The Rhone Valley has many terrific wines to offer. Its wines accompany fare such as casserole, game, red meat and cheese particularly well. Our Rhone section is a blend of superb wines from mature and semi mature vintages ranging from the sublime Chateauneufs in the South featuring famous producers such as Pegau and Brunel up to Chapoutier's dazzling Syrah based Hermitages in the North. We also include more affordable everyday wines from outstanding producers such as Chateau de St Cosme, Alary and Domaine de la Mordoree.
Tasting notes: "1995 was a powerful vintage for Brunel. The Cuvee Centenaire remains a young, promising wine offering notes of licorice, cedar, vanilla, and sweet black currant/cherry fruit presented in a full-bodied, virile style. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2018." Robert Parker 94 points (Jan 2003)
Tasting notes: Not as massive as the 1989, 1990, or 1998, but superior to the 2000 and 2001, the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Centenaire reveals a surprisingly light ruby color that is somewhat deceptive given the explosive aromatics. Aromas of lavender, roasted herbs, pepper, and super-intense black raspberry and sweet black cherry fruit represent the essence of Grenache. Full-bodied, opulent, and disarmingly supple-textured as well as fruit-forward at present, this wine is extraordinarily deep with incredible length and remarkable seamlessness, the likes of which one sees in haute couture. The Cuvee Centenaire, is a combination of 80% tank-aged Grenache, and 15% Mourvedre and 5% Syrah aged in small barrels. This will be interesting to taste out of bottle, but my best guess is that this wine will be approachable young, and last for 15-20 years. Wine Advocate # 179: Oct 2008 Robert Parker
Tasting notes: "The 2003 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape turned out as well as I could have hoped and is certainly an outstanding wine, deep ruby/purple with a tight but promising nose of black fruits, loamy, earthy notes intermixed with pepper, smoke, licorice, and dried herbs. The wine is somewhat closed in the mouth (but it had been bottled 30 days prior to my visit), has full bodied, moderately high, slightly rustic tannins, but big-impact flavors with plenty of texture, density, and purity. Give this wine 3-5 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following 20 years." 92+ pts Robert Parker
Tasting notes: Beaucastel Blanc is produced from 80% Rousanne with small amounts of Grenache blanc, Picardin, Bourboulenc and Clairette, all of which are grown without the use of chemical fertilisers, herbicides or systematic pesticides.
The wines has a lovely complex nose of acacai and peaches, with a subtle hint of hazelnuts. it is fresh yet velvety in the mouth with an exetensive engaging honey finish.
Tasting notes: A dark smoky edge softens the black fruit, fig, tobacco and roasted chestnut notes. The long fleshy finish has excellent buried minerality.
