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Inventory updated: Sun, Mar 23, 2025 10:54 AM cst
New Rhone Cellar
Today at Flickinger Wines we would like to showcase a recently acquired cellar of wines from the Rhone Valley of France. Do not miss out on the 3L of 2007 Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee. The magnums of 2012 Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle, the 2016 Etienne Guigal Condrieu La Doriane or the 2013 Domaine de Mourchon Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Grande Reserve. Happy Hunting!!
The following are the wines remaining from the offer sent on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Please enter your desired quantities and click the 'Add' button.
| Producer |
Vint. |
Wine |
Price |
Qty |
Order |
| | Rhone Red |
| Ch. de Beaucastel |
2007 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (1.5 L)  |
$225 |
4 |
|
| |
JD 96+ (8/2010): A straight up, phenomenal wine, this bottle of 2007 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape was double decanted (poured into a decanter and then back into the bottle) 12 hours prior to drinking and boasted gorgeous aromatics (blackberry, cassis, lavender, garrigue and roasted meat), full bodied power, serious concentration and unreal purity. Very polished and almost civilized by Beaucastel standards, this beauty should drink beautifully for 3 decades. Wow.
WS 96 (12/2009): Layers of melted fig, mulled boysenberry and black currant fruit are laced with notes of charred mesquite, hoisin sauce and coffee. The long, silky mouthfeel belies the latent power in reserve. Best from 2010 through 2030.
WA 96 (10/2009): Beaucastel’s 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape has turned out even better out of bottle than I predicted. An inky/ruby/purple color is followed by a glorious nose of blue and black fruits, truffles, pen ink, licorice, and meat juices as well as glorious levels of acidity and sweet tannin, buttressing the fruit’s fabulous freshness and vibrancy. This full-bodied effort still displays considerable tannin, no doubt because of the relatively high Mourvedre content. It should resolve its tannins in 2-4 years, and last for 25 or more.
VM 94 (2/2010): Deep ruby. Powerful, pungent aromas evoke kirsch, blackberry, smoky herbs and dried flowers. Energetic, penetrating cherry and dark berry flavors are enlivened by juicy acidity and given spine by a tangy mineral quality. A floral quality sneaks in with air, along with notes of allspice and star anise. The finish is sappy, focused and very long, with herbs and flowers lingering. Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2009 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (3.0 L) OWC |
$550 |
1 |
|
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JD 96 (9/2011): The 2009 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape had just been bottled at the time of the tasting but you wouldn’t know it by tasting it. A blend of 30% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, and 20% assorted varieties, the wine delivers a superb aromatic display of kirsch and black cherry-like fruits to go with a solid dose of underlying meat, truffle, earth, and leather. Full-bodied and gorgeously concentrated through the middle, with fleshy, ripe fruit, good acidity, and an abundance of structure, this will ideally be left alone for 7-8 years and then consumed over the following two decades.
WS 96 (11/2011): One of the more endowed 2009s, this is packed with dark smoldering cocoa, mesquite, tobacco and roasted fig notes, all inlaid with pure cassis and plum preserves fruit flavors. Long and authoritative on the finish, with singed vanilla bean and tar adding length and dimension. Best from 2015 through 2026.
WA 94 (10/2011): The 2009 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape is reminiscent of their brilliant 1985. It will be one of the rare Beaucastels that is drinkable upon release. Made from this estate’s classic blend, it possesses soft tannins as well as a silky, open-knit seductiveness, a dense plum/purple color and a beautiful perfume of smoky Provencal herbs intermixed with grilled steak juices, garrigue, kirsch and blue as well as black fruits. The wine is full-bodied, unctuously textured, and silky smooth (the latter characteristic being somewhat atypical for a young Beaucastel). If it performs like the 1985, it will drink well young and continue to do so for 25 or more years.
VM 93 (1/2012): (30% each of grenache and mourvedre and 10% each of counoise and syrah, with the balance spread across the other nine permitted varieties): Bright ruby. Perfumed, expressive aromas of red and dark berry preserves, smoky herbs and lavender, with a touch of licorice adding depth. Fleshy and supple in texture, offering intense black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors lifted by a spicy quality. Shows the richness of the vintage but carries no excess fat. The finish lingers with impressive tenacity and echoes the floral and smoke notes. Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2010 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (1.5 L) |
$239 |
3 |
|
| |
JD 96 (10/2012): Showing consistently with the barrel review, the 2010 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape (30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, and the remainder an assortment of varieties) is a classic Beaucastel that has both richness and elegance. Showing loads of black cherry, new leather, licorice, pepper, and hints of flowers on the nose, this full-bodied, structured, yet surprisingly elegant and polished 2010 has fantastic purity of fruit, superb balance, and knockout length. Showing more and more structure with air, this needs 3-5 years of bottle age, and should evolve gracefully for upwards of two decades or more.
WA 95 (10/2012): Interestingly enough, even though many of the 2010 Perrin et Fils selections from the southern Rhone were scheduled to be bottled right after my visit, the 2010 Beaucastel had already been put in bottle. This is a gorgeous wine, a classic blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise and the balance the other permitted varietals in the appellation. Deep purple, with loads of bouquet garni, beef blood, blackberry, kirsch, smoke and truffle, this wine is full-bodied, rich and showing even better than it did last year. I still think it needs 3-5 years of cellaring, and it should last for 25-30 years, as most of the top vintages of Beaucastel do.
WS 96 (10/2013): (WS #6 wine of 2013) Dark, dense and very closed now, this has a tremendous core of crushed plum, linzer torte and blackberry confiture waiting in reserve. Ample singed cedar and mesquite, warm paving stone and black tea notes lurk in the background and glide through the finish. Features serious grip, but wonderful integration. Should cruise in the cellar. Best from 2016 through 2035. 7,500 cases made, 4,500 cases imported.
VM 94 (2/2013): Bright ruby. Sexy, spice- and mineral-accented aromas of red and dark fruit preserves and garrigue. Juicy and expansive on the palate, offering vibrant black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors, a hint of smokiness and intense minerality. Tannins come on late and are quickly sucked up by this wine's intense fruit. Rich and lively, with excellent finishing clarity and length. Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2011 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (3.0 L) OWC |
$439 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 94 (10/2013): Reminiscent of a lighter weight 2009, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape offers up a sweet bouquet of spiced black cherries, plum, truffle, saddle leather and underbrush. Coming from tiny yields (which were down 50% from 2010), this medium to full-bodied 2011 is gorgeously textured and has solid mid-palate depth, terrific purity of fruit and ripe tannin. Relatively approachable and enjoyable even now, it should nevertheless evolve gracefully for 15-20 years. Drink 2015-2031.
JLL **** (10/2013): Dark red, some legs. Crushed nut shells, blackberry jam and prune airs feature on the nose, some weight of sweetness, low-key thyme and laurel. There is plenty in the bouquet for the future. This is tight fit, with plenty of gras at its centre. The attack centres on blueberry, is more coolly fruited than the mid to late palate. It lacks the clear-cut pedigree of 2012, reminds me more of a 2000, open and unpretentious. Its black fruits show openly, while quite refined, grainy bone tannins complete the route. The tannins aren’t up to the standard of the 2010, even 2012, and are a bit gummy. From 2015-16. Bottled June 2013.
VM 91-93 (2/2013): (based on roughly 50% mourvedre this year): Inky ruby. Powerful, expressive aromas of red- and blackcurrant, cherry and licorice, with suave anise and floral overtones. Juicy and precise, with tangy red and dark berry flavors, supple texture and a strong mineral note on the back. Spicy on the finish, which shows very good focus and length. This is impressively elegant and should be drinkable on the young side. |
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|
2010 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin |
$425 |
3 |
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| |
WA 100 (10/2012): No such issue exists with the perfect 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin. I don't know what more a wine could offer. Inky blue/purple, with an extraordinary nose of smoked duck, grilled steaks, Provencal herbs, blackberries, blueberries, kirsch, licorice and truffle, enormously massive, concentrated, full-bodied and built for 30-50 years of cellaring, this wine, which is dominated by its Mourvedre component, is a tour de force, a spectacular, world-class wine. It is going to require some patience, though, and seems to need 4-5 years of cellaring. It should again be almost ageless in its potential.
VM 95-97 (2/2012): (roughly 60% mourvedre, 20% syrah and 10% each of grenache and counoise at this stage): Vivid purple. Highly perfumed bouquet combines blackcurrant, pipe tobacco, woodsmoke, Asian spices and dried flowers. Wonderfully sweet and pure, with a seamless texture and terrific energy to its red and dark fruit preserve flavors. Palate-staining and powerful wine but without any undue impression of weight. The long, spicy finish shows an exotic quality that reminded me of, forgive me, a Rousseau Chambertin-Clos de Beze from a ripe vintage. |
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|
2011 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin |
$239 |
8 |
|
| |
JD 97 (6/2019): I continue to love the 2011 Châteauneuf du Pape Hommage A Jacques Perrin, and it’s one of the more approachable vintages out there, which is very much in the style of this early maturing vintage. A huge perfume of black and blue fruits, violets, Asian spices, licorice, and garrigue all flow to a full-bodied, deep, beautifully concentrated 2011 that has sweet tannins, a rounded, sexy texture, and a great, great finish. It’s on a relatively fast evolutionary track by this cuvees standards but will still keep for another 25 years or more.
WA 97 (5/2022): A strong showing for this wine, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin displays lovely aromas of truffle, tree bark, red raspberries and cherries. It's medium to full-bodied and remarkably fresh-tasting, with silky tannins on the long, elegant finish. What a super effort, one that should easily be capable of drinking well for more than another decade.
VM 95 (2/2014): Saturated ruby. Heady, expansive aromas of black and blue fruit liqueur, potpourri and incense, with smoky Indian spices emerging with air. Juicy, strikingly intense blackberry and blueberry flavors are complicated by notes of minerals and candied violet, with a subtle peppery quality adding bite. Velvety tannins give shape to the extremely long, spicy, penetrating finish, with the floral note echoing. This stunning, palate-staining wine gets my vote as the best Chateauneuf of its vintage. Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2016 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin |
$349 |
9 |
|
| |
JD 100 (8/2018): The flagship is the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage A Jacques Perrin, 75% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah, 10% Grenache, and the rest Counoise, brought up all in foudre. Blueberries, Peking duck, new saddle leather, black cherries, scorched earth, and an incredible sense of minerality all flow to a massive, concentrated, pure, perfectly balanced 2016 that is a prime example of the old saying, “an iron fist in a velvet glove.” It's a heavenly, perfect wine that's going to live for 30-50 years.
WA 99+ (8/2018): Tasted three weeks after bottling, I couldn't quite bring myself to give the elusive three-digit score to this admittedly super wine. Perhaps once the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin has been in bottle a bit longer, as Mourvèdre seems to go into a bit of a funk when recently bottled. For now, it's merely profound, packing in savory, mossy nuances, hints of exotic dried spices like star anise and cardamom and layers of rich, plummy fruit that manage to be full-bodied and deliciously intense without being weighty or overwrought. Creamy, lush, intense and long, it's a tdf (tour de force) in CdP.
JLL ****** (10/2017): Immense, inky robe, black with a peep of purple on the top. The bouquet assembles mixed dried herbes de Provence with cool, smoky black fruits that have great definition, really precise lines. There is an oily note to it, a hand out of bounty. The palate is suave and rolling, bears “glistening” fruit with a silken feel, has a thread of freshness through it, a note of carbonic gas for the moment. The black fruits, black olive flavours are serene, and it runs with the most winning continuity, never a false stroke, and the finish is rounded, calm. This bears the unctuous fruit of the old vines, and is a major French red wine. It would be a real treat for a godchild birth year in magnum or jereoboam form. It has primo balance. It is showing well now, but will close. From 2023.
JS 99 (8/2018): This is a stunning Beaucastel. A classic! Has a superb array of fruit, ranging from red, through to blue, darker purple and black. Nuances of dark, stony minerals, spices, wild flowers and herbs. So fleshy. This has impeccable balance, super-silky tannins and an extraordinarily long finish. This has decades ahead of it. Drink or hold. |
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| Clos des Papes |
2006 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (1.5 L) |
$219 |
2 |
|
| |
WA 98 (10/2008): The 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape is one of the two or three candidates for the wine of the vintage. An extraordinarily great wine, the 2006 is far superior to the 2005, which was amazing, and while made in a different style, is as great as the 2003, and such legends as 1990 and 1978. Fashioned from a minuscule 21 hectoliters per hectare, and tipping the scales at 15.2% natural alcohol, the 2006 boasts a dense ruby/purple color to the rim, in addition to an extraordinary bouquet of melted licorice, spring flowers, raspberries, black currants, spice box, and earth. In the mouth, it is utterly profound - full-bodied and multidimensional with astonishing purity, length, equilibrium, and intensity. This is a superb vintage for the Avrils, and Vincent deserves huge accolades for producing a wine of such incredible intensity and complexity. Think of Clos des Papes as a Chateauneuf du Pape with the complexity of a top-notch grand cru Burgundy from the Cote de Nuits.
WS 95 (11/2008): This has terrific purity, with a stunningly pure beam of cassis holding sway over fruitcake, melted licorice and incense notes. Shows impressive density for the vintage, but this is suave, elegant and seamless through the finish, with terrific underlying minerality. Best from 2009 through 2030. 7,165 cases made.
VM 95 (2/2009): Bright ruby. Highly expressive aromas of raspberry, cherry, lavender, smoked meat and minerals. Racy and sharply focused, with juicy red and dark berry flavors, silky texture and a gentle candied floral quality. Impressively pure and balanced, with Outstanding finishing clarity and lingering sweetness. Does this ever really finish? By no means a blockbuster, but delivers very serious palate impact. Josh Raynolds. |
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|
2007 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$189 |
6 |
|
| |
WA 100 (2/2017): One of the great vintages from this estate, surpassing even the 1990, 2000, 2001, 2003, and maybe the 2010 (time will tell with this one), the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape from Vincent Avril delivers everything you could want from a wine. Full-bodied, intense and beautifully concentrated, with plenty of muscle and depth, it shows the hallmark elegance and purity of the estate, with sensational notes of kirsch liqueur, raspberries, incense, smoked meats and Asian spices. The blend is the normal 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah and the rest a mix of permitted varieties, brought up all in older foudre, and it's just now entering its prime drink window and has another two decades of longevity.
WS 97 (10/2009): (WS #42 Wine of 2009) Absolutely stunning, with a deep well of crème de cassis that's thoroughly pure and captivating, while black tea, fig cake, hoisin sauce, incense and graphite notes weave throughout. The supervelvety finish lets blackberry, boysenberry and crushed cherry fruit take an encore—as if this needed any more fruit. A fantastic display of precision in a very opulent year. Best from 2010 through 2030. 8,000 cases made.
JLL ***** (11/2008): Full, dark red - the robe mixes some black with a slight purple rim. On the nose, there are blackberry (Grenache) with licorice (Mourvèdre) influences - and a silken raspberry aroma that has a lot of poise and is very suave. The palate has a rich, full, veering towards dense start, and comes with traces of chocolate in the flavour, alongside a cherry note. It is wide and well-juiced, ending on a final quarter of steady tannic growth. This is more structured than many 2007s at present - I like its fresh end and good length. The power shows up through some kirsch in the late taste. All very orderly, good prospects. From 2013.
VM 95+ (2/2010): Deep ruby. Powerful, pungent aromas of kirsch, dark berries, smoky herbs and spicecake, with notes of black olive and tobacco coming on with air. Chewy, palate-staining dark fruit flavors are complicated by bitter chocolate, licorice and black cardamom. Acts like a 2005 today, with serious structure but also superb depth of powerful, densely packed fruit. A hint of cherry skin adds grip and refreshing bitterness to the long, smoky, focused finish. Not an easy read right now: this demands cellaring. |
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2011 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$79 |
17 |
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| |
WA 96 (10/2013): One of the stars of the vintage and coming from absurdly low yields of 18 hectoliters per hectare, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape is a full-bodied, seamless effort that exhibits copious kirsch, ground pepper, dried flowers and underbrush as well as incredibly fine tannin, great mid-palate concentration and ample length on the finish. Relatively forward by this estate’s standards, it will be approachable at an earlier age than normal. Nevertheless, it will have 20+ years of evolution and is an awesome effort in the vintage. Drink 2015-2030.
WS 95 (11/2013): Delivers a beautifully pure and velvety note of cassis that holds sway over an ample range of blackberry paste, blood orange, singed apple wood and bergamot notes. The long finish shows succulent flesh and a buried iron accent. The grip is integrated, the acidity mouthwatering and the depth impressive for the vintage. Best from 2015 through 2030. 9,000 cases made.
VM 93 (2/2014): Vivid ruby. Smoky cherry, red berry and potpourri scents show excellent clarity and pick up spiciness with aeration. Stains the palate with intense black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors, with a sexy floral pastille quality adding complexity. Finishes with impressive energy and thrust, firmed by fine-grained tannins and piquant minerality. Avril thinks that this will be an ager based on its balance.
JD 92-95 (9/2012): As is normal here, I was able to taste the 2011 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape from numerous foudres and assorted blends, as well as from a single foudre that contains a rough equivalent of the final blend. While 2011 is certainly a more difficult vintage, this estate excelled and has a rare level of depth in concentration, with each sample showing solid intensity on the nose, medium to full-body, and a rich, concentrated mid-palate. I do not think it will compete with the ’06, ’07, or ’10, but will easily be a mid 90-point wine that will delight Clos des Papes lovers.
JLL ***[*] (11/2013): Plum red colour, fair depth. There is a fragrant top note to an open, plum-fruited aroma that proffers a curve of ripeness, a sprinkle of herbs such as rosemary, fennel. The attack feels some of its inherent power - there is that line of near spirit-led glow through it. This has a misleading youth - there are kirsch and similar Mirabelle plum flavours, not young ones. It needs leaving until its middle age, such as 2018. Bosky and sous-bois, damp forest floor notes and tobacco beckon. This isn’t particularly ensemble as it stands; its matter doesn’t show a full façade - I find it facile. With its Pinot Noir implications, here the Southern Rhône is taking the Burgundian route - this works better in the Northern Rhône, where the alcohol levels are much lower. |
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2012 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (3.0 L) OWC |
$429 |
2 |
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WS 97 (1/2014): (WS #7 wine of 2014) A stunner, with a gorgeous cassis aroma that soars from the glass, reinforced by a core of cassis, cherry and plum pate de fruit, hoisin sauce, warm ganache and well-roasted apple wood notes. Hefty, but suave and seamless. The finish lets graphite and licorice elements glide through. The structure is dense, polished and perfectly integrated, resulting in lovely length. Should be a beauty after cellaring. Best from 2017-2032.
WA 96 (9/2015): Leading off the reds in the retrospective, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape hit a whopping 15.7% natural alcohol, yet doesn't show a trace of heat in its gorgeous bouquet of kirsch liqueur, blackberries, Asian spice, cured meats and garrigue. This is followed by a thick, concentrated, seamless 2012 that has the vintage's purity and rounded nature, plenty of sweet tannin, and a killer finish. Already hard to resist, it will cruise for another 15-20 years.
VM 94 (4/2015): Opaque ruby. Smoky blueberry and cherry compote aromas pick up a peppery nuance with air, along with a suave floral quality. Fleshy and seamless on the palate, offering sweet, deeply concentrated black and blue fruit flavors and a hint of lavender pastille. Spreads out and becomes spicier on the juicy, penetrating finish, which is framed by supple, slow-building tannins. Josh Raynolds.
JLL ***** (11/2013): OVERALL Very successful; really good style and flair here, snugged up into its warm, frame and helped by the relative coolness of the vintage. Has more swish, swoop than some of the recent, more jam, up-heated wines. |
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| Dom. de la Janasse |
2016 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin |
$85 |
9 |
|
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JD 99 (8/2018): Bottled end of February/early in March, the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Chaupin is incredible stuff, and while I suspect it’s the best vintage to date, it’s going to be great comparing it to bottles of the 2005, 2007, 2010, and 2015 over the coming 15+ years. This beauty offers a thrilling blend of kirsch, blackberries, smoked earth, graphite, and licorice on the nose. It's full-bodied, deep, pure, ultra-fine, and powerful on the palate and flirts with perfection. It’s a tour de force in Grenache that readers need to snatch up!
WA 95-97 (10/2017): Tasted from a single foudre representing the La Crau Est lieu-dit, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin comes across as even richer and creamier than the 2015, yet with brighter acids and similar spice. Red fruit lingers, morphing toward chocolate as the finish goes on and on.
WS 95 (3/2018): Delightful plum, raspberry and blackberry compote flavors form the core, with racy, graphite-edged structure running underneath. Dark anise and tobacco notes check in throughout. The long finish lets the fruit linger. Best from 2020 through 2034. 500 cases imported.
JLL **** (10/2017): Thorough red robe. The bouquet has a springy, fresh nature, hints of vegetation crunch from some stems, nothing bad about that. Beyond an attractive theme of perfume, there is also a hint of lees from its current raising. The palate runs well with crunchy red-fruited content, the tannins have spark, and the aftertaste brings in gunflint, cut. This is punchy, no-nonsense Chateauneuf, which needs to grow into its frame. |
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| Dom. de Mourchon |
2012 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Family Reserve Grenache |
$30 |
12 |
|
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WA 95 (2/2015): The star of the show is the 2012 Seguret Family Reserve, which is up there with some of the greatest wines I've tasted from this appellation. Made from 100% Grenache grown on pure grey sandstone soils, from tiny yields of 15 hectoliters per hectare, its semi-opaque purple color is followed by gorgeous kirsch, black raspberry, spring flowers, licorice and crushed rock. These flow to a full-bodied, layered, seamless and elegant Seguret that has plenty of mid-palate depth and fine tannin, as well more than a passing resemblance to Domaine de la Janasse's Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin. It opens up nicely in the glass, but needs short-term cellaring and will have over a decade of longevity.
WS 91 (4/2015): Offers a ripe, fleshy feel, with plum sauce and raspberry coulis notes that drape over a graphite spine, while warm fruitcake and a hint of ganache line the finish. Rock-solid, and should open a bit more with modest cellaring. Drink now through 2019. 1,000 cases made. |
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2013 |
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret Grande Reserve |
$25 |
36 |
|
| |
WS 91 (3/2016): Ripe and racy, with excellent definition to the cassis, blackberry and raspberry fruit, supported by light bramble and anise accents and driving through the chalk-edged finish. Drink now through 2021. 3,500 cases made.
WA 90 (3/2016): The Outstanding 2013 Seguret Grande Reserve is an old vine blend of Grenache and Syrah that's from higher elevation vineyards and limestone soils located above the village of Seguret. More tight, focused and reserved than normal for this cuvee, it still has fabulous intensity in its black raspberry, licorice, violet and peppery garrigue aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, nicely concentrated, with ripe tannin, it makes the most of this difficult vintage and will have a decade of longevity.
JLL **** (4/2015): Black-tinted robe; the nose gives a rounded air of black berry fruit, with a note of black olive tapenade and cocoa, so successfully expresses meridional climes. It is on the dark side of the equation, without the softness of really ripe Grenache. The palate holds rolling black fruit with a slightly chalky tannin late moment, ending freshly. Atypical Seguret on the palate, with its notable darkness and upright features. This is long. From late 2016. |
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| Dom. du Pegau |
2007 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee du Capo (3.0 L) Lightly Scuffed Label; OWC |
$1,750 |
1 |
|
| |
WA 100 (10/2010): For the fourth time, the Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee da Capo has been produced, and for the fourth time, it has received a perfect score although I might back off the 2000's perfect score based on the fact that it seems to be more of an upper-ninety point wine than pure perfection these days. The 2007 may come closest in style to the 1998, the debut vintage, although the tannins are sweeter and the wine is perhaps fatter and richer in the mouth. The alcohols in these cuvees can be very high, ranging from 16.1% in 2003, 15.8% in 2000, 16.3% in 1998, to 15.5% (the lowest ever) in 2007. An inky/purple color is followed by aromas of smoked meats, Peking duck, licorice, lavender, aged beef, grilled steak blood, black currants, plums, sauteed cepes and soy. Enormously concentrated, broad, expansive and massive but not over the top, this is a tour de force in winemaking that is impossible to imagine unless one has a bottle to work through over the course of 4 to 5 hours. Although they advertise using all 13 authorized varietals, this wine is over 90% Grenache, largely from the famed La Crau section of Chateauneuf du Pape. They do have other vineyards from which they pull some of the fruit that goes into the Cuvee da Capo, including St.-Jean, Esquilons and occasionally Monpertuis. The 2007 seems to be broader, fatter, more unctuously textured and more flattering to drink at this stage than the 1998 was. In that sense, the evolutionary development may resemble their 2003s. The 2007 was bottled in February, 2010, and my anticipated drinking dates are 2014-2030+.
JD 99 (8/2010): Even more impressive than the Reservee and a noticeable step up, the 2007 Domaine du Pegaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee da Capo is one deep, dense puppy and yields awesome aromas of cassis and blackberry fruit, licorice, dry aged beef, and copious stem and garrigue on the nose. The purity and delineation are truly something and the wine has spectacular intensity, depth, and richness. The palate is full bodied with a pure, precise texture, perfect balance through the mid-palate and a finish that delivers so much tannin and extract that it’s almost mouth-numbing. Give this rock star wine 7 to 10 years in the cellar and then drink over the following 2 decades.
JLL ***** (11/2008): full, complete red with mauve tints; has a good, broad aroma, has a biscuity black cherry air and a combination of herbs and licorice - has a lot of potential variety. The palate is tightly packed - it is very Grenache in style with its firm red fruits and prune flavours. The finish is robust, nice and deep, and there is an admirable fresh tang at the end. More stylish and live than many 2007s. From 2012.
WS 96 (9/2010): This is a remarkable marriage of density and grace, as layers of roasted fig, braised chestnut and dried blood orange stay supple and plush, embedded with rounded grip and alluring cocoa, graphite and incense notes. There’s a long, espresso- and hoisin sauce-filled finish. Best from 2011 through 2030. |
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2015 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee du Capo |
$299 |
6 |
|
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JD 96-99 (10/2017): The 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Da Capo is smoking good. Blackcurrants, lavender, garrigue, violets, cured meats and saddle leather all flow from this rich, unctuous, incredibly decadent 2015 that has sweet tannin, a huge mid-palate, and more concentration than just about every other wine in the vintage.
WA 95-97 (10/2017): Slated to be bottled in January 2018, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee da Capo is an impressively endowed wine by any measure. Aromas? Floral, fruity and spicy. Flavors? Black cherries and plums with hints of meat and licorice. Weight and texture? Ample and silky. Finish? Never-ending and nuanced. This big but balanced beauty should drink well for at least two decades.
VM 95-97 (3/2017): Saturated ruby. Highly perfumed aromas of ripe dark berries, incense and garrigue , accented by a sexy Asian spice nuance in the background. Plush, seamless and alluringly sweet, offering intense black raspberry, cherry liqueur and floral pastille flavors that reach every corner of the palate. Smooth, seamless and deeply concentrated but lively as well; velvety tannins add shape to an extremely long, spice- and mineral-accented finish. The interplay of richness and vivacity here is awfully impressive. Josh Raynolds. |
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2007 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee (3.0 L) |
$350 |
1 |
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JD 97 (8/2010): The 2007 Domaine du Pegaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee is a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah and the rest Mourvèdre and assorted varieties. The wine is fermented with 100% stems. On the nose, it delivers with gorgeous plum and blackberry fruits, meat, roasted garrigue, and earthy, mineral undertones. Those put off by the sheer hedonism found in some ‘07s should try this as it shows a perfect mix of the stunning fruit the vintage produced, paired with a more traditional, focused profile. In the mouth, the wine shows considerable structure with medium to full body, a superb, focused texture, ripe tannin, and a very long finish. Possibly one of the more age-worthy ‘07s, this should drink beautifully over the next 2 decades. Tasted 3 times.
JLL ****[*] (11/2008): Quite a full red robe; has an oily, classic 2007 aroma - blueberry, raspberry, luxury fruits, but there are some hidden pockets. The palate presents licorice and black fruits with tannin present - it rocks on well, has a definite sense of purpose. I like the tannin structure in this - its matter is rich in an understated way, and it ends with a promising clarity and the hint of herbs. Accessible early, but may well tighten around 2011.
WS 95 (3/2010): This packs it all together, with the ripe plum sauce, braised fig and currant paste notes of the vintage matched with invigorating hoisin sauce, brick dust and grilled beef notes. The long finish drips with fruit, but stays framed by a wild edge that keeps this firmly planted in terroir. Best from 2011 through 2031.
WA 95 (10/2010): The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee (of which I was lucky to find a magnum on a Paris bistro’s wine list a week after my tasting at the estate) is a brilliant effort that ranks alongside the colossal 2003 Cuvee Reservee. A blend of approximately 85% Grenache, 8-9% Syrah, and the rest Mourvedre and other varietals from 50-100+ year old vines aged in foudre, it exhibits a dense plum/purple color along with a big, sweet bouquet of beef blood, grilled herbs, barbecue smoke, lavender, sweet cassis and kirsch and a hint of Asian soy. The wine possesses a fabulous texture, a full-bodied mouthfeel and a seamless integration of tannin, acidity and alcohol. Certainly the alcohol level is pushing 16% in this wine. With extraordinary texture and unctuosity, this remarkable effort should drink well for 20+ years yet be very appealing in its youth given the glycerin, velvety texture, and remarkable complexity.
VM 94 (2/2010): Opaque ruby. The highly perfumed nose offers an exotic array of red and dark berries, spicecake and potpourri, with hints of smoky herbs and olive adding complexity. Juicy and fresh for a wine that's over 15% alcohol, offering sweet raspberry and cherry flavors framed by silky tannins. Very suave and open-knit today, with excellent finishing clarity and smoky persistence. |
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2011 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee |
$59 |
30 |
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WA 93 (10/2013): Beautiful in the vintage, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape is a forward, perfumed example of the cuvee that has classic Pegau black fruits, tobacco leaf, pepper and leathery notes as well as medium to full-bodied richness and depth on the palate. Early-drinking by this estate’s standards, there’s nevertheless good mid-palate density and fine tannin. It should have 15 years or so of overall longevity. Drink now-2026.
WS 93 (11/2013): This shows an enticing bay leaf note, with juicy blackberry and black currant fruit up front, followed by melted licorice and a tarry edge on the finish, underscored by a roasted alder accent. This has the friendly, racy fruit of the vintage, with some distinct character to boot. Best from 2014 through 2025. 6,500 cases made.
VM 92 (2/2014): (80% grenache, 6% syrah, 4% mourvedre and the rest "everything else"): Deep ruby. Ripe black and blue fruit aromas are complicated by potpourri, incense and licorice, with a smoky topnote. Sappy, focused dark berry and bitter cherry flavors are sharpened by juicy acidity and show very good depth. Lots of fruit here but there's good structure as well. Finishes sweet and long, with velvety tannins adding shape. As with the '12, there's a degree of elegance to this wine and less of the wild edge of the Pegaus of a few vintages back. |
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2012 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee |
$94 |
17 |
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WA 94 (10/2014): One of my favorite wines, the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee is a classic. Beautiful on the nose, with notions of ground pepper, wild herbs, minerality and smoked plum and dark fruit, it’s medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated and has plenty of tannin that comes through on the finish. Similar in style to a lighter-weight 2010, drink this beauty anytime over the coming 12-15 years.
WS 93 (9/2015): A dark, alluring style, with tobacco, chestnut and alder notes surrounding a core of blackberry, plum and cherry fruit. Lots of garrigue details line the finish, showing a warm paving stone hint. Should settle in nicely in the cellar. Best from 2016 through 2023. 6,670 cases made.
VM 93 (4/2015): Opaque ruby. Heady aromas of black and blue fruits, potpourri and Indian spices, with a smoky element emerging with air. Taut and sharply focused on entry, then fleshier and broader in the mid-palate, offering vibrant boysenberry and black raspberry flavors with hints of candied violet, smoked meat and licorice. Finishes spicy and long, with repeating florality and slow-building tannins. Josh Raynolds.
JLL ***[*] (11/2013): Thick, dark robe. Broiled beef first air, a resident power in the bouquet, a wide distribution of force in its black berry. There are torrid, burnt, wild notes, black raisin also. Meaty, roasted aspects start the palate; a big wine, with oaking and deliberate scale, a knight on his charger. A little gras juice emerges near the finish. Big, rather powerful on nose and palate, the power on the palate better integrated than the nose. It will please lovers of tarry, big, unbridled Châteauneuf with its full, resinous style. Decant this. From mid-2016. |
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2012 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee (1.5 L) |
$189 |
12 |
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WA 94 (10/2014): One of my favorite wines, the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee is a classic. Beautiful on the nose, with notions of ground pepper, wild herbs, minerality and smoked plum and dark fruit, it’s medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated and has plenty of tannin that comes through on the finish. Similar in style to a lighter-weight 2010, drink this beauty anytime over the coming 12-15 years.
WS 93 (9/2015): A dark, alluring style, with tobacco, chestnut and alder notes surrounding a core of blackberry, plum and cherry fruit. Lots of garrigue details line the finish, showing a warm paving stone hint. Should settle in nicely in the cellar. Best from 2016 through 2023. 6,670 cases made.
VM 93 (4/2015): Opaque ruby. Heady aromas of black and blue fruits, potpourri and Indian spices, with a smoky element emerging with air. Taut and sharply focused on entry, then fleshier and broader in the mid-palate, offering vibrant boysenberry and black raspberry flavors with hints of candied violet, smoked meat and licorice. Finishes spicy and long, with repeating florality and slow-building tannins. Josh Raynolds.
JLL ***[*] (11/2013): Thick, dark robe. Broiled beef first air, a resident power in the bouquet, a wide distribution of force in its black berry. There are torrid, burnt, wild notes, black raisin also. Meaty, roasted aspects start the palate; a big wine, with oaking and deliberate scale, a knight on his charger. A little gras juice emerges near the finish. Big, rather powerful on nose and palate, the power on the palate better integrated than the nose. It will please lovers of tarry, big, unbridled Châteauneuf with its full, resinous style. Decant this. From mid-2016. |
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| Paul Jaboulet Aine |
2012 |
Hermitage La Chapelle (1.5 L) |
$299 |
3 |
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JD 97 (3/2019): I’ve always loved the 2012 Hermitage La Chapelle, and this is the first vintage where winemaker Caroline Frey feels that you can see the full effect of the shift to organic viticulture. Its deep purple color is followed by a ripe, full-bodied, sexy wine loaded with notions of bouquet garni, toasted bread, spiced meats, and assorted darker fruits. Concentrated, structured, and perfectly balanced, it’s a magical Hermitage that has some accessibility today yet will cruise for another 25-30 years.
WA 97 (9/2015): The first year where winemaker Caroline Frey really feels her organic farming drive paid off, the 2012 Hermitage la Chapelle is a gorgeous effort that shows the purity and texture of the vintage, as well as the class of the le Meal lieu-dit. Offering up classic black raspberry and sweet dark fruit, Asian spice, toasted bread, licorice and savory herbs, this beauty is full-bodied, beautifully concentrated and has enough tannic grip to demand 4-5 years of bottle age. It will have 3+ decades of longevity.
VM 95 (2/2015): Saturated ruby. Seductively perfumed bouquet displays suave black and blue fruit liqueur, potpourri and incense aromas underscored by a smoky mineral quality. Gains power and spiciness with air, picking up a sexy floral pastille quality that builds in the glass. Sweet, palate-coating blueberry and cherry-cola flavors are superbly concentrated yet lively thanks to juicy acidity and a zesty peppery nuance. Strikingly vibrant, linear and long on the finish, with the mineral and floral notes emphatically repeating. Josh Raynolds.
JS 93 (12/2014): Beautiful aromas of iron, dark friut, plums, tar and dried meats. Subtle aromas. This is wonderfully refined and delicate with blueberry, slate, violet and light black-pepper character. Very refined and beautiful Gorgeous. Delicious now, or hold.
WS 92 (2/2015): Very solid, with a loamy frame around a core of fleshy plum, fig and blackberry flavors. A backdrop of licorice root and roasted espresso shows on the finish. A little shy on energy, this exhibits a hefty dose of toast, ample depth of fruit and a good tug of terroir. Best from 2017 through 2024. 200 cases imported. |
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| | Rhone White |
| Etienne Guigal |
2016 |
Condrieu La Doriane |
$89 |
23 |
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JD 96 (1/2018): The flagship 2016 Condrieu La Doriane also shows the freshness and more classical style of the vintage. Citrus blossom, crushed rocks, honeysuckle, and orange blossom give way to a medium to full-bodied, incredibly elegant Condrieu that gains depth and richness with time in the glass. It will be better this time next year and keep for 7-8 years.
JLL ****[*] (11/2017): Bright, rather full yellow. Has a large, broad, impressive bouquet that brims with grilling, oak, tropical fruits. Wham bang! The palate carries a generous, stylish wave of richness laced with mineral coolness that really ignites its quality. It finishes with flair, really races along to the close, oaking on the aftertaste. This is sensaround Condrieu, one that really covers the ground, and deserves turbot, lobster, veal and other joli ingredients. From spring 2018. Decanting advised.
WA 94 (12/2017): Bottled in June 2017, the 2016 Condrieu la Doriane is entirely barrel-fermented in new oak. This vintage seems more restrained and less rich than some others, but it remains marked by smoky, grilled apricot aromas and flavors. It’s nicely balanced and not overly opulent, retaining a sense of elegance on the long, spicy finish. |
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| M. Chapoutier |
2011 |
Hermitage Blanc Chante Alouette |
$69 |
5 |
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WS 95 (10/2013): Gorgeous from the start, this bursts with a mix of peach, mango, orange and melon fruit, while acacia, orange blossom and singed macadamia nut notes fill in the background. A lovely mineral edge frames the finish. Shows power and grace. Drink now through 2024. 400 cases imported.
WA 95 (12/2012): Possibly the finest cuvee of this wine I have ever tasted, the stunning, rich 2011 Ermitage Chante Alouette comes from three separate parcels on Hermitage Hill (Meal, Les Murets and Chante Alouette) and reveals plenty of white currant, buttered citrus, tangerine oil and honeysuckle along with hints of such exotic fruits as mango. It is a full-bodied, Montrachet-styled, dry white.
JLL ****[*] (11/2012): Ripe yellow robe. Its wide bouquet is open and engaging now: it mixes mandarin, exotic fruits, banana, pear. The palate is constrained, but in a stylish and promising way. the fruit is elegant, the flow steady and unshowy. Promising wine with a poised manner, lucid acidity. The aftertaste mixes greengage plum and ginger, is clear. Bonny, delicate length and style. It deserves a fine table, clear flavours - turbot would be great. From 2015. |
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| | Rhone Red |
| Ch. de Beaucastel |
2012 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$89 |
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2016 |
Chateauneuf du Pape |
$119 |
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| Clos des Papes |
2012 |
Chateauneuf du Pape (1.5 L) |
$209 |
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| Dom. du Pegau |
2005 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Laurence |
$129 |
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2010 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reservee (1.5 L) |
$249 |
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WA 98 (10/2013): Looking at the 2010s and a brilliant vintage for Laurence, the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape offers up classic Pegau aromas and flavors of ripe dark fruits, garrigue, cured meats, tobacco leaf, saddle leather and hints of game. Full-bodied and beautifully concentrated, it offers a seamless, layered profile on the palate with thrilling mid-palate depth, sweet, yet substantial tannin, and a blockbuster finish that stays fresh and beautifully focused. Quite polished by this estates standards, it nevertheless screams southern France and I doubt it’s possible to have too much of this beauty in the cellar. It will absolutely thrill over the coming 2-3 decades. Drink 2016-2030.
WS 97 (10/2013): (WS #7 wine of 2013) Intense, with the tarry, bittersweet cocoa-fueled grip of the vintage running through a well-endowed core of crushed plum, blackberry paste and braised fig. The muscular finish picks up notes of brick dust, pepper, warm chestnut leaf and smoldering charcoal. A throwback profile, with a hyperripe core of fruit—and it works. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and others. Best from 2015 through 2035. 6,580 cases made.
JD 96-99 (9/2012): More straight and clean, yet with rocking concentration and tannic structure, the 2010 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée is a beauty! Scheduled to be bottled later this year, it delivers classic aromas of black fruits, mineral, iron, and wild herb qualities on the nose, and what it lacks (at the moment) in complexity, it more than makes up for with brilliant purity, clear, delineated aromas, and awesome focus and length. This full-bodied, rich, and layered 2010 will handsomely reward cellaring, and drink well for decades. It is one of the most impressive Cuvée Réservées I’ve tasted.
VM 94 (2/2013): Deep ruby. An intensely perfumed bouquet evokes dried cherry, cassis, potpourri and smoked meat, with a spicy nuance adding vivacity. Rich but energetic on the palate, offering sweet dark fruit flavors and notes of candied lavender and anise. Chewy tannins add grip to a long, smoky and powerful finish, which leaves a bitter cherry note behind. Definitely built for the long haul; don't touch this wine for at least six or seven years. Josh Raynolds. |
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| Xavier Vignon |
2007 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme |
$50 |
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| | Rhone White |
| Ch. de Beaucastel |
2012 |
Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Roussanne Vieilles Vignes |
$239 |
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