries, revealing an elegant wine, deep with silky tannins.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Try with roast lamb, braised beef, mushroom dishes or a hearty vegetable gratin.

Details

• Producer: La Fagotière
• Vintage: 2023
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Country: France
• Region: Rhône Valley
• Appellation: Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Grapes: Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre
• Type: Red wine
• Farming: Organic
• Vines: Average age of 50 years
• Soils: Clay over limestone, with galets pebbles and boulders
• Harvest: Hand-harvested with careful grape selection
• Vinification: Separate plots; temperature-controlled concrete and stainless steel vats

Domaine Lafond Roc-Épine · Lirac · 2023

From the Rhône’s Lirac appellation, this red from Pascal Lafond’s family estate brings dark fruit and spice to the table. The estate describes its farming as practicing organic. A generous, structured wine for roast meats or a slow-cooked supper.

Winemaker Description

A powerful and well built wine, a deep ruby colour with violet tints. Complex nose of vanilla, fruits and griotte-cherries.

The attack is rich and firm; the mouth expresses long lasting nuances of vanilla and pepper. This is a smooth and rich wine with a very good length.

Domaine Lafond · Winemaker Description

Expert Review · 2023 Vintage

A blend of two-thirds Grenache Noir and one-third Syrah, the 2023 Lirac from Domaine Lafond Roc-Épine is a superb effort. It opens with a deep, complex bouquet of dark wild berries, black cherries, violet and licorice, complemented by subtle spice and a discreet touch of oak. Medium- to full-bodied, it’s rich and enveloping, with a fleshy core of fruit, layered textures and a harmonious mid-palate. Framed by velvety tannins, it concludes with a long, spicy and ethereal finish. This is a serious Lirac that will reward cellaring over the next decade or more.

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate · 92 points

About the Estate

Pascal Lafond’s family-run estate is based in Tavel and makes wines from Tavel, Lirac and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Its Lirac reds emphasize concentration and structure while retaining balance.

At a Glance

• Producer: Domaine Lafond Roc-Épine
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Lirac, Rhône Valley, France
• Blend: Grenache Noir and Syrah, according to the 2023 Wine Advocate review
• Farming: Practicing organic
• Size: 750ml

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

The Wine Advocate 89 Points | Partially destemmed and matured in a mix of foudres, large barrels and concrete tanks (80%), the 2023 Chateauneuf du Pape is somewhat shy and introverted at this stage, opening with aromas of dark berries and licorice. Medium- to full-bodied, round and sappy, it shows a sweet, juicy core of fruit tapering into a finish that is slightly marked by bitterness.

Memo Summary Notes

The 2024 cuvée is a faithful expression of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape terroir. Predominantly crafted from old-vine Grenache, it reflects the richness and depth of the Southern Rhône’s great wines. The bouquet reveals notes of black fruits, garrigue, and spices. The palate is full-bodied and refined, with silky tannins and impressive length. A wine of elegance and depth, built to age gracefully.

“One of the benchmark producers of Châteauneuf-du-Pape…the consistent results have always been classic Châteauneuf-du-Papes that stand the test of time.”
—Robert Parker

“Consistently outstanding, classic Côtes du Rhônes and Châteauneuf du Papes emerge from Clos du Mont-Olivet, run by the incredibly talented and thoughtful Thierry Sabon for a number of years now.”
– Jeb Dunnuck

Memo Summary Notes

Varietals - Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Terret, Picpoul, Muscardin

The Clos du Mont Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2024 is a standout vintage from one of the most traditional and respected estates in the Southern Rhône. While many neighbors moved toward a heavy, high-alcohol style in recent decades, Mont Olivet has remained a bastion of elegance, specializing in "Old Vine" Grenache that emphasizes perfume and finesse over raw power.

Pair with

• Traditional: Roast leg of lamb with garlic and rosemary, or wild boar stew.

• Vegetarian: Hearty mushroom risotto or a ratatouille rich in herbs de Provence.

Expert Reviews- Vintage 2013 

Josh Raynolds of Vinous writes 96 Points |  (made with 50 percent whole clusters) Bright purple. A complex, intensely perfumed bouquet of fresh black and blue fruit, candied licorice and Asian spice scents develops a sexy floral note as the wine opens up. Vibrant and appealingly sweet on the palate, offering intense, smoke-tinged black currant, boysenberry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors energized by a refreshing snap of juicy acidity. Blends richness and vivacity with a deft hand and finishes extremely long and gently tannic, leaving a sappy blue fruit note behind. Drinking 2023 - 2032.

James Suckling writes 97 Points | The most brooding nose of the trio of La La's with dark coal smoky aromas and dark stones, graphite and cocoa powder. Fruits are in the very dark plum and blackberry spectrum but flavors are held in a more savory mode with assertive, powerful clean-cut tannins that hold endless length. Truly a masterpiece. Best from 2022 and for two decades or more.

Joe Czerwinski of The Wine Advocate writes 94 Points | The 2013 Cote Rotie La Mouline shows none of the vintage’s sometimes dry tannins. It offers crisp black fruit—plums and blackberries—underscored by hints of pencil shavings, espresso and grilled meat. Suave and long, it should drink well for a couple of decades. Drinking 2020 - 2035. 

James Molesworth of the Wine Spectator writes 96 Points | Very ripe, with layers of fig, boysenberry and plum compote forming the core, inlaid liberally with licorice snap, roasted apple wood and Turkish coffee notes. Shows lots of heft, but everything pulls together on the finish, exhibiting drive and definition. Best from 2020 through 2040. 65 cases imported.

Jeb Dunnuck writes 94+ Points | One of the more restrained and fresh vintages of this cuvée out there, the 2013 Côte Rôtie La Mouline still has a classic Mouline floral, gamey, and spicy bouquet to go with medium to full-bodied richness and depth on the palate. With good concentration, notable complexity, sweet tannin, and plenty of length, it needs 3-4 years of bottle age and will keep for 15+. Drinking 2022 - 2037.

Richard Hemming MW of Jancis Robinson writes 18/20 Points | Hickory smoke, violets, tobacco, black-cherry fruit, pepper and a touch of stemmy herbal character. Super-fine tannins, and quite light body with a finish that isn't as expansive as the palate. Still young, so the length may well develop. Drinking 2019 - 2033 

Château Mont-Redon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2022

Château Mont-Redon is one of the most storied estates in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, its history predating the appellation itself. In 1923 — more than a decade before the AOC was formally established in 1936 — visionary proprietor Henri Plantin acquired this isolated plateau property, then covered in scrubland and groves, and set about clearing the land and planting vines in the famous rolled pebbles (galets roulés) that define the appellation's most iconic terroir.

Located in the northwestern sector of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the estate is uniquely privileged to possess all three of the appellation's emblematic terroir types: the pebble-strewn plateau, the compact sandy safres, and the ancient urgonian limestone. This rare combination of complementary soils is the foundation of Mont-Redon's complexity and consistency across vintages.

The 2022 is a blend of approximately 60% Grenache, 31% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre, and a mix of other authorized varieties including Counoise, Muscardin, Vaccarèse, and Cinsaut, matured in a combination of new and used barrels, concrete, and large foudres. The result is a wine of remarkable depth, structure, and elegance — built for the cellar, but already showing its extraordinary potential.

Deep ruby in the glass, the wine opens with a gorgeous nose of dark cherries, black raspberries, cassis, dried thyme, black pepper, violets, and spicy garrigue, with hints of leather, licorice, and gravel. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with a firm yet refined tannic frame, dark berry fruit at the core, and a long, focused finish with crushed stone and graphite minerality. Best from 2027–2028 and drinking brilliantly for 15+ years.

James Suckling — 96 pts
"A well-composed, structured and refined Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The nose reveals notes of dark cherries, cassis, dried thyme, black pepper and a touch of violets. It’s full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Robust and focused, and the funneled finish has length. Try after 2028." (Vintage 2022). 

Jeb Dunnuck — 94 pts
"A gorgeous nose of black raspberries, Bing cherries, spicy garrigue, leather, and ground pepper. With medium to full-bodied richness and a concentrated yet focused, elegant style on the palate, it’s going to benefit from 2–3 years of bottle age and drink brilliantly over the following 15+ years." (Vintage 2022). 

Vinous — 92 pts
"Distinct licorice, gravel, red cherry and violet notes alongside minty undertones. Constructed around a firm tannic core, the full-bodied 2022 is clearly built for the long haul, demanding five more years in a cool cellar." (Vintage 2022). 

Wine Spectator — 92 pts
"Large in scale and richly styled, with a ripe core of cherry and cassis liqueur hemmed in with chalk-fine tannins. Smoked anise, meat and earth merge in, while graphite and crushed stone notes line the robust finish." (Vintage 2022). 

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate — 91+ pts
"Aromas of violet, dark wild berries, lavender and smoke. A medium to full-bodied, concentrated and structured wine with an assertive tannic frame, velvety tannins and a long and spicy finish." (Vintage 2022). 

Blend: ~60% Grenache, 31% Syrah, 8% Mourvèdre, plus Counoise, Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Cinsaut
Appellation: Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC, Southern Rhône, France
Vintage: 2022
Format: 750ml
Scores: 96 JS | 94 JD | 92 Vinous | 92 WS | 91+ WA

Explore Beaurenard Estate Chateauneuf-du-Pape Biodynamic 2021

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

The Wine Advocate 94 Points | The 2021 Chateauneuf du Pape is just as tasty as the Boisrenard special cuvée this vintage, with very similar notes of black raspberries, black olives and garrigue. Perhaps a bit lighter-bodied (still medium to full-bodied), it's a touch creamy on the mid-palate, then adds hints of dark chocolate on the supple, lingering finish. The assemblage here is less Grenache-heavy (65%), with 15% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and small amounts of other permitted varieties. - 

James Suckling 93 Points | Here’s a very well structured Chateauneuf for the challenging 2021 vintage with complex wild herb and berry aromas. Only medium-bodied for the appellation, but with healthy tannins and a positive mineral acidity that drives the long clean finish. A cuvee of 50% grenache, 30% syrah, 10% mourvedre and 10% cinsault. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold.

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | A pure, focused style, with generous raspberry ganache and red licorice flavors that are juicy, inviting and well-framed by finely sculpted tannins and graphite shavings. Full-bodied without being heavy, with black pepper, wild herbs and mesquite playing out on the fresh, structured finish. Grenache. Drink now through 2035.

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | A beautiful wine, the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape has a deeper ruby hue to go with Burgundian aromatics of ripe red and black berries, sappy underbrush, exotic flowers, and an undeniable sense of minerality. It's balanced, medium-bodied, has good mid-palate depth, and gorgeously integrated structure that emerges with time in the glass. It's not a powerhouse, but it has a layered, complete, seamless profile that's going to evolve gracefully over the coming 15 years. The classic Cuvée is 65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and the rest a mix of permitted varieties, partially destemmed, and aged in a mix of foudre, tank, and barrels, with a tiny percentage in new oak.

Memo Summary Notes

The 2021 Domaine de Beaurenard Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a benchmark for biodynamic winemaking in the Southern Rhône. Despite a challenging 2021 vintage marked by frost, this estate produced a wine noted for its freshness, elegance, and "linear" style rather than sheer power.

Rich Heritage of Beaurenard Estate

Beaurenard Estate, located in the renowned Chateauneuf-du-Pape region, is celebrated for its commitment to biodynamic farming. The 2021 vintage is not only a testament to this heritage but also reflects the estate's dedication to producing high-quality wines. The biodynamic approach fosters a holistic environment, enhancing the wine's complexity. Therefore, when you enjoy a glass of Beaurenard, you are savoring not just the wine itself, but the rich history and sustainable practices behind it.

A Wonderful Tasting Experience

This biodynamic wine offers vibrant aromas of ripe red fruits complemented by subtle earthy tones. On the palate, it delivers a balanced mix of richness and refreshing acidity. Because of its exceptional structure, Beaurenard Estate Chateauneuf-du-Pape pairs beautifully with hearty dishes, making it an ideal choice for gatherings. Whether you are a seasoned wine enthusiast or casually exploring options, this wine is sure to impress.

Why Choose Biodynamic Wine?

Biodynamic wines like Beaurenard are crafted with careful consideration of the ecosystem. The absence of synthetic chemicals enhances both the purity of the flavor and the health of the vineyard. Additionally, the 2021 vintage stands out because it embodies the core principles of biodiversity and sustainability. As a result, choosing Beaurenard Estate's Chateauneuf-du-Pape is not just a delight for your palate, but also a conscious choice for the environment.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

The Wine Spectator 92 Points | Distinctive in a very good way, this chooses savory elegance over power. A refreshing and mineral-driven style, with appealing pepper, spice box and chestnut, all surrounding a core of red currant threaded with a stream of herbs. With warm earth on the seductively textured palate, this shows good energy and harmony through the vibrant finish, marked by iron and smoked meat. Well-done. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault. Drink now through 2032. 2,464 cases imported.

Vinous 92 Points | The 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Télégramme kicks off with crushed violets, ripe raspberry, wild strawberry and a pinch of dried herbs. Leafy gradations add more complexity. Round and elegant, the full-bodied 2022 walks off the stage with persistence on the juicy finish.

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | The only wine produced in the vintage due to the devastating tornado just before the harvest, the 2022 Châteauneuf Du Pape Télégramme seems to be a mix of a normal Vieux Télégraphe and a Télégramme. Black raspberries, darker cherries, peppery garrigue, and a Grand Vin sense of salty minerality define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied on the palate, has rock-solid ripeness, plenty of tannins, and outstanding length.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | A blend of 85% Grenache and the rest of Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvèdre, the 2022 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Télégramme offers up aromas of flowers, dark cherries and dark wild berries, followed by a medium to full-bodied, structured and concentrated palate with velvety tannins and a long, dense finish.

James Suckling 92 Points | An elegant expression of grenache in Chateauneuf, this has a wealth of red berries and summer flowers. The very solid tannins have been expertly crafted, and they build beautifully in the long finish. Considering how the vineyards were hit by hail just before the harvest, this has turned out very well. 

Expert Reviews

Isabel Ferrando’s reputation for outstanding wines has grown every vintage since her first release in 2003. As a woman owned business and winemaker, Isabel has built a tremendous reputation producing highly acclaimed wines. 

"Proprietress Isabel Ferrando has taken her Saint Prefert estate to France’s highest level, and she’s unquestionably making some of the most profound wines on earth today, including both reds and whites.”   —Wine Critic - Jeb Dunnuck

"Hard work. Subtle tweaks. Responsible farming. An uncompromising dedication to quality. Isabel Ferrando keeps doing things the right way, and her wines are dramatic proof.” —James Molesworth, Wine Spectator.

"one thing that remains constant is the incredible quality that continues to emerge from this talented winemaker.” Jeb Dunuck. 

The Wine Spectator 95 Points | A perfumed, elegant and complex version, with inviting, high-toned notes of red currant and cherry draped with warm licorice. The palate starts out supple, then solid ballasts of graphite and fine tannins firm everything up for a fresh, focused finish that wafts with smoked sandalwood. Brown bread, cinnamon and nutmeg add complexity, with penetrating mineral depth. Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvèdre. 

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | A great vintage for this cuvée, the 2022 Gigondas Terrasse Du Diable comes from higher elevation sites and pure limestone soils. (It's mostly Grenache.) Rocking levels of kirsch, ripe cherries, chalky minerality, melted licorice, and white flowers all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a round, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. It's one hell of a sexy, ripe, impossible-to-resist Gigondas.

Warehouse stored item - please allow three to five business days to fulfill.

A long, light but enveloping robe… Aromas of fresh fruits and spices… Curves of Grenache spiced with Mourvèdre and Syrah, blending with the connections of sandstone and pebble plots, delicately draped in clay and sand. What could be more sensual and elegant?

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points | The flagship 2020 Cornas is a beauty! Clearly in the same league as recent top vintages, it has a wild bouquet of black and blue fruits, liquid violets, game, and iron, with some incense and spice thrown in for good measure. It's slightly more round and sexy compared to the more powerful 2019, but it’s perfectly balanced, with ripe tannins and a great finish. This heavenly Cornas will be drinkable in just 3-4 years and evolve for two decades.

Vinous 97-98 Points | Glass-staining ruby. Intensely perfumed dark berry preserve, violet oil, olive, cured meat and woodsmoke scents show fine definition and vibrant spice- and mineral-driven lift. Offers palate-staining, spice-laced blackberry, bitter cherry, fruitcake and violet pastille flavors that deepen and open up steadily through the midpalate, while maintaining energy. The strikingly long, penetrating finish features youthfully chewy tannins, a sweet touch of cola and lingering floral and exotic spice qualities. All whole clusters and no new oak, as usual.

Decanter 97 Points | A vibrant, focused and intense style of Cornas, a return to a classic style after the richness of 2018 and the power of 2019. Their Renaissance will be made this year, so both wines will need to be bottled before a more precise evaluation of each blend can be made, but the outlook is good. Whole-bunch fermented in unlined concrete tanks, matured in small old foudres.

James Suckling 97 Points | A fragrant nose of blackberries, dark cherries, wild herbs, baking spices, stones and black pepper. Medium body with fine, firm tannins. It has volume and structure, but remains extremely agile. It has bright acidity and a vibrant peppery character, giving vitality and tension on the palate. Well-rounded and vivid with a succulent and textured, long developing finish. Best after 2026."

Wine Advocate 95-97 Points | Tasted from four different components of the 2020 Cornas from foudre. From 40-year-old vines in La Côte, a medium to full-bodied sample with attractive menthol, red plum and violet notes, ample structure but a bit short (92 - 94). From 50- to 60-year-old vines in La Sabarotte, an earthier, more savory example, with a rich, velvety texture and crisp acids (93 - 95). From 60- to 70-year-old vines in La Côte, a wine that seems to have it all: intense cassis, crushed stone, licorice and black olives, plus amazing richness and length (97 - 99). And finally, from old vines in Reynard, a breathtaking, hauntingly floral rendition marked by purple raspberries and fantastic concentration (98 - 100). The blend should be terrific.

Expert Review

97 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The 2020 Cornas Chaillot comes from a mix of lieux-dits (it's mostly Chaillot) as well as some younger vines. It's an incredible wine in its own right and certainly doesn't give much in terms quality to its big brother. Awesome aromatics of crème de cassis, violets, crushed stone, and bouquet garni-like notes all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, concentrated mid-palate, and ultra-fine tannins. It's a touch more finesse-driven and elegant compared to the Reynard and should round into form with just 5-7 years of bottle age. This is legit awesome Cornas that will have 20-25 years of ultimate longevity. (2020). 

Critical Acclaim

• Wine Advocate – 97 Points | “Upfront, incredibly perfumed nose of spring flowers, cured meats, roasted herbs, olives and sweet cassis fruit. Full-bodied, beautifully textured, mouth-filling and already impossible to resist — it expands on the palate and I guarantee this beauty will put a smile on your face anytime over the coming two decades.” Drinking 2016–2036.
• Wine Spectator – 96 Points | “Brooding, with layers of warm tobacco leaf, roasted alder and juniper, and sweet tapenade, backed by a dense core of macerated plum, black currant and raspberry fruit. The long, smoldering finish shows terrific latent grip.” Best from 2018–2030.
• James Suckling – 95 Points | “Super peppery, very concentrated and immaculately fragrant. Entrancing brown-spice aromas across red plums and darker black fruits. Layered, smooth and supple, pitching concentrated flavors against precise, dense and very powerful tannin. Exceptional wine.” Drink 2020–2030.
• Decanter – 95 Points | “Porcini mushroom and a touch of graphite on the finish. The acidity is well balanced, the tannins a little dry and leathery.” Drinking 2021–2033.
• Vinous – 94 Points | “Heady, intensely perfumed aromas of red fruit preserves, incense, smoky minerals and lavender. Stains the palate with sweet, seamless raspberry liquéur, spicecake and floral pastille flavors. Strikingly long and precise finish with resonating mineral and floral notes.” Drinking 2021–2030.

Tasting Notes

Red fruits, blackberry, and floral aromas of violet define the nose of La Mouline. On the palate, the wine is silky, velvety, and voluptuous with intense aromatics, seamless texture, and a finish of extraordinary length and precision. A wine of rare beauty and complexity.

About the Wine

La Mouline is one of Guigal’s legendary “La La” wines — among the most celebrated and collectible bottles in the entire Rhône Valley. Sourced from a single steep vineyard on the Côte Blonde in Côte-Rôtie, La Mouline is predominantly Syrah with a small percentage of Viognier co-fermented, lending its signature floral perfume and silky texture. The wine spends 42 months in new oak before bottling — a hallmark of Guigal’s uncompromising approach to quality.

Food Pairing

Outstanding with game birds, roasted lamb, truffle dishes, and aged hard cheeses. Also exceptional on its own as a contemplative collector’s wine.

Product Details

• Appellation: Côte-Rôtie, Northern Rhône, France
• Varietal: Syrah with Viognier (co-fermented)
• Vintage: 2012
• Format: 750ml
• Drinking Window: Now–2036
• Producer: E. Guigal

Founded in 1975, the Le Sang des Cailloux estate took off with the arrival of Serge Férigoule. Hired in the 80s as an agricultural worker, Serge became owner of the estate in 1990 with a clear vision: to abandon chemical products for viticulture respectful of nature. His choices initiated a transition to a new era.

In 2003, his son Frédéri joined the family adventure. Self-taught and driven by a strong commitment to their terroir, they obtained the organic certification in 2007. Three years later, they led the estate towards biodynamics, an avant-garde approach in the region. Today, alongside his wife, Marion, he upholds Le Sang des Cailloux as an essential reference of the Vacqueyras appellation.

With an average age of 50 years, the estate’s vines, some planted over 80 years ago, testify to a precious heritage. The main grapes are Grenache, Syrah, and to a lesser extent, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Carignan and Counoise, which faithfully reveal the typicality of the Vacqueyras appellation.

The philosophy of Le Sang des Cailloux is based on a deep respect for the terroir and for nature, guided by biodynamic viticulture. Each action, in the vineyard and in the wine cellar, is designed to reveal the authenticity and uniqueness of the great terroirs of Vacqueyras.

Decanter Magazine - 92 Points Very soft and juicy style of Doucinello, with tons of bright, gourmand fruit. Fine tannins and elegant in feel, it's very harmonious and well balanced, and while not hugely complex is very drinkable. Between black and red fruits in style. 

Vinous Media - 90 Points Alluring garrigue, just-ripe black cherry, peppery gradations and leafy subtleties introduce the 2023 Vacqueyras Cuvee Doucinello. Refreshing, medium-bodied and gently framed by smooth tannins, the 2023 shows well, clocking out with elegance on the savory finish.

Domaine des Gravennes Côtes du Rhône 2025 · Rhône Valley, France · 750ml

Tasting Notes

The 2025 Domaine des Gravennes Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge is a vibrant and expressive Rhône blend, opening with aromas of ripe blackberry, dark cherry, cracked pepper, and dried herbs, accented by subtle notes of lavender and smoky earth. Medium- to full-bodied with supple tannins and balanced acidity, the palate delivers layers of juicy black fruit, spice, and savory complexity leading to a smooth, lingering finish.

Producer History

The story begins in the heart of the Rhône Valley, in Suze-la-Rousse, at the beginning of the 20th century. As the Belle Époque was in full swing, Alphonse Pradelle planted the first vines on his land. From the 1960s onwards, his son Raphaël and his wife Marie-Louise gave the estate a new impetus. Even then, unknowingly, the estate was cultivating all its vines organically.

In 1996, their daughter Bernadette Bayon de Noyer returned to the estate and created Domaine des Gravennes. Five years later, she was joined by her husband Jean, with whom they replanted vines, invested in equipment, and modernized the winery: Domaine des Gravennes took flight!

Now, it's the fourth generation's turn to carry on the tradition. In 2011, Luc was the first to return to the “Maison,” after having accumulated winemaking experience on four continents. Four years later, his older brother, Rémi, was drawn to the vineyards and wine, leading him to leave his engineering career and return to his childhood home in Provence. As independent winemakers, they continue a family tradition together, respecting shared values: protecting the land and its environment, fostering a sense of community, and a constant pursuit of balance and elegance.

Farming and Winemaking

It is the expertise of independent winemakers, passed down through generations, that makes the estate's wines unique. Since 2011, the vineyard has been certified organic. Biodynamic farming is at the heart of the estate's core values.

Maintaining the woods and lavender surrounding the plots reflects the estate's deep commitment to promoting biodiversity and the balance of the Gravennes ecosystem. The microclimate created by this unique environment makes each plot one of a kind.

Highlighting the qualities of the Rhône Valley terroir continues in the cellar through the preferential use of indigenous yeasts and meticulous winemaking. A meticulous sorting of the grapes is carried out to select the finest cuvées for the subsequent blending of the wines.

Producer Description · Lou Pitchoun

It's common knowledge that the youngest child in a family is always the favorite. In Provence, they affectionately call him Lou Pitchoun. By chance or coincidence (objectivity being key!), this cuvée was created upon the arrival of the youngest, Luc, at the estate. A wine in his image: fresh, approachable, and authentic.

Food Pairings

Grilled lamb, roast chicken with herbs, beef stew, duck confit, charcuterie, ratatouille, or mushroom tart.

Details

• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Vintage: 2025
• Region: Rhône Valley, France
• Appellation: Côtes du Rhône
• Grapes: 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre
• Type: Red
• Farming: Estate vineyard certified organic since 2011; biodynamic farming described in the producer copy

Domaine des Pasquiers Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu 2023 · Rhône, France · 750ml

Producer Description

Four generations of the Lambert family have worked this estate since 1935. Brothers Jean-Claude and Philippe Lambert took over in 1998 and oriented the domaine toward bottled wines. Today, they work alongside the next generation, Matthieu and Perrine, sharing a commitment to respect for the soil, the vines and the environment.

The 87-hectare estate spans IGP Vaucluse, Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu, Côtes du Rhône Villages Sablet and Gigondas. Their uncompromising work is a constant quest for excellence, with the aim of expressing their terroirs in each glass.

Vineyards and Farming

At the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail, Plan de Dieu lies on terraces of red clay covered with rolled pebbles. These stones retain the sun’s warmth into the night. The Plan de Dieu vineyard averages 30 years of age and has particularly low yields, producing rich, concentrated fruit.

Elsewhere on the estate, Sablet’s gentle slopes have sandy soils and gravel that bring finesse and mineral qualities, while the varied soils of Gigondas produce structured, complex wines. The Lambert family began gradually converting the estate to organic farming in 2010.

Winemaking

The harvest is entirely destemmed, with short vatting periods to preserve aromatic richness and freshness. Grape varieties are vinified separately before blending. The estate grows Grenache for fruit and mellowness, Syrah for structure and delicacy, and Mourvèdre for depth and concentration.

Tasting Notes

Family-run and deeply rooted in the southern Rhône, the Pasquiers craft wines with generous fruit, warmth and easygoing charm. The 2023 Côtes du Rhône shows ripe red berries, a touch of spice and a classic hint of garrigue.

Over the years, the Pasquiers wines have become some of our most popular and best-selling Rhône bottles: authentic, delicious and consistently among the region’s great values.

Food Pairings

Enjoy with grilled meats, stews or simply with friends.

Details

• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Vintage: 2023
• Region: Rhône, France
• Appellation: Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu
• Grape: Grenache
• Type: Red
• Farming Attributes: Organic, Biodynamic

Famille Ferrando · Châteauneuf-du-Pape F601 · 2023

100% Old-Vine Cinsault · Rhône Valley, France · 750ml · Special Order — Pre-Sale Price

Producer & Terroir

F601 puts Cinsault at the center of Famille Isabel Ferrando’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape story. Sourced from vines planted in 1928 in the historic Saint-Préfert F601 parcel, this limited-production cuvée offers a distinctive alternative to the appellation’s more familiar Grenache-led reds.

Since her debut vintage in 2003, Isabel Ferrando has built her work around understanding the estate’s individual terroirs. Today, working alongside her daughter Guillemette, she continues that pursuit under the Famille Isabel Ferrando name. F601 is a particularly personal expression of that vineyard focus.

Tasting Notes

Smoky black fruit, roasted herbs, licorice and Provençal spices shape an aromatic profile with a savory hint of tapenade. The medium- to full-bodied palate combines layered fruit with fine tannins, purity and finesse, as described in Jeb Dunnuck’s review below.

Winemaker Notes

Isabel Ferrando: "It took me 16 years of observation and learning to develop a deep understanding and a personal relationship with my terroir, guided by instinct and feeling. With this vintage, I have launched “F601”, the pure and absolute expression of my experience with my parcel F601 of Saint Prefert and the old-vine Cinsault, planted in 1928, a singular and unique expression. At this point in my life, I am thrilled to share my enchantment for this remarquable wine.”

100% old-vine Cinsault planted in 1928 made with whole clusters in one used demi-muid barrel. Very limited production and packaged in a special wooden box.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Jeb Dunnuck, 96 Points · November 2025: "From vines planted in 1928, the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape F601 (100% Cinsault) was vinified with 40% whole clusters and aged in a single amphora. It offers smoky black fruits, roasted herbs, licorice, Provençal spices, and even a hint of tapenade, showing beautiful complexity and nuance in its aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, focused, and layered, it has fine tannins, beautiful purity, and finesse. Tasted twice with consistent notes."

Food Pairings

Consider roasted duck, herb-crusted lamb, game birds, veal or wild mushroom risotto. These savory dishes complement the wine’s herbal aromatics and refined texture.

Wine Details

• Producer: Famille Ferrando
• Cuvée: F601
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
• Region: Southern Rhône, Rhône Valley, France
• Vineyard: Saint-Préfert, F601 parcel
• Grape: 100% Cinsault
• Vines planted: 1928
• Style: Red wine
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Presentation: Special wooden box
• Availability: Special Order — Pre-Sale Price

Domaine Charvin · Côtes du Rhône · Le Poutet · 2024 · 750ml

The Producer

Founded in 1851, Domaine Charvin is now run by Laurent Charvin, the sixth generation of his family to farm the estate. Soon after taking over from his father, Laurent set aside most modern winemaking technology and converted all 28 hectares, including 10 hectares of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, to organic viticulture. Fermentation is traditional and whole-cluster, stems and all, and the wines are raised entirely in concrete, never barrel. For years Laurent was almost alone in working this way. Now others are following his lead. He's regarded as one of the appellation's top winemakers by Guy Julien of the renowned restaurant La Beaugravière in Mondragon, as well as by leading French sommeliers and wine writers. As of 2023, Domaine Charvin joins only Clos des Papes, Clos du Mont-Olivet, Château Rayas and Le Vieux Donjon as a 3-star Châteauneuf-du-Pape producer in the RVF Green Guide.

The Vineyard

Le Poutet comes from vines averaging 50 years old, some as old as 90, in parcels that border Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Maucoil to the northwest, and Campovin and Boislauzon to the northeast. The soils are sandy clay and limestone scattered with galets, the famous rounded stones of the southern Rhône.

The Wine

Roughly 80% Grenache with Mourvèdre, Syrah and Carignan, the grapes see a 15 to 20-day whole-bunch fermentation with daily pump-overs, then 18 months in concrete vat before bottling unfined and unfiltered. The result stands shoulder to shoulder with many Châteauneuf-du-Pape: complex aromas of garrigue and spiced red fruit, with the structure to evolve for ten to fifteen years.

Pairings & Serving

Made for Provençal cooking: herb-roasted lamb, daube de bœuf, grilled sausages, ratatouille or aged hard cheeses. Serve around 60–64°F, and give it some air in its youth.

Specs

• Producer: Domaine Charvin
• Wine: Le Poutet
• Appellation: Côtes du Rhône AOC
• Region: Southern Rhône, France
• Vintage: 2024
• Blend: ~80% Grenache, with Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignan
• Vine age: Average 50 years (up to 90)
• Farming: Organic
• Élevage: 18 months in concrete, unfined and unfiltered
• Size: 750ml

Châteauneuf soul at a Côtes du Rhône price, from one of the southern Rhône's great traditionalists.

Famille Ferrando · Châteauneuf-du-Pape Colombis · 2023

100% Grenache · Rhône Valley, France · 750ml · Introductory Offer — Pre-Sale

Producer & Terroir

Isabel Ferrando’s reputation for outstanding wines has grown since her first release in 2003. Colombis brings together Grenache from three parcels, Rayas, Les Roues, and Colombis, offering a focused expression of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Tasting Notes

Rose petals, violets, black raspberries and dark cherries meet licorice, pepper and dried herbs. The critics describe a wine of depth and concentration, balanced by a perfumed character, fine tannins and a seamless, lingering finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

Wine Spectator, 95 Points: Expressive, perfumed and ripe, with a glossy stream of bitter cherry and steeped plum anchored by bolts of iron. Warm spice, licorice, sanguine and grilled anise notes merge in, with a vivid flash of alpine herbs and singed alder smoke. A weighty, well-structured red that’s still unwinding yet is impressively approachable

James Suckling, 98 Points: Enormously deep and concentrated, but this is so subtle and defies easy description. The superfine tannins give this an incredibly fine texture, the richness building in the finish without adding anything to the impression of weight. From three old-vine grenache vineyards that have limestone, sand and galet soils. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Jeb Dunnuck, 97 Points: Black raspberries, ground pepper, white pepper, and sappy floral notes all make an appearance in the 2023 Châteauneuf Du Pape Colombis, another remarkable wine from this family. With medium to full-bodied richness, it's incredibly well-balanced, has ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. As with the estate’s other cuvées, it reminds me of their 2020. As usual, this cuvée is 100% Grenache that’s from a mix of three parcels (Rayas, Les Roues, and Colombis). It was not destemmed and was brought up in a mix of concrete, foudre, and clay jars.

Vinous, 96 Points: The 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Colombis is magnificent, bursting from the glass with prominent rose petal, crushed violets, strawberry compote, spicy licorice, dried herbs and minty shadings. Enveloped in velvety tannins, the perfumed 2023 is shaping up to be a wildly alluring Colombis, closing with a subtle phenolic kick on the focused finish. I can’t wait to taste it from bottle.

Wine Advocate, 94 Points: A pure Grenache Noir planted in the north part of the appellation and vinified with 30% whole bunches, the 2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Colombis has turned out beautifully. Evoking aromas of rose, dark cherries, spices and dark berries, it’s medium- to full-bodied, seamless and satiny with a beautifully ethereal finish.

Pairing Suggestions

Try with herb-roasted lamb, duck breast, braised beef or roasted mushrooms.

Wine Details

• Producer: Famille Ferrando
• Cuvée: Colombis
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Region: Rhône Valley, France
• Grape: 100% Grenache
• Style: Red wine
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Offer: Introductory Offer — Pre-Sale

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | The 2022 Gigondas Racines (75% Grenache and the rest Syrah and Cinsault) was mostly destemmed and spent 14 months in foudre. Coming from slightly lower elevation parcels (just beside the estate) and older vines, it's slightly deeper ruby-hued and has a meaty bouquet of black cherries, melted licorice, tapenade, and peppery garrigue. This carries to a more structured, medium to full-bodied, concentrated Gigondas that's going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

Though a relatively new domaine, founded in 1979, Faury is rooted in traditions generations old. Under Philippe Faury's guidance, the winery has expanded to its current 17ha of vineyards, nearly all so steep that they must be terraced. Both Philippe and his son Lionel carry out backbreaking work to ensure the vineyards are perfectly cared for. 

The Faurys eschew new oak in large quantity, and fermentation is carried out only by foot pigeage.

Black fruits, olives, and violets leap from the glass with this wine. On the palate this is filled with dark, rich blue and blackberry fruit with elements of black olive, dried herbs, and tapenade.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | Hints of dried herbs accent raspberries and cherries on the nose of the 2021 Gigondas le Claux. All old-vine Grenache, this is a full-bodied, rich, concentrated effort, with a long, velvety finish oozing dark chocolate. It's exciting stuff, especially considering how difficult the vintage was for some growers.

Wine Spectator 95 Points | Opulent and broad, with a generous cascade of ripe plum and winey cassis notes wrapped in talc-fine yet sturdy tannins. Chewy, with strappy black licorice and cast iron moving in. A seductive, concentrated Gigondas, with impressive harmony as every element hums along toward the seemingly endless finish. Outstanding. Best from 2025 through 2040.

Vinous 94 Points | The 2021 Gigondas Le Claux is at eye level with the Hominis Fides from the same vintage. Powerful and refined, it bursts with intense ripe red fruits, followed by hints of blueberry and traces of cloves, cedar and licorice. This outstanding 2021 red is built around a massive tannic structure. Hence, don't even think about opening a bottle before 2030, as it would be a terrible waste of what eventually will merge into a substantial Gigondas of pedigree and class.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | The 2021 Gigondas Le Claux is elegant and refined, with medium-bodied richness and depth as well as ultra-fine tannins. It has an almost Pinot Noir-like quality in its ripe red fruits, spring flowers, camphor, and forest floor aromatics, and it has good concentration as well as length on the finish. As always, this single vineyard release is all Grenache that wasn't destemmed and was brought up in demi-muids.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points | The 2022 Cornas isn't going to match the 2020, but we're not far off. Tasted in its individual components, it has the riper yet still focused, structured style of the vintage, with classic aromatics of blue fruits, violets, iron, and ample textbook Clape bloody, meaty nuances. It's not going to be a massive Cornas and is more medium to full-bodied, with ultra-fine tannins and beautiful balance. It's a brilliant Clape in the making, as well as one for the traditionalist out there.

Vinous 93 Points | The 2022 Cornas is both classic and rustic, with hints of ripe black fruits, earthy tones, and leather on the nose. It's full-bodied, fleshy, and expansive, showing elevated flavor concentration. Beefy and monolithic, the 2022 carries an introverted attitude, finishing with firm structure yet plenty of Clape personality. This needs time.

Expert Review

Josh Raynolds writes:  Inky ruby. Spice- and mineral-accented black and blue fruits, licorice, smoked meat and olive paste on the intensely perfumed nose. Concentrated blackberry, cherry and violet pastille flavors take on a suave floral nuance with aeration. Densely packed but lively as well, finishing with outstanding clarity, harmonious tannins and superb, blue-fruit-driven persistence.  Drinking 2025 - 2035  - Vinous 95

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

93 Points Decanter | Quince and pear. Rich and ripe but not overly so, it's silky on the palate, fairly high in alcohol, enjoyably full and opulent, with a fresh core. Includes a new parcel this year of 70-year-old Marsanne, so is now around 90% Marsanne, 10% Roussanne. The rest is a mix of 60-year-old and seven-year-old vines. Vinified in oak.

Expert Review

98 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The 2020 Cornas Reynard will most likely merit a perfect rating in a decade, and it's a legendary Cornas in the making. Saturated purple-hued, with incredible aromatics of cassis, liquid violets, new leather, and bloody, iron, meaty nuances, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building tannins, and flawless overall balance. It has an inward, massive, backward style (it reminds me slightly of the 2010) and tastes like the blood of Cornas. It will need 7-8 years (a decade will be better) to hit the early stages of its prime drinking wine and will absolutely blow you away over the following two decades. (2020). 

Expert Reviews

Vinous Media 94-95 Points | Saturated magenta. Expansive aromas of black and blue fruits, licorice, olive and black pepper show fine clarity and building florality. Smoky and energetic in the mouth, offering juicy blackberry, cherry and baking spice flavors that slowly deepen through the back half. Becomes sweeter on the long, focused finish, which features grippy tannins and lingering floral and exotic spice notes.

Expert Review

Vinous Media - 95-97 points | Inky violet. Intense aromas of cherry, blackberry, olive, exotic spices and pipe tobacco are complemented by a smoky mineral nuance and a hint of bacon fat. Chewy and subtly sweet, offering concentrated, smoke-laced kirsch, dark berry preserve, espresso and licorice flavors and a spicy jolt of black pepper. Finishes impressively long and spicy, with chewy tannins and a building floral note.

Decanter 96: A tasting of the constituent lieux-dits indicates that this will be a fresh, well-balanced style of Cornas. The acidity is high this year, and the tannins are classically Cornas in their granitic grain and intensity. A highly structured year, this will always be a vintage for dedicated Cornas-lovers, there's no great wealth of rich fruit behind like in some recent vintages, but nonetheless this should age well. Very much a classic year, rather than the powerfully ripe and rich vintages we've seen since 2017. Whole-bunch fermented in concrete, aged in old foudres.(MW)

Distributor Notes

Clape’s Cornas is produced from a collection of old-vine parcels from the very best lieux-dits in the appellation including Sabarotte, La Côte, and Reynard. In these strikingly steep sites, gnarled head-trained Syrah vines must send their roots deep into poor granite soils for survival.

The old-vine fruit is vinified without destemming and aged in large, ancient wooden casks in the family cellars. It produces a majestically dark and brooding Cornas, layered with aromas of herbs and mint.

—Anthony Lynch

Expert Review

Decanter 94 Points | Starts soft and gentle, then the sparkling, bright acidity spreads over the palate. Great purity, balance and roundness; very satisfying. A mix of 60-year-old and seven-year-old vines, vinified in oak. Drinking Window 2022 - 2030. 

Winemaker Description

Black fruits, leathers, licorice, aromas of roasting and oriental spices. Notes of eucalyptus. Very powerful aromatic intensity. A lot of richness and structure on the palate. Very strong expression of the terroir which expresses itself by the elegance and the power of its tannins.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2013 

Wine Spectator 97 Points | This is intense, as dense ganache, espresso, roasted juniper and alder notes form an impressive frame around an equally ornate core of steeped fig, blackberry and black currant fruit flavors, all while maintaining terrific cut and drive despite the heft. A mouthwatering iron accent at the very end seals the deal. Best from 2020 through 2040.

Wine Advocate 97 Points | This was another excellent showing for the 2013 Hermitage Ex Voto and this elegant, medium to full-bodied release offers straight-up textbook notes of crème de cassis, vanilla bean, crushed rocks, graphite and spice. It lacks the mid-palate density of the 2009 and 2010, but is impeccably balanced, elegant, and offers considerable charm. Range:94-97

James Suckling 94 Points | A big, bold dark plum, chocolate and roasted coffee nose with dark stones and a swathe of fragrant baking spices. The palate has a succulent and powerful feel. Dark ripe cherry fruits and toasty oak are well matched. Drink now.

Vinous 94 Points | (aged in new oak for 40 months) Glass-staining ruby. Deep-pitched cassis, cherry liqueur, incense and candied violet scents, along with hints of olive paste and Moroccan spices. Sweet, broad and energetic on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black and blue fruit, floral pastille and spicecake flavors underscored by an intense mineral quality. Unfolds very slowly with air and finishes impressively long, featuring youthful tannins and outstanding energy.  Drinking 2023 - 2033. -- Josh Raynolds.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2011 

Wine Spectator 96 Points | Very dense, dark and brooding in feel, with a thick coating of Turkish coffee and bittersweet ganache over the copious blackberry and fig flavors. The long finish is studded with charcoal and smoldering tobacco hints. Patience is required. Best from 2018 through 2030. From France.

Wine Advocate 98 Points | Starting out the single vineyards and bottled in February (after over four years in new oak barrels), the 2011 Cote Rotie la Mouline is as slutty, sexy and seamless as they come. Full-bodied, thrillingly concentrated and unctuous, it offers classic Mouline notes of cured meats, violets, black raspberries, espresso and hints of vanilla bean. Philippe Guigal commented that the worst thing about 2011 was the it came after 2010, and while the previous two vintages will get all of the attention, this 2011 will deliver almost as much pleasure, and do it right from the start as well. It needs 3-4 years of cellaring and will drink sensationally through 2041.

Vinous 96 Points | (aged in new oak barriques for 42 months): Deep ruby. Sexy mineral- and spice-laced black raspberry, cherry compote and floral pastille aromas are complemented by notes of Asian spices, cola and smoky oak. Spicy and precise on the palate, offering vibrant, spice-accented red and dark berry and cola flavors and an undercurrent of smoky minerality. Fine-grained tannins sneak in very slowly and meld seamlessly with the energetic fruit. Clings with fantastic tenacity and focus, leaving behind vibrant spice, berry liqueur and mineral notes.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2013 

Wine Spectator 98 Points | A thunderhead of dark ganache and espresso notes slowly rolls through, while fig paste, melted licorice, warm plum and blackberry compote flavors follow. A massive beam of graphite drives the finish to a crescendo, with the fruit echoing. 

Wine Advocate 95+ Points | La Landonne is never destemmed and is always the last of the single-vineyard wines to be picked. Philippe Guigal calls it “the most Pauillac of the Cote Roties,” and the 2013 Cote Rotie La Landonne bears that out. It’s slightly austere and firmly tannic, with attractive floral aromas and layers of dark fruit that will require time to fully emerge.

James Suckling 97 Points | The most brooding nose of the trio of La La's with dark coal smoky aromas and dark stones, graphite and cocoa powder. Fruits are in the very dark plum and blackberry spectrum but flavors are held in a more savory mode with assertive, powerful clean-cut tannins that hold endless length. Truly a masterpiece. Best from 2022 and for two decades or more.  

Winemaker Description

Deep ruby red with dark tints. Small red fruit, blackberry, morello cherry Intensely aromatic, powerful and elegant. Supple attack with a balanced supple structure, concentration and elegant tannins. Fully expressive of the terroir. With all the virility of the Cote Brune, La Turque also has all the subtlety and femininity of the Cote Blonde.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2013 

Wine Spectator 98 Points | A stunning, modern-styled version, with scintillating raspberry puree, plum confiture and blackberry reduction flavors gliding over velvety but copious tannins. Alluring warm ganache and fruitcake accents gild the finish, which sails on and on. Best from 2020 through 2045.

Wine Advocate 98 Points | A stunning, modern-styled version, with scintillating raspberry purée, plum confiture and blackberry reduction flavors gliding over velvety but copious tannins. Alluring warm ganache and fruitcake accents gild the finish, which sails on and on. Best from 2020 through 2045.

Decanter 95 Points | Tasted after the spicy, ethereal La Mouline 2013, this is more earthbound - deeper, darker and fruitier, with more bass notes, as you might expect from a wine sourced from 25 year old vines on schist soils with limestone and clay (versus the gneiss of La Mouline). It too spent 42 months in new oak barrels. This has a pretty, cedar-flecked red berry fruit nose, tightly swaddled in oak. Full-bodied and mouth-coating, it shows great purity and salinity on the palate - it is fresh, piercing and powerful, but balanced and light on its feet, with deep veins of oak spice running through it. Drinkable and fresh.  Drinking Window 2018 - 2035 — Tasted by Matt Walls(at E.Guigal portfolio tasting, London, 12 Jun 2017)

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | A step up over the La Mouline, the 2013 Côte Rôtie La Turque is concentrated, full-bodied, and structured, with lots of minerality, chocolate, and pepper nuances in its darker berry fruits, cassis and bacon fat aromas and flavors. With a great mid-palate, building tannin, and the more tight, austere style of the vintage, give bottles another 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades.  Drinking 2022 - 2042

James Suckling 96 Points | An air of deep-set complexity. Plenty of baking spices and toastiness with blackberry, pepper, wet stones and concrete. Extremely complex and fragrant. The palate delivers a supple, plush and luxuriant texture with masses of sweet spices and succulent blackberry fruit. Dark chocolate finish that's elegant and concentrated. Drink now and for two decades at least.

Vinous 95 Points | (made with 50 percent whole clusters) Inky ruby. Bright, intensely perfumed aromas of red and blue fruits, Indian spices and potpourri are energized by a smoky mineral quality. Juicy, focused and pure, displaying deeply concentrated but lively boysenberry and cherry liqueur flavors, along with hints of candied flowers and five-spice powder. Echoes the floral and spicy notes on the strikingly long, penetrating finish, which features harmonious tannins and a hint of bitter chocolate.  Drinking 2023 - 2032