- HOST A WINE TASTING
- wine education
- WINE REVIEWS & RATINGS
- TWIN CITIES WINE CLUB
- WINE SALES IN THE
TWIN CITIES - WINE-RELATED ARTICLES
- FRIENDS OF WINE GLAS
- CONTACT US
- HOME
Rhone Region
1982
1982 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape
This wine is past prime. Lots of earth, mushroom, and mild fruit. Finishes out of balance and earth dominate. 85 points
1986
1986 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage $$$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Truffles, gravel, forest floor
Taste: Truffles, gravel, plums, forest floor and super concentrated
Finish: Long and intense
Evaluation: A very complete wine with some age 94 points
1993
1993 M. Chapoutier La Mordorée Côte-Rôtie $$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Tobacco, raspberries, spices, elegant
Taste: Light with raspberries, cherries, dust, spices, funk
Finish: A little thin with mushrooms, cherry, dust, perfume
Evaluation: Drink up. It should not improve beyond this point in 09 88 points
1995
1995 Les Bosquet des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chantemerle $$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Vegetal, spice
Taste: Thin and vegetal, spice water
Finish: Thin
Evaluation: Not an age worthy CDP 80 points
1996
1996 M. Chapoutier La Mordorée Côte-Rôtie $$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Leather, bacon, floral
Taste: Berries, leather, floral and bacon
Finish: Good balance
Evaluation: A nice wine that should improve for a few more years 91 points
1997
1997 M. Chapoutier La Mordorée Côte-Rôtie $$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Pepper, earth, licorice, and game
Taste: Earth dominates with pepper, spices, licorice and leather
Finish: Soft tannins at this point on a medium finish
Evaluation: Nice wine 92 points
1997 Tardium Laurent Hermitage
Color: Medium red
Nose: Musty, red pepper
Taste: Red pepper, earth, white pepper
Finish: Very short with red and white pepper
Evaluation: I was not impressed with this wine as it got nice praises from Robert Parker and Wine Spectator. 86 points
1998
1998 Clos du Pape Chateauneuf du Pape
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Leather, mushroom, wood
Taste: Spice, black pepper, wood, and good acidity
Finish: Smooth tannins and well integrated
Evaluation: A nice start to the tasting 92 points
1998 Clos du Pape Chateauneuf du Pape
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Truffles, musty, spice
Taste: Spice, cinnamon, floral, and funky quality on the medium finish
Finish: Spice, oak, and overall elegant wine
Evaluation: Little different then the first bottle with a little more funk 91 points
1998 M. Chapoutier La Mordorée Côte-Rôtie $$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Grilled meat, white pepper, smoke, raspberries, floral, beautiful!
Taste: Grilled meats, smoke, white pepper, raspberries, cherry, floral and more...
Finish: Fabulous wine and balanced! One of the best Rhone's to date
Evaluation: 97 points
1998 M. Chapoutier La Mordorée Côte-Rôtie $$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Subtle with earth, minerals, and some fruit
Taste: Subtle with earth, minerals, cherry, plum
Finish: Medium
Evaluation: Really disappointing compared to 3 months earlier 88 points
1998 Domaine de la Mordoree Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee de la Reine des Bois $$$$$
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Smoke, black pepper, blackberry
Taste: Powerful with forest floor, black pepper, oak, vanilla, spices
Finish: Big and long with an interesting variety of flavors
Evaluation: 95 points
1999
1999 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Cuvee de mon Aieul Chateauneuf du Pape $$$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Pepper, dark fruit, leather, coffee beans
Taste: Big wine with dark fruits, leather, coffee, roasted meats
Finish: Medium and concentrated wine with good acidity
Evaluation: Big step up from the base bottling 93 points
1999 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf du Pape $$$
Color: Medium
Nose: A funk that blew off with shoe leather, figs and violets
Taste: Spicy with leather, violets and earth
Finish: Medium and earth dominated
Evaluation: Solid overall on this base bottling from Usseglio 89 points
2000
2000 Bosquet des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape $$$
Color: Dirty purple
Nose: Spice, barnyard
Taste: Cinnamon, Asian spices, raspberries, earth
Finish: Medium and big spice up front
Evaluation: Decant stuff 88 points
2000 Edmond et David Duclaux Cote Rotie $$$$
Color: Medium and a bit dirty
Nose: Roasted meat, bell pepper, spices
Taste: Roasted meat, bell pepper, spice, minerals
Finish: Medium with earth elements
Evaluation: Bought for $18 in 09 and worth about $18 not the $50 plus originally 87 points
2000 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie (2/20/2010)
Medium purple. Nose of road tar, smoke, pepper and leather. On the palate mostly earth quality with tar, white pepper, spices, and raspberries. Medium finish and full of flavor. Not a massive wine but really nice across the board. (91 pts.)
2000 Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage $$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Smoke, oak, vanilla, plum
Taste: Smoke, oak dominates, and some plum
Finish: Medium and a little out of balance
Evaluation: 87 points
2000 Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee $$$$$
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Cherry, roasted meat, tobacco
Taste: Meaty notes along with smoke, oak, vanilla, cherry
Finish: Medium and balanced
Evaluation: Great wine 93 points
2000 Pierre Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape
Color: Light purple
Nose: Barnyard
Taste: Spice, watered down wine
Finish: Short and nothing to write about
Evaluation: Drinkable. 83 points
2000 Pierre Usseglio Cuvee de Mon Aieul Chateauneuf du Pape $$$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Truffles, violets, barnyard, Asian spice, raspberries, earth
Taste: WOW! Super concentration with raspberries, nuts, violets, stone, truffle, coffee, earth
Finish: LONG and intense and close to perfect
Evaluation: This wine was reviewed on the second day. It has a minimum of 15 years left and I will be buying more! 96 points
2000 Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe La Crau Chateauneuf du Pape
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Spice, floral, red currants
Taste: Some sweetness with spice and raspberries present
Finish: Floral, pepper, intense spices and a touch of sweetness
Evaluation: Solid wine with no flaws 90 points
2001
2001 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape
This bottle received 4.5 hours of in-bottle air time before the event began.
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Barnyard
Taste: Raspberry, acidic wine, barnyard
Finish: Medium with some fruit and a barnyard funk
Evaluation: Not impressive for the producer. 84 points
2001 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape $$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Tar, spices, leather, raspberries
Taste: Good acidity with mineral, leather, tar, meat, raspberries, floral
Finish: Concentrated with firm tannins. This wine should cellar for a long time
Evaluation: What a difference a bottle and 2 years make on this wine 94 points
2001 Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe La Crau Chateauneuf du Pape
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Spice, pepper
Taste: Light overall with mild spices and a touch of white pepper
Finish: Short and not intense but well made wine
Evaluation: 88 points
2001 E. Guigal Chateauneuf-du-Pape $$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Carmel, herbs, vanilla
Taste: Young wine and a little tannic with plum, oak, vanilla, herbs
Finish: Strong and long
Evaluation: Cellar time needed 90 points
2001 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Medium and a bit of bricking on the rim. Nice nose with forest floor, white pepper, little funk. On the palate this wine is well integrated with forest floor, raspberries, tar and pepper. Medum finish and smooth tannins. Drink up if you own this wine as I don't see this improving. (92 pts.)
2001 Chateau Forita Cuvee du Baron Chateauneuf du Pape $$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Spice, earth and pepper
Taste: Spice, pepper and earth with a kick
Finish: Makes your mouth move in a good way with spice, earth and pepper
Evaluation: Powerful wine that would go well with red meat. 91 points
2001 Les Aphillanthes Cotes du Rhone Cuvee du Cros $$
Color: Medium Purple
Nose: Cigar box, spice, cinnamon, floral
Taste: Spice, floral, pepper
Finish: Burst of flavor with spice, floral, berries, and integrated tannins
Evaluation: A very good Cotes du Rhone for the money. 88 points
2001 Mas de Boislauzon Chateauneuf du Pape
This bottle received 2.25 hours of in-bottle air time before the event.
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Barnyard, floral
Taste: Balanced wine with spice, floral, tar, mineral, mild tannins
Finish: Smooth/long finish. Very balanced and my second favorite wine of the event. A great value at $30.
Evaluation: 92 points
2001 Domaine Pontifical (Francois Laget) Chateauneuf du Pape $$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Earth, cherry
Taste: Smooth for Grenache with earth and currants
Finish: Short to medium with nice earth tones
Evaluation: A solid effort that is not over the top. 88 points
2001 Rene Rostaing Cote-Rotie La Landonne $$$$$
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Floral, gravel, earth, cherries
Taste: Concentrated wine with earth and fruits complementing each other
Finish: Medium and intense with some white pepper showing
Evaluation: An impressive wine that will cellar 93 points
2001 Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas $$$
Color: Purple
Nose: Earth, musty
Taste: Spice and earth
Finish: Spice dominates
Evaluation: Not a great QPR wine. 84 points
2002
2002 Domaine de Bonserine "La Garde" Cote Rotie $$$$
Color: Light purple
Nose: Bacon, smoke, spices, white pepper
Taste: Mineral driven with smoke, bacon, floral, cranberry
Finish: Complex finish with layers of flavoring
Evaluation: Not the best vintage but this is a sleeper 91 points
2003
2003 Alain Paret 420 Nuits (Saint Joseph) $$$
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Intense with dark, ripe fruit
Taste: Powerful with floral, spice, plum
Finish: Floral, light spice and pepper
Evaluation: Nice wine and goes well with steak. 88 points
2003 Domaine Brusset Les Hauts de Montmirail Gigondas $$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Full of life with spice, cherry, tar and earth
Taste: Nice flavor and intense. Tar, earth, cherry, bacon and spices
Finish: Medium and concentrated
Evaluation: A steal at $15 on sale 90 points
2003 M. Chapoutier Les Meysonniers Crozes-Hermitage $$$
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Plum, currant, mild spice
Taste: Spice, black pepper, little watered down
Finish: Licorice, pepper, spice but watered down
Evaluation: Little thin not developed. 86 points
2003 Domaine de la Charbonniere Les Hautes Brusquieres Cuvee Spéciale Chateauneuf du Pape
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Big barnyard with game, spice, plum
Taste: Blackberry, barnyard, game, spice, cinnamon
Finish: big multilayered with spice, oak, game, cinnamon, and barnyard on this medium finish.
Evaluation: Well made wine and I would cellar for five to ten years. 90 points
2003 Domaine de la Janasse Chaupin Chateauneuf du Pape
This bottle received a 6 hour decant before the event.
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Raspberry, cranberry, mineral
Taste: Raspberry, violets, spice
Finish: Raspberry, crushed rock on a medium finish
Evaluation: Well made but not as good as the 2 previous wines. 90 points
2003 Clos des Papes Chateaneuf-du-Pape $$$$
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Pepper, cherry, earth
Taste: Strong wine with pepper, Asian spices, cherry
Finish: Young wine with a big finish
Evaluation: Needs cellar time 93 points
2003 Domaine la Barroche Chateauneuf du Pape
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Musty with floral and mineral
Taste: Off and high alcohol sensation
Finish: Very short with pepper
Evaluation: Not a good showing 87 points
2003 Roger Sabon & Fils Prestige Chateauneuf du Pape
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Mineral, cranberry
Taste: Barnyard, mineral, sour cherry
Finish: A little thin on this medium finish
Evaluation: Disappointing wine compared to most of the others. 88 points
2003 Domaine Vacheron-Pouizin Cotes du Rhone Domaine du Caillou $$
Color: Light purple
Nose: Floral, smoke, some heat
Taste: Big mouthful of flowers, spice, and pepper. A little tannic
Finish: Dominated by floral notes and pepper with short to medium finish.
Evaluation: A nice bargain with some interesting elements. Try this Rhone wine which is a good introduction to the region. 87 points
2004
2004 Domaine de Beaurenard Chateauneuf du Pape $$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Spice, musty
Taste: Oak, spice, minerals, a little funk
Finish: Spice, earth, and a multi layered effect
Evaluation: Typical Grenache Blend but overpriced. 88 points
2004 Louis Benard Cotes du Rhone $$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Plum, cherry, earth
Taste: Nice fruits, spice, and earth
Finish; Fruit forward
Evaluation: Straight forward and good. 84 points
2004 Mas de Boislauzon Chateauneuf du Pape $$$
Color: Dirty purple
Nose: Earth, cherry, floral
Taste: Clean with floral, cherry, earth
Finish: Cherry, berries, earth and mushrooms
Evaluation: A really nice base bottling 91 points
2004 Mas de Boislauzon Cuvee du Quet Chateauneuf du Pape $$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Raspberries, minerals, coffee
Taste: Raspberries, coffee, figs, and spices
Finish: Very smooth at this stage and full of flavor
Evaluation: Buy at $40 on sale at Winestreets! 93 points
2004 Mas de Boislauzon Cuvee du Quet Chateauneuf du Pape $$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Floral, cigar, spices, minerals
Taste: Cigar, figs, spices, floral
Finish: Medium and flavorful
Evaluation: Solid wine and second time trying it 92 points
2004 Mas de Boislauzon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée du Quet - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Medium color. Nose of spice, raspberries, and earth. On the palate spice, leather, spice, and some sweet fruit. Finish is really disappointing. I hope this improves the next day. (88 pts.)
2004 Mas de Boislauzon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée du Quet - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (2/22/2010)
Day four review. This wine finally opened for business. I have been doing a lot of experimenting with young wines and testing them over the course of 3 or 4 days. Aromas of white pepper, garrique, spices, raspberries and truffles. On the palate dirt, spices, garrique, pepper, raspberries and leather. Medium finish that is much less tannic then day one. The wine has really opened up and I really like the wine. I am always amazed and the transformation of good wine. (92 pts.)
2004 Mas de Boislauzon Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (7/22/2010)
Drinking fine with earth, minerals, forest floor and medium finish. Nothing exciting but at $25 not bad. (87 pts.)
2004 Bosquet des Papes Cotes du Rhone $
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Cherry, smoke
Taste: Smooth wine with a fruit forward style
Finish: Cherry, plum, smoke on this medium finish
Evaluation: Good value 85 points
2004 Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Rhone $$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Pepper, spice, floral
Taste: Good intensity with earth, spice, floral, and pepper
Finish: Medium
Evaluation: Good everyday wine 85 points
2004 Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape $$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Spice, cedar, floral
Taste: Spice, floral, bitter and a hard edge
Finish: Medium and just a bit over the top
Evaluation: 87 points
2004 M Chapoutier Cotes du Roussillon-Villages Latour-de-France Occultum Lapidem Domaine de Bila-Haut (Grenache, Syrah, Carignan) $$$
Color: Light purple
Nose: Earth, musty with some fruit
Taste: Tannins, earth
Finish: Earth with a little tannic quality
Evaluation: This is a food wine. Note that the Grenache grape from the Southern Rhone is an acquired taste that will appeal to people liking earth style wines. 86 points
2004 Guigal Crozes-Hermitage Northern Rhone Syrah
Color: Dark purple
Nose: White pepper, earth
Taste: Pepper, earth and cherry
Finish: A nice finish with pepper, earth elements and cherries intermixed
Evaluation: Should improve with some cellaring or drink today. 90 points
2004 Kermit Lynch Cotes du Rhone $$
Color: Medium Purple
Nose: Earth, plum, dark cherry, mild heat
Taste: Pepper, spice, some heat
Finish: Medium with some layered components of the above.
Evaluation: A solid everyday drinker. 85 points
2004 Domaine du Pegau Cuvee Reservee Chateauneuf du Pape $$$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Barnyard, mineral, truffles
Taste: Barnyard, oak, mineral, cranberry, medium tannins
Finish: Long with oak, barnyard, mineral, earth,
Evaluation: A wonderful Chateauneuf! 94 points
2004 Domaine du Pegau Cuvee Reservee Chateauneuf du Pape
My wine of the night and overall the groups. For the price the 2001 Mas de Boislauzon was the wine of the night!
Color: Dark purple (darkest wine)
Taste: Mineral, game, boysenberry, cherry
Taste: Medium tannic structure with plum, mineral, cherry, crushed rock, violets, and raspberry. I had to analysis this one very carefully as there was a lot going on here.
Finish: LONG with raspberry, mineral, crushed rock, violets, and cherry. No funk on this wine.
Evaluation: Buy and cellar. Drinking great tonight after 4 hours decanting but ten plus years will do this justice. 94 points
2004 Cuvée du Vatican Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (8/1/2010)
Reds at my house; 7/29/2010-8/1/2010: Nice and easy drinking CDP with raspberry, floral and game. On the palate I picked up some white pepper. Medium finish and smooth. (90 pts.)
2004 Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe La Crau Chateauneuf du Pape $$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Barnyard, mineral, floral
Taste: Some heat with mineral, floral, barnyard, earth
Finish: Medium and intense
Evaluation: Solid effort 92 points
2004 Vignobles Brunier Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape $$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: A rich nose with floral, spice, pepper, and earth
Taste: Spice! Floral, earth with a chewy element
Finish: A sharp spice upfront that mellows into a dense earthy finish
Evaluation: An excellent Grenache from the CDP. Should improve with age. 92 points
2005
2005 Domaine Paul Autard Cuvee La Cote Ronde Chateauneuf du Pape
This bottle received 2.25 hours of in-bottle air time before the event began.
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Forest floor and smoke
Taste: Spice, forest floor, smoke, spice, mild oak
Finish: Forest floor, smoke, ripe fruit emerging
Evaluation: An enjoyable wine that has great potential but is also drinking really well right now. 92 points
2005 Louis Bernard Cotes du Rhone Villages $
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Vanilla, oak, spice
Taste: Spice, vanilla, oak
Finish: Medium and balanced
Evaluation: Simple but good. 85 points
2005 Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape $$$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Wow cherry, smoke, very clean without funk
Taste: Smooth tannins with cherry, smoke, licorice, figs
Finish: Really nice and drinking well right now
Evaluation: Not an overpowering wine and everything was in perfect harmony 94 points
2005 Clos des Brusquieres Chateauneuf du Pape $$$
Color: Light purple
Nose: Cranberry, cedar, mineral
Taste: Spice, mineral, cranberry, tobacco
Finish: Big spiciness, mineral, cranberries
Evaluation: Solid CDP for the money. 88 points
2005 Clos des Brusquieres Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rhone $$$
Color: Light purple
Nose: Spice, mineral, cranberries
Taste: Light wine with mineral, floral and mild spices
Finish: Short to medium with good acidity
Evaulation: A starter CDP 87 points
2005 Clos de l'Oratoire des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape
This bottle was popped and poured at the event. This bottle also piqued most attendees' interest.
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Floral, strawberry, violets
Taste: Plum, violets, spice, smooth tannins
Finish: Extremely smooth wine that is drinking really well right now.
Evaluation: A great bargain at the $30 price point. 90 points
2005 Clos du Pape Chateauneuf du Pape
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Cranberry, spice, oak
Taste: Spice, oak, vanilla, mineral and well integrated
Finish: Nice and complex on this medium finish
Evaluation: Well made wine and really enjoyed it 92 points
2005 Chateau de Saint Cosme "Homins Fides" Gigondas $$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Spice
Taste: Spice and little tannic
Finish: Medium
Evaluation: One dimensional 85 points
2005 Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape $$$$
This bottle was given 4.5 hours of in-bottle air-time before the event began.
Color: Medium Purple
Nose: Floral, raspberry, mineral
Taste: Raspberry, blueberry, spice, mineral, mild tannins and very elegant
Finish: Medium and multilayered. Game, earth, mineral, but ends rather abruptly.
Evaluation: A nice wine to start the night but none of us would have guessed Wine Spectator’s 3rd best wine of the year for 2007. I would not buy this wine for the money. 88 points
2005 Domaine de la Gramiene Cotes du Rhone $$
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Earth
Taste: Earth and spice
Finish: Pepper, spice and earth
Evaluation: Better finish then anything else 84 points
2005 E. Guigal "Chateau D'Ampius" Cote Rotie $$$$$
Color: Dark
Nose: Bacon, black pepper, scorched earth and minerals
Taste: Big wine with black pepper, bacon, roasted meats, minerals
Finish: Concentrated with a solid medium finish
Evaluation: Age for 10 plus years 95 points
2005 E. Guigal Chateauneuf du Pape $$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Forest floor, minerals, smoke, berries
Taste: Pleasant with minerals, smoke, berries and forest
Finish: Medium and drinkable today
Evaluation: Solid CDP 91 points
2005 E. Guigal Crozes Hermitage $$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Raspberries, plum, pepper
Taste: Raspberries, plum and spices
Finish: Medium
Evaluation: 87 points
2005 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie (6/12/2010)
Dark hue. On the nose bacon, black pepper, scorched earth and minerals. Full bodied wine and the palate reveals additional character with roasted game and smoke. Super concentrated finish and a balanced wine that is really young. This should blossom into a superstar and is already great now. (94 pts.)
2005 Paul Jaboulet Aine Parallele 45 Cote du Rhone $$
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Earth and spice
Taste: Acidic, fruit forward wine with plum and cherry
Finish: Fruit forward with spice, cherry and plum
Evaluation: Nice every day drinker. 85 points
2005 Mas de Boislauzon Cuvee du Quet Chateauneuf du Pape
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Plum, truffles, minerals
Taste: Black pepper, spice, tons of minerals with good acidity
Finish: Intense with floral, spices, and minerals and incredible balance
Evaluation: My wine of the night 94+ points
2005 Pierre Gaillard Côte-Rôtie - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie (2/25/2010)
Medium purple. White pepper, spices, raspberries and earth. Medium finish and good acidity. (91 pts.)
2005 Domaine Grane Veneur Clos de Sixte Lirac $$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Spices, rasperries, leather, earth
Taste: Nice bitter quality with leather, earth, raspberries, and spices
Finish: Medium and shows good acidity
Evaluation: 91 points
2005 Domaine la Vielle Julienne Vine Des Pays $$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Raspberries, strawberries, floral
Taste: A little bitter with strawberries, floral, some oak
Finish: Medium and some intensity
Evaluation: Another strange combo with the addition of merlot and cabernet 85 points
2005 Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe La Crau Chateauneuf du Pape
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Plum, cherry, mineral
Taste: Blackberries, spice, a bit hot
Finish: Mineral, pepper and red currants
Evaluation: Not a top 10 wine of the year in my opinion 87 points
2005 Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe La Crau Chateaneuf du Pape $$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Much better then in December with cherry, floral, spice
Taste: Spice, floral, mineral, cherry, raspberry, not over powering
Finish: Medium without much heat. It certainly is not a massive CDP
Evaluation: Showed better then December but I don't see this as ever being a blockbuster wine 91 points
2005 Alain Voge Les Peyrouses Côtes du Rhône $$
Color:Medium purple
Nose: Cherry, damp earth, rapsberries
Taste: Bitter and a bit out of balance with damp earth, cherry and coffee
Finish: Medium
Evaluation: OK 87 points
2006
2006 Domaine Andre Brunel Cotes du Rhone $$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Rasberry, earth, strawberry
Taste: Nice and balanced with leather, tar, rapsberry, earth, and a little funk
Finish: Medium and nice flavors
Evaluation: An outstanding value at $5 in a closeout bin 88 points
2007 Vignerons de Caractere Vacqueyras Seigneur de Fontimple - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Vacqueyras (4/17/2010)
Solid with funk, earth and minerals on the nose. Nice overall palate and medium finish. A good value wine. (88 pts.)
2006 Domaine Des Hauts Chassis Crozes-Hermitage Les Galets - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage (7/23/2010)
Solid wine with smoke, blackberries, pepper and stone on the nose and palate. Good structure and not bad for $22. (91 pts.)
2006 Domaine de Crisita Cotes du Rhone $$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Cherry, raspberry, floral
Taste: Tart cherries, spices, raspberries, floral
Finish: Medium and concentrated spice quality
Evaluation: A really complex Cotes du Rhone 91 points
2006 Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage (7/10/2010)
A canidate for wine of the year. Medium purple with some funk, white pepper, violets, crushed rock on the nose. Big and powerful on the palate and a balanced wine. Concentrated and medium finish. Ranking in the top five considering QPR. Should improve with time. (93 pts.)
2006 Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape $$$$
Color: Light purple
Nose: Floral, some fruit
Taste: A little thin and tannic with floral and raspberries
Finish: Short with a immediate burst of power that goes away quick
Evaluation: 87 points
2006 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape $$$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Strawberries, floral, spices
Taste: Wow! with Asian spices, raspberries, cherries, leather, biscuit and very clean
Finish: Medium and well integrated. No flaws in this wine and drinking really well for such a young CDP.
Evaluation: Top 3 CDPs' of all time 96 points
2006 Domaine de la Janasse Cotes du Rhone Rogue $$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Spice, strawberries, very clean
Taste: Mineral, spice, strawberries
Finish: Very clean wine with a medium finish
Evaluation: Solid every day wine 88 points
2006 Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf Vielles Vignes $$$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Cherry, blackberries, earth
Taste: Chewy tannins, cherry, mineral, meat, leather
Finish: Complex and intense, long finish
Evaluation: This is Wow wine 95+ points
2006 Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Chaupin $$$$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Raspberries, spices, mineral
Taste: Good acidity with mineral, spices, raspberries, earth
Finish: Medium and intense. This wine is dominated by earth tones
Evaluation: Solid wine but costly. 93 points
2006 Domaine de la Mordoree Cuvee Reine des Bois Chateauneuf du Papes $$$$$$
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Mushrooms, spices, raspberries, mineral
Taste: Wow with mushrooms, floral, mineral, sour cherries, cinnamon, spices
Finish: Intense and a powerhouse
Evaluation: This is a serious wine 95 points
2006 Perrin & Fils Les Christins Vacqueyras $$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Charcoal, spices, minerals
Taste: Spice, mineral, cinnamon, wood
Finish: Medium and spicy
Evaluation: A nice wine at a good price but no fruit here 88 points
2006 Chateau de Segries Cuvee Reserve Lirac $$
Color: Dark purple
Nose: Spices, cherry, pepper and violets
Taste: Solid with cherry, pepper, red peppers and violets
Finish: Medium
Evaluation: 88 points
2006 Terrasses Du Soleil - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône (4/17/2010)
Dark purple. Nose of scorched earth, raspberries, minerals, and pepper. On the palate pepper, minerals, earth, raspberries and spice. Medium finish and good concentration. What a nice surprise for $13 on sale. Highly recommended. (91 pts.)
2006 Pierre Usseglio Cuvee Tradition Chateauneuf du Pape $$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Strawberries, raspberries, smoke
Taste: Strawberries, raspberries, smoke, spices, simply delicious
Finish: Medium and full of flavors
Evaluation: Best wine of the night when you factor in price 92 points
2006 Pierre Usseglio Cuvee de Mon Aieul Chateauneuf du Pape $$$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Smoke, floral, black fruits
Taste: Smoke, floral, spices blackberries, little wood
Finish: Super complex and tons of flavors
Evaluation: This is a great wine 94 points
2006 Domaine Grane Veneur Clos de Sixte Lirac $$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Spices, blueberries, earth
Taste: Solid with spices, earth, floral and fruit
Finish: Medium
Evaluation: 90 points
2006 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (7/7/2010)
Medium color. On the nose smoke, blackberries, violets, crushed rock and earth. Amazing concentration and complex. On the finish it shows multiple layers of flavors and has firm tannic structure. This should age for decades. Beautiful wine! (95 pts.)
2007 Cave de Rasteau Côtes du Rhône Villages Rasteau Les Peyrieres - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages Rasteau (4/6/2010)
Haskell's Wine Sale Tasting; 4/5/2010-4/6/2010 (Bloomington): A really nice wine. It features violets, cherry, spice and earth. Medium finish and at $12 a good QPR wine. (89 pts.)
2006 Domaine la Vielle Julienne Cotes du Rhone $$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Raspberries, spices, floral
Taste: Nice mix of raspberries, spices, floral
Finish: Up front powerful and settles into a nice overall medium finish
Evaluation: A solid Cotes du Rhone 87 points
2006 Domaine la Vielle Julienne Chateauneuf du Pape $$$$$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Rye bread, mineral, raspberry
Taste: Red currants, spices, chalk, raspberries
Finish: Medium and tannic
Evaluation: Needs some cellar time 89 points
2006 Les Vins de Vienne Vin de Pays de la Vienne Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes Heluicum - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Vin de Pays de la Vienne (7/24/2010)
Artisan Vineyards/ Haskell's Tasting (Minneapolis): On the nose strawberry, floral, and minerals. Red fruits on the palate along with a gravel quality. Medium finish and a solid wine. (91 pts.)
2007
2007 Cote de l'Anges Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (4/6/2010)
Medium color. Funk nose, spice, raspberries and floral. The palate is showing intial funk, spice, and floral notes. Medium finish. Not decanted and needs some cellar time to show its stuff. (89 pts.)
2007 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (5/8/2010)
A bit tight and tannic. No decanting on this wine and it needed it. Earth, floral, grilled meat and leather on the nose. Palate is showing some complex flavors and a tannic sensation is evident. Medium finish and I would like to revisit this wine with some serious decanting. 93+ (93 pts.)
2007 Château Beauchêne Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grande Réserve - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (6/11/2010)
Beautiful nose with garrique, spice, mild oak, vanilla and toast. On the palate lively acidity along with cherry, garriqure, coffee grounds, oak, vanilla and toast. Medium and concentrated finish and drinking really well now (day 2) or hold for several years. (93 pts.)
2007 Château Beauchêne Côtes du Rhône Villages Vignoble De La Vialle - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages (6/11/2010)
Classic Rhone nose with spice, stone, a bit of funk, and cranberries. Very aromatic wine. On the palate it shows good acidity along with raspberries, cranberries, stones, spices, coffee and medium tannic quality. Medium finish and full of flavor. This is one of the top Cotes du Rhone Villages wines I have sampled! (92 pts.)
2007 Château Beauchêne Côtes du Rhône Grande Réserve - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône (6/11/2010)
Minerals, cherry, spices and raspberries on the nose. On the palate sharp acidity and minerals explode in the mouth. Medium finish and solid structure. (89 pts.)
2007 Château Beauchêne Côtes du Rhône Grande Réserve - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône (6/4/2010)
Solid again with cherry, plum, earth and spices. Medium tannins on the palate and good acidity. Just a good everyday wine and really clean. (88 pts.)
2007 Château Beauchêne Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grande Réserve - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (5/27/2010)
Very aromatic. Aromas of cherry, mocha, figs, cassis, and licorice. On the palate the wine is concentrated with blackberries, mocha, figs, spices, licorice and earth. Medium finish and firm tannins. Best to decant 3 plus hours and try some next day as it is really singing. (93 pts.)
2007 Château Beauchêne Côtes du Rhône Villages Vignoble De La Vialle - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages (5/14/2010)
A vibrant wine wiht cherry, floral, and earth. Great concentration for a $12 Cotes du Rhone and medium finish. Highly recommended. (90 pts.)
2007 Louis Bernard Chartreuse de Bonpas Réserve Côtes du Rhône $$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Spice, floral and rasberry
Taste: Solid for the price with a mix of raspberry, plum, coffee and floral
Finish: Medium and full of flavor
Evaluation: Great wine for the money 89 points
2007 M. Chapoutier Côtes du Rhône Belleruche - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône (5/15/2010)
Light effort and surprise from such a good vintage. Spice and cherry on a short finish. (84 pts.)
2007 Chapoutier Cotes du Rhone $
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Spice
Taste: Light with spice and floral
Finish: Short
Evaluation: 83 points
2007 Delas Freres St. Espirt Cotes du Rhone $$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Clay, floral
Taste: Spice, clay, floral
Finish: Medium without the heavy tannins
Evaluation: Solid everyday wine 88 points
2007 Cellier Val de Durance Côtes du Luberon Cuvée Prestige - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Luberon (5/15/2010)
A simple wine with spice, cranberry and minerals. Short finish. (85 pts.)
2007 Eric & Joel Durand Cornas Empreintes - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas (7/23/2010)
Violets, minerals, blackberries and spice on the nose. The palate shows a bit of sweet fruits but remains balanced overall. Medium finish and good concentration. (92 pts.)
2007 Perrin & Fils Côtes du Rhône Reserve - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône (7/7/2010)
Medium purple. Nose raspberries, blackberries, spices and stones. Medium concentration and the finish is nice. (88 pts.)
2007 Pierre Gaillard St. Joseph Les Pierres - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph (7/15/2010)
A little funk with minerals, smoked meat, spices and raspberries. Really nice acidity and bright fruits on the finish. A solid effort. (91 pts.)
2007 Jaboulet Parallele Cotes du Rhone Rose $
Color: Pink
Nose: Strawberries and minerals
Taste: Good fruit with a crisp taste
Finish: Short and pleasant
Evaluation: 85 points
2007 Layer Cake Cotes du Rhone $$
Color: Medium
Nose: Spices
Taste: Big with spices and earth dominating
Finish: Medium
Evaluation: Foreign invasion to the Rhone 83 points
2007 Domaine de la Mordorée Côtes du Rhône Rosé La Dame Rousse - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône (7/18/2010)
Love the Rhone for Rose and this wine shows off floral, watermelon, and strawberry. Minerals on the palate and finish. Good structure and still medium tannins present. (88 pts.)
2007 Perrin & Fils Côtes du Rhône Villages - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages (2/4/2010)
Medium purple. Nose raspberries, violets, smoke. On the palate sweet fruit, spice, floral and smoke. Medium finish and good acidity. Drinking well on a pop and pour. (88 pts.)
2007 Chateau Pesquie Cuvee des Terrasses Cotes du Ventoux $$
Color: Medium purple
Nose: Spice, raspberry, floral
Taste: Spice, raspberry, floral, cherry, black pepper
Finish: Balanced and concentrated wine for this price point
Evaluation: Super wine and great value 89 points
2007 Chateau Pesquie Cuvee des Terrasses Cotes du Ventoux $$
Color: Light purple
Nose: Fresh with spice, bay leaves,
Taste: Light spice, sweet fruits
Finish: Medium and not too intense
Evaluation: A pleasant everyday wine of quality 87 points
2007 Cave de Rasteau Côtes du Rhône Villages Rasteau Les Peyrieres - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages Rasteau (4/6/2010)
A really nice wine. It features violets, cherry, spice and earth. Medium finish and at $12 a good QPR wine. (89 pts.)
2007 Château de Ségriès Lirac Cuvée Réservé - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Lirac (1/18/2010)
Dark purple. This wine features spices, raspberries, sweet tannins, floral and minerals. The finish is well integrated and smooth. This is a great QPR wine. (90 pts.)
2007 Château de Ségriès Lirac Cuvée Réservée - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Lirac (7/9/2010)
Cigar, blackberries, crushed rock and cherry on the nose. Sweet fruit on the palate with crushed rock, floral and spices. Medium finish and a powerful wine. Solid again. (90 pts.)
2007 Château de Ségriès Lirac Cuvée Réservée - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Lirac
Medium purple. Nose is subtle with cherry, raspberries, and spice. On the palate it shows a lot of fruit and a bit of spice. Medium finish but nothing off the charts. A good wine but not the Grand Veneur from Lirac! (88 pts.)
2007 Domaine Grand Veneur Lirac Clos de Sixte - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Lirac
Dark purple. Nose of blackberries, spices, violets and perfume. On the palate this wine really expresses spices, floral and perfume. Good acidity. Medium finish and picks up a coffee note. This is a great wine and should improve with some cellar time. (92 pts.)
2007 Les Vignerons de Tavel Cuvee Royale Rose $$
Color: Rose
Nose: Strawberries, minerals, cherry
Taste: Refreshing and bursting with fruit
Finish: Pleasant and really reveals strawberries and cherries
Evaluation: A nice summer sipper 87 points
2007 Vignerons de Caractere Le Privilege des Vignerons Cotes du Rhone $$
Color: Light purple
Nose: Fruits and minerals
Taste: Nice solid fruit components
Finish: Medium and not tannic
Evaluation: Drinking well and pleasant 87 points
2009 Château Beauchêne Côtes du Rhône Rosé - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône (5/15/2010)
Dry style rose with strawberries, minerals and floral notes. (85 pts.)
2009 Château Beauchêne Côtes du Rhône Rosé - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône (6/4/2010)
Second sample and a bit better then the first.
Nice dry style rose with mineral, strawberries, and floral notes. Medium finish and nice starter wine. (87 pts.)