Fleur Du Rhône

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Hermitage Blanc Marsanne Roussanne 1999

Opened prior to dinner. The 1999 Blanc pours a slightly hazy, amber color with medium+ viscosity. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of butterscotch, mango, ripe melon, guava, beeswax, mushroom, white and yellow flowers, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, almost decadent and full of mushrooms. Both intellectual and hedonistic. Drink now through 2034. — 8 days ago

Andrew, Tom and 23 others liked this

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2012

Opened prior to dinner; enjoyed over several hours. The 2012 pours a light ruby with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of red brambles, red rope licorice, leather, red flowers and purple flowers, and stony minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose the finish is medium+. Textbook, Grenache forward CdP that’s showing quite beautifully. Drink now through 2032. — 7 days ago

Ira, Andrew and 20 others liked this

Alain Graillot

Crozes-Hermitage Syrah 2022

Such a beautiful wine leading with a zesty charge of cracked pepper, grilled citrus, and barnyard, while not shying away from fruitiness. Gains weight with air and a darker, more serious stewed intensity of fruit leather and earth. Drank with a friend who really appreciated it, and we both returned to our glasses repeatedly waxing poetic with our expressions. Purchased at Astor. — 3 days ago

Château Rayas

Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 2010

Opened prior to dinner; enjoyed over the course of several hours. This bottle of the 2010 pours a light ruby color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with a gorgeous mix of mostly red and some dark fruits, red flowers, exotic spices, licorice, meat and garrigue. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. While not quite making the same impression that my previous experience with the 2010 Rayas had made, this is still a magnificent, singular wine. Drink now through 2050. — 6 days ago

Scott@Mister, Vanessa and 24 others liked this
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

Epic producer.

E. Guigal

La Landonne Côte-Rotie Syrah 1991

Birth year! One of the best vintages for this wine, and 91 is showing amazing—rich, savory, satiny and ultra complex. A tour de force. If I was blinded I’d guess 20 years younger! — 3 days ago

Tom, Paul and 2 others liked this

Château Rayas

Réservé Pignan Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache 2012

One of the greats. At Petit Comptoir, Reims FR. — 9 days ago

Daniel, Andrew and 5 others liked this

Domaine Faury

Saint Joseph Syrah 2020

Bright cherry w crushed rock aromas. Red fruit flavors of cherry and pomegranate full flavors wonderful long finish Delicious — a day ago

Château de Beaucastel

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2023

Very nice and layered CDP, nose is a nice combination of red fruit, flowers and graphite. On the palate, the fruit hits first and then somewhat quickly gives way to the graphite/mineraly flavors, which last and develop on your palate in an interesting and pleasant way that avoids making me think I just licked a rock. Tannins aren't too powerful but what's there is grippy, could easily lay down for a few years and really develop. Overall this strikes a nice balance between approachable and interesting, easy to like for anyone who's into Rhone reds! — 5 days ago

Tom, Joel and 8 others liked this
Dave

Dave

Legendary

Thierry Allemand

Cornas Reynard (R) Syrah 2014

This had amazing aromatics showing black cherry, meat, graphite, licorice, savory spice, violets & tobacco — 2 days ago

Jonathan, Severn and 4 others liked this

Domaine Auguste Clape

Cornas Syrah 2015

Brief notes. Dense crimson with a ruby rim. Traces of cowyard, (mild Brett?) also blackberry and black pepper notes. A rich palate of medium plus intensity - savoury and earthy notes and black olive. A fantastic food wine. Love this style. One of the better world expressions of Syrah. Have my last bottle in early 2028. — 21 days ago

Doug, Ray and 19 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Bob McDonald, I’ve drank Clape Cornas as far back as the 1985 (though in those days I was always a Verset Cornas guy, others in my wine group preferred Clape). About 2 years ago I brought a bottle of 1991 Clape to a friend’s winery in the Sierra Foothills, we popped and poured it (my wife and his winery intern were also there), and it was nothing short of fabulous!! Anyway, only purpose of my little side story is to suggest that this wine, from a fine vintage, will cellar long past your “last bottle” window (20-25 years without a problem)!! Cheers!! 🍷🍷
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@Doug Powers Thanks for your note Doug. Its longevity is not in question…..I guess I don’t have the patience to wait as long as I should and I would like to try the last bottle sooner rather than later! Thankfully I have younger vintages of Clape Cornas waiting in the cellar.
Anthony De Blasi

Anthony De Blasi

Same issue here, I always realise that the last bottle of a certain wine I drink over the years is always the best because I also tend to open rather early than late