M. Chapoutier Ermitage L'Ermite Blanc 2005

At the very top of the appellation’s dome of decomposed granite is l’Ermite. This wine is the equivalent of drinking liquified rocks.The 2005 Ermitage l’Ermite blanc has that multi-layered mouthfeel, an extraordinary nose of intense minerality, quince, and white fruits. Some of the vines in this parcel are 130 years ... more

M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Meal Blanc 2005

The warmest terroir for the white Ermitage cuvees is Le Meal, an upper mid-slope terroir with a great exposition.The most flamboyant of these wines, the 2005 Ermitage Le Meal blanc, exhibits notes of buttered citrus, copious tropical fruit, crushed rocks, white currants, and an amazing amount of honeysuckle allied with ... more

Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle 2003

The finest example of this cuvee since 1990, the 2003 Hermitage La Chapelle (50,000 bottles rather than the normal 96,000+ were produced) possesses an inky/purple color as well as a tremendous bouquet of creme de cassis, crushed flowers, truffles, and licorice. Full-bodied and powerful (15% natural alcohol) with good freshness ... more

Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf du Pape 2004

The Beaucastel family were living in the small town of Courthezon in the Rhone Valley by the middle of the sixteenth century. In 1549 "Noble Pierre de Beaucastel" bought "a barn with its plot of land extending to 52 saumées at Coudoulet" and began growing grape vines. Today the Perrin ... more

Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf du Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin Grande Cuvée 2003

The 2003 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin has turned out even better than I thought last year. Black purple to the rim, with an extraordinary nose of smoke, camphor, blackberry, cassis, sweet cherry, white flowers, licorice, and Chinese black tea, the wine has superb richness, huge tannins, ... more

E. Guigal Condrieu La Dorianne 2005

Look for powerful, yet elegant white flowers, apricots, and white peaches in the nose. On the palate the wine shows freshness, roundness, and richness. Fully expressive of the terroir. Great finesse and balance with bright acidity yet fleshy fruit flavors. more

Domaine Paul Autard Châteauneuf du Pape 2005

From a great Rhône vintage, this small domaine is making beautiful wines that seem to straddle the style of Old World and New World, making for many happy palates! We found creme de mure, black cherries and licorice in its expressive nose and dense mouth. The tannins are big, so ... more

La Vieille Ferme Cotes du Luberon Blanc 2006

Made by the Perrin/Beaucastel family of Châteauneuf-du-Pape fame, this everyday white is made of Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Ugni blanc, and Roussanne. It is clean, crisp, dry, but not too dry and utterly refreshing. White flowers and gentle spices in the nose lead to tangerine, hazelnuts and yellow peach fruit in ... more

Domaine Saint Prefert Châteauneuf du Pape Collection Charles Giraud 2005

The 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Collection Charles Giraud displays a deep ruby/purple color along with tangy garrigue, pepper, incense, creosote, licorice, and meaty notes. This is a full-bodied, seriously endowed wine with firm structure, a boatload of tannin, and a full-bodied, powerful mouthfeel as well as finish. This masculine Chateauneuf ... more

Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf du Pape 2005

The 2005 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape is a wine that probably needs 7-10 years of bottle age. Possibly the most backward and closed Beaucastel made since the 1995, the wine has very high tannins, seems totally closed aromatically, but in the mouth is a weighty wine exhibiting a dense ruby/purple ... more

M. Chapoutier Ermitage de l'Oree 2005

Look for complex aromas of vanilla, dried fruits, almonds and a hint of lime blossom. Very minerally in the mouth, which is typical of Marsanne, as well as round and rich. Elegant, ripe white fruits such as peaches and apricots abound... more

M. Chapoutier Ermitage L'Ermite Rouge 2005

Lastly, from the very dome of the granite hill of Ermitage is the 2005 Ermitage l’Ermite. An extraordinarily powerful wine that probably needs 10-15 years in the bottle (last year I thought 20 was probably conservative), this is a 100-year wine and probably best appreciated by our descendants rather than ... more