Tasting Notes

96
Vinous Josh Raynolds - 22 Dec 22
Shimmering ruby color. Smoky mineral and potpourri nuances and a hint of incense complement expansive blackberry, kirsch, olive paste and exotic spice scents. Juicy and deeply concentrated, offering sappy, dark berry preserve, spicecake, espresso and violet pastille flavors that show fine definition and mineral thrust. Comes off impressively lithe for its depth, finishing sweet and extremely long, with repeating spiciness and polished tannins that sneak in late. This is a category-defining wine for the appellation, at least by my standards.
Drinking Date: 2029 - 2039
Rhone Vineyard Valley of Fine Wine

Rhone

The Rhône Valley in southeastern France is famed for its diverse wines. It's divided into Northern Rhône, known for Syrah-based reds and white wines from Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne, and Southern Rhône, which features blends like Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Northern Rhône wines, such as Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage, are intense and complex, while Southern Rhône's Châteauneuf-du-Pape is known for powerful, spicy reds. Top producers include E. Guigal, Domaine du Pegau, and Domaine Jean-Louis Chave, exemplifying the region's rich winemaking tradition.