This is crammed with a massive core of blueberry compote, braised fig and mulled blackberry and boysenberry fruit flavors, all wound up with graphite tannins and backed by a strong, iron-filled spine. This has serious depth and drive, with gorgeous mocha and espresso aromatics flittering throughout. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Best from 2010 through 2024. 75 cases imported. Score: 96 Points; James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator

The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is fashioned from old vine Grenache (90%) and the rest Syrah and Mourvedre, the last two components aged in new oak. The fruit comes from parcels on La Crau, Solitude, and Mont-Olivet. The wine exhibits that sweet white chocolate character that Grenache sometimes displays, along with a deep ruby/purple color, super intensity, and plenty of red and black fruit, garrigue, and grilled meat notes. A quintessential example of Provence, drink it over the next 15-20 years. Wine Advocate # 179; Oct 2008 Robert Parker (92-94 points) Drink: 2008 - 2028

Tardieu-Laurent is one of the most highly acclaimed négociants in the Rhône. Its success began with a serendipitous meeting between Michel Tardieu and Dominique Laurent. The two formed a friendship in the early 1990s, which led to the formation of Tardieu-Laurent Vallée du Rhône Maison de Négoce. Beginning with the first vintage in 1994, the wines of Tardieu-Laurent have won the praise of collectors and critics alike. Today, while the two men continue to share an extraordinary friendship, Tardieu-Laurent is solely under Michel’s guidance and care. Located in Lourmarin, in the heart of the Luberon, Tardieu-Laurent crafts approximately 17 wines each year, two-thirds of which are produced in southern Rhône. The remaining wines are produced in northern Rhône. Wilson Daniels.

“The vintage of a lifetime” - Robert Parker, describing the 2007 vintage in Southern Rhône

"Michel Tardieu has exceptional knowledge about some of the finest vineyards and grape sources in both the northern and southern Rhone" - Robert Parker in The Wine Advocate, Issue 169

This is captivating, with fig and hoisin sauce aromas and flavors backed by a riveting graphite note. Superlush but defined, with the black tea, licorice snap and perfumy edge of the appellation all lingering through the velvety, lengthy finish. 94 Points; - James Molesworth; The Wine Spectator; November 30, 2009 
 
Ah Gigondas, and as one of my friends would always exclaim lustily when greeted with a bottle - “The Big Man!” It’s 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre and Cinsault where VV in this case means 60 years for the Grenache and 35 years for the Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. I tasted this over three days: first from a small glass with fish smells wafting around (enthusiastic), then later that evening (less enthusiastic), then again the next night (more enthusiastic) and then finally on the third night back to full enthusiasm, and a bit more -the ride on the fourth wave resulting in a big Hi Di Hi! Importer: Fourth Wave Wine Partners (only three more ’till Love, no doubt).

It opens with some old leather scents and some spicy wood but quickly bursts into bloom with lavender perfume, cherries, raspberry liqueur and some dried herb. Has a bit of lift too, but no problem here. It’s full bodied, and as they like to say ‘hedonistic’, with a slurpable slippery texture, modestly aglow with alcohol (much like myself), but not hot, and firm, slightly sandy, tannins. It’s a lusty wine that Grenache fanciers should find pretty hard to resist. Loved it. Rated : 94 Points Tasted : Nov09 Alcohol : 14.5% Price : $72 Closure : Cork Drink : 2011 - 2019 Gary Walsh; The Wine Front

“The vintage of a lifetime” - Robert Parker, describing the 2007 vintage in Southern Rhône

"Michel Tardieu has exceptional knowledge about some of the finest vineyards and grape sources in both the northern and southern Rhone" - Robert Parker in The Wine Advocate, Issue 169

A Cote du Rhone blend imported by Echelon Wine Partners. Can’t work out what the name means..something about ‘the beaks for’…or nozzles or mouthpieces? A bit of lift but plenty of life – liquorice, meat, spice, briary fruit and some cherry sweetness – it smells beautiful but the uncompromising dryness and structure of the palate takes you a little by surprise. Boo!. Firm, smooth and thick – dry stalky notes commingle with rich dark fruit and chocolate. Very firm on the finish. It’s a wine of singular personality – really enjoyed this one. Rated : 92 Points Tasted : Sep10 Alcohol : 14.5% Price : $25 Closure : Screwcap Drink : 2011 - 2015+ By Gary Walsh; The Wine Front

A wine that is also already in bottle and a terrific bargain is the 2009 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Les Becs Fins. Aged totally in tank, this blend is dominated by Grenache, with some Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvedre. A relatively large cuvee by Michel Tardieu’s standards, it exhibits super-deep black raspberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with licorice, lavender, and a hint of Provencal herbs. Round, corpulent, generous, and full-bodied, it is a dazzling effort for this price point and can be drunk over the next 4-5 years. $US25; Wine Advocate # 191; Oct 2010 Robert Parker 90 Points; Drink: 2010 - 2015

Fresh and driven, with a lovely beam of raspberry and red cherry fruit laced with sweet spice notes. The finish is long and supple. Drink now. 4,160 cases made. James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator

Lush and creamy, with captivating layers of fig sauce, crushed blueberry and succulent black cherry fruit, all backed by well-embedded acidity and a long licorice and floral finish. Showy but pure. A real beauty. 92 Points; - James Molesworth; The Wine Spectator; November 30, 2009 

The inky/purple-colored 2007 Côtes du Rhône-Villages Rasteau Vieilles Vignes (100% Grenache from the blue clay sectors of Rasteau) is a dense, masculine effort offering oodles of fruit, high glycerin, and unbridled power. Forget this blockbuster for 2-3 years, and drink it over the following 15+. 91-94 points Robert Parker

One cannot say enough about the extraordinary qualitative revolution that has quietly taken place at this well-known domaine north of the village of Chateauneuf du Pape. While father Pierre is still on the premises, providing a wealth of historical information about the vineyards, his two sons, Jean-Pierre and Thierry, have introduced two extra-special cuvees, pushing this estate into the top echelon of Chateauneuf du Pape producers. This domaine is notorious for incredibly low yields (in 2003 yields were 25-28 hectoliters per hectare) as well as traditional winemaking. Robert Parker

There are 1,800 cases of the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee du Mon Aieul (100% tank-aged Grenache). It represents an awesome naked/virginal expression of Grenache from three vineyard parcels planted in sand, clay, and limestone soils. After tasting this wine on five separate occasions, I can state with certainty, it has the most saturated color of any Mon Aieul produced to date. Moreover, its perfume of blueberry liqueur, black raspberries, licorice, roasted meat juices, and lavender is incredible. Full-bodied power, a multilayered mouthfeel, tremendous purity, and awesome concentration put this wine in a class by itself. This sensational Chateauneuf du Pape is still very young, and 3-4 years of cellaring is required. It should be a modern day legend and last for nearly two decades. Brothers Jean-Pierre and Thierry Usseglio have been accomplishing amazing things in Chateauneuf du Pape as evidenced by the 2007s, the greatest wines they have yet produced. To reiterate, the 2007s are the most profound wines Thierry and Jean-Pierre have ever produced. Wine Advocate # 185; Oct 2009 Robert Parker 100 Points; Drink: 2012 - 2032 $US175-$US500

This Châteauneuf, one of the Rhône’s greatest estates, is brilliantly run by Fréderic and Daniel Brunier, the greatgrandsons of the founder Hippolyte Brunier. Vieux Télégraphe itself occupies 40ha entirely sited on the hot and stony plateau of La Crau, to the east of the appellation. One of the reasons for the increasingly high quality of Vieux Télégraphe has been the admirable decision to produce a second wine called Vieux Mas des Papaes (from 1994) - now called “Télégramme” - yields are always low, the vines are aged between 40 and 70 years old. The New France, Andrew Jefford

The 2005 Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this estate’s strongest vintage since 1998, has put on serious weight since last year. Dense ruby/purple-coloured with an exquisite perfume of black raspberries, kirsch, ground pepper, and incense, this full-bodied, powerful, concentrated wine reveals fabulous purity as well as a finish that lasts over 45 seconds. Purchasers of this beauty will need patience. 95 Points, Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, Issue 173

This is dense and chewy, but not tiring to drink, thanks to fresh acidity and an edgy, gravelly feel that drives the blackberry, currant and sweet spice notes. The long finish has great briary grip, with notes of garrigue and hot stone checking in. JM - 95 Points www.winespectator.com

The 2006 Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape, which is aged only in foudre and bottled with minimal clarification, is a more masculine, muscular effort than most 2006s. Its dark ruby/purple color is followed by notions of the sushi seaweed wrapper, nori, interwoven with incense, lavender, pepper, and copious quantities of black cherry and raspberry fruit. Medium to full-bodied, with moderate tannin, and good structure as well as depth, it will benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age, and should keep for 15 or more years. (90-93 points) Robert Parker Wine Advocate # 173 Oct 2007

"This Châteauneuf, one of the Rhône’s greatest estates, is brilliantly run by Fréderic and Daniel Brunier, the greatgrandsons of the founder Hippolyte Brunier. Vieux Télégraphe itself occupies 40ha entirely sited on the hot and stony plateau of La Crau, to the east of the appellation. One of the reasons for the increasingly high quality of Vieux Télégraphe has been the admirable decision to produce a second wine called Vieux Mas des Papaes (from 1994) - now called "Télégramme" - yields are always low, the vines are aged between 40 and 70 years old. The Bruniers now also own the 28ha Estate of La Roquette (whose red comes from three different terroirs, including some of the sands of Pignan), and are part owners of the 25ha Domaine les Pallières in Gigondas." The New France, Andrew Jefford

A blend of 65% Grenache 15% Syrah 15% Mourvèdre with some Clairette and Cinsault from vines planted on the fine La Crau vineyard averaging 65 years old. Maturation will take its usual path for this wine, 10 months in concrete and 10 months wooden foudres. Bottling is at the moment planned for July 2009. Aromatics of sloe and damson, followed by a ripe, generous palate that is at the same time, rich, fresh, powerful and supple. Tremendous finesse and balance here, long haunting flavours of juniper, damson, crushed loganberries and griotte cherries, finishing with the faintest suggestion of stem ginger spice.

The 2007 Vieux Télégraphe may be the greatest wine made at this property since the 2005 and 1998. Dense ruby/purple tinged with an exquisite nose of salty sea breezes, liquorice, ground pepper, jammy black cherries, black currants, figs, and plums, this is a full-bodied, rich, Provencal-styled offering with lots of sweet, ripe tannin. It is surprisingly accessible for a Vieux Télégraphe (this wine normally shuts down several years after bottling), but it should have great longevity (25+ years) given its power, full-bodied mouthfeel, and enormous length and richness. This is a brilliant effort from brothers Frederic and Daniel Brunier.” 96+ Points, Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, Issue 185, Oct 2009

95 points and #3 on the Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2009

Packed, in a brawny, muscular style atypical for this lush vintage, with a gravelly undertow to the currant paste, braised fig and dark licorice notes. Picks up even more steam on the finish, with grilled mesquite, mineral and garrigue notes and a long, hot stone filled finish. Best from 2010 through 2030. 95 points; Wine Spectator

Here is a vintage that has already been much written about. The reds are truly superb. What we have is a rare vintage in the style of 1998 and 2005. What is surprising is the consistency of the cuvées and a kind of natural concentration. Vieux Télégraphe is very complex—spicy and smoky with garrigue herbs. It is deep and rich with a long, noble finish. It has a rare generosity to it. Daniel Brunier of Vieux Télégraphe

My own notes use the word generosity three times. The nose and flavors are striking, immense. I noted the black cherry fruit and the wine’s stony glory as well. It is the ultimate Vieux Télégraphe with incredible depths to the color, the bouquet, and the flavor. The classic, chewy V.T. tannins seem to emit flavor! If you are a teenager you might outlive the 2007, but the rest of us will want to profit from its riches for the rest of our lives. I cannot think of another wine anywhere near this price that is so packed full of current and future rewards. Kermit Lynch

The broad, sexy, forward, and evolved 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes has a dark ruby/garnet color and a big, sweet nose that reeks of Provence, from garrigue to roasted meats and herbs, freshly ground pepper, Mediterranean salty sea breezes, and oodles of kirsch liqueur. Deep, full-bodied, fat, and chewy, with low acidity, this wine can be drunk young but certainly has the depth and overall equilibrium to age for 12-15 years. Wine Advocate #163 (Feb 2006)  Robert Parker 91 points  Drink 2006-2021 $36.00

While this estate always seems to just miss meriting an outstanding rating, I always enjoy their wines, and this 2003 appears to be one of their most successful efforts. From a vineyard planted in 1904, it exhibits a classic Grenache perfume of kirsch liqueur intermixed with spice box, incense, earth, pepper, and licorice. It is nicely textured, with moderate tannin that creeps up on the taster after a rush of sweet, jammy cherry fruit. This is a beautifully made, perfumed, authoritatively rich wine that looks to be outstanding. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2015. Wine Advocate #156 (Dec 2004)  Robert Parker (90-92) points  Drink 2006-2015

This estate did not offer their 2008 for tasting, but they have hit the bull’s eye with their brilliant 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape. Aged 80% in tank and 20% in old barrels, this blend of 70% Grenache, 16% Mourvedre, and the rest Syrah, Cinsault, and the white grape Clairette is made from vines that average 65 years of age (some are over 100 years). This dense ruby/purple-hued offering smells like the essence of raspberry jam intermixed with boysenberries and blueberries. Exceptionally pure, with a layered mouthfeel and sweet tannin, this is undeniably the finest wine made by Proprietor Stanislas Wallut since he purchased Domaine de Villeneuve in 1992. The great oenologist Philippe Cambie consults at this biodynamically farmed property (over 75% of Cambie’s Chateauneuf du Pape clients are biodynamically farmed vineyards – an impressive statistic). This 2007, which was bottled unfiltered, should drink beautifully for 15-20 years. It is undeniably a big-time sleeper of the vintage. Wine Advocate # 185; Oct 2009 Robert Parker 94 Points; Drink: 2009 - 2029

Highly perfumed and floral – almost like a good smelling laundry detergent, along with roast meat, herbs, stone and rich black fruit. It’s medium weight, bright and clear in its delivery of flavours and has an intriguing ‘roast lamb fat’ flavour in the mix. Length is excellent. A terrific expression of Cornas. Drink 2015-2029;  94+ Points. Gary Walsh; The Wine Front

Wine Advocate The black/purple-tinged 2009 Cornas Granite 30 exhibits abundant notes of black fruits, a lighter body, gobs of minerality and layers of flavor. Score: 91-93+ Robert Parker, February 2011.

Vincent Paris produces two Cornas reds from the same slope composed of fine granite soils, where his major pruning down to four bunches per vine produces incredible power and concentration. This is what he calls the Granit 30, from slightly younger vines, and he makes about 1000 cases per year. He also makes Granit 60 which he labels as Vieilles Vignes, or old vines. The Granit 30 here is a super sexy 100% Syrah with luscious, almost jammy red and black fruits, spices and more.

Vincent Paris produces two Cornas reds from the same slope composed of fine granite soils, where his major pruning down to four bunches per vine produces incredible power and concentration. This is what he calls the Granit 60, from his oldest vines, and is available more often in 3 star Michelin restaurants in Europe versus in wine stores (we were excited to get some!). He also makes Granit 30 from younger vines on the same slope. The Granit 60 here is a dark, rich 100% Syrah with intense red and black fruits, savory spices and more. Serve with rosemary-infused beef or lamb dishes, grilled ribeye, marinated chicken dishes, or aged hard cheeses with dark olives.

A step up in depth and intensity on the Granit 30 – here you get a black hole density of intense dark fruit, gravel, dried herb, roast lamb, pepper and chocolate flavours. It has an impressive sweetness to the fruit, beautifully tempered by those stony meaty flavours along with thick, fat ripe tannin of superb quality and texture. Long. Sexy. Delicious. Drink 2019-2035 96+ points. Gary Walsh; The Wine Front

Wine Advocate Vincent Paris’s 2009s are spectacular wines that will repay 10-20 years of cellaring (in the case of La Geynale and Granite 60 Vieilles Vignes). These are rich, full-bodied efforts that cut a nice style between the traditional and more modern, barrique-aged Cornas. Purity, texture and an unmistakable gamy, animal Syrah character that comes from this amphitheatre-like appellation are all present in these three cuvees of Cornas. The 2009 Cornas Granite 60 Vieilles Vignes adds a few more layers, structure and massive concentration. Score: 92-94; Robert Parker, February 2011.

Cornas native, Vincent Paris purchased the perfectly situated 'La Geynale' vineyard from an uncle, and 2007 was his first vintage on the site. Young and quality-driven Paris has been making wine in the region since the 1997 vintage, and his 2009 line-up is an exciting look into the region and his style of winemaking. Using whole cluster fermentation and careful oak treatment which usually does not exceed 12 months, Vincent combines power and invigorating freshness in his Syrah-based wines.

A very different style of wine to the Granits. Perfumed, meaty and chocolaty – it tastes like essence of Syrah – concentrated, thick and smooth with significant levels of ripe tannin. Layers of  black fruit – fresh and dried along with graphite and a huge slick of tannin on the long finish. I commented that it seemed almost Barossan in its weight and flavour, although of course it isn’t, it’s just a signpost to style – yet it seems more a product of a vineyard (la Geynale) than a region (Cornas). Backwards. Needs a lot of time but so impressive. Left me thinking about it for some time. It’s the wine I like most of the three. Drink 2022-2035+ 96+ points. Gary Walsh; The Wine Front

Wine Advocate The 2009 Cornas La Geynale is off the charts. It could turn out to be one of the finest Cornas ever made. Still backward, intensely primary and unevolved, it is filled with smoky, gamy, animal-like notes intermixed with notions of blackberry fruit, crushed rocks and spring flowers. It requires 5-10 years of cellaring and should drink well for 2-3 decades. Score: 92-95. —Robert Parker, February 2011

The medium ruby-hued 2006 Vacqueyras possesses a seriously ripe, heady nose of kirsch liqueur, raspberries, flowers, and spice. Velvety-textured and sumptuous, it is ideal for drinking over the next 7-10 years.

Chateau des Tours is Emmanuel Reynaud’s (the nephew of the late Jacques Reynaud as well as the winemaker at Chateau Rayas and Fonsalette since 1997) home estate. His wines are always complex, aromatic efforts that never possess much color, but offer plush, full-bodied textures as well as plenty of personality. All of these cuvees are fairly-priced, especially the Vin de Pays and Cotes du Rhone. Both the 2006 and 2005 Vin de Pays are blends of 70% Grenache and the rest Counoise and Cinsault. There are 2,000 cases of the top cuvee, the Rayas-like Vacqueyras, a 100% Grenache cuvee made from fruit grown in pure sandy soils. Wine Advocate # 181 Feb 2009 Robert Parker 91 Drink: 2009 - 2019