Year's Best Rhone
This strikes an appealing balance between red raspberry flavors and barnyard scents, the earthy notes wrapping into the fruit to create a densely textured wine. It's firm and slightly herbal, a pleasingly rustic Châteauneuf.
Louis Bernard Reviews
For the vintage, which generally provided rather ripe fruit, this is a bit tight and stiffly tannic. The cherry cobbler aromas and flavors are certainly pleasurable, but finish crisp and firm. —J.C.
Notes of cherry and bramble fruit come together with traces of pepper and anise on the nose. With a sip, flavors of blackberries, currants, and cherries interweave with highlights of peppercorns and black licorice. A smooth wine with expressions of lively spice, chicken or lamb kabobs would make a fine pairing.
BEST BUY
Excellent, Highly Recommended.
Deep ruby. Ripe blueberry and cherry aromas show an expansive character, picking up woodsmoke and floral nuances with air. Fleshy and ample on the palate, offering sweet black and blue fruit flavors and a hint of bitter chocolate. Closes sweet and long, with slow-building tannins and a touch of mocha.
Lightly nutty, with a toasted almond note followed by yellow apple and shortbread flavors. A dried pineapple hint shows on the finish.
Year's Best Rhones, Best Buys, From an organically farmed estate in Tulette, just north of Cairanne, this is supple and giving, with a floral note that lifts it out of the blackness of its fruit and keeps it feeling fresh.