Hermitage, Northern Rhône
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
Saint-Joseph Syrah 2020
It’s always a resounding ‘YES’ for JL Chave!!
That includes this luscious and concentrated Syrah from Saint-Joseph AOC in the Northern Rhône of France.
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave is a benchmark and icon of the Rhône Valley – a family-run operation since 1481 – with an entire range of deliciousness through the Domaine Jean-Louis Chave and JL Chave Selection portfolios.
This wine is deep ruby, trending on purple. It has pronounced aromas and flavors of boysenberry, blueberry, black cherry, cassis, pomegranate, also violet, bacon, sanguine, saddle leather, pipe tobacco, clove, cigar, damp earth, and black peppercorn. Alcohol is high (14.5% ABV) with medium (+) fine-grained and well-integrated tannins, medium (+) acidity, a medium (+) body, and a long, elegant finish.
It has a rustic and savory character with robust dark fruit notes; it’s layered, complex, structured, and age-worthy, benefitting from decanting. Still, it’s tasting wonderfully now.
Cheers to JL Chave and treasures of the Rhône!! — a month ago
Domaine Auguste Clape
Renaissance Cornas Syrah 2020
The 2020 Cornas Renaissance is delicious. It bursts with crushed violet, cured meat, menthol and black fruit aromatics. Peppery layers add more complexity. Offering increased concentration and an even riper profile than the 2022, I have no doubt that the powerful and neatly balanced 2020 Renaissance will be a long-distance runner. Medium- to full-bodied, it concludes with persistence on the complex finish. (Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous, March 2024)
— a month ago
M. Chapoutier
De l'Orée Ermitage Blanc Marsanne 1999
100% old-vine Marsanne from the Les Murets lieu dit which is predominantly east facing on the hill. This was the most powerful of the three Hermitage Blancs tonight. The nose was redolent of marmalade, honey, butter cream frosting, and slate. Luxurious texture with a long finish. Lovely with monkfish, sweet potato, leek, and winter truffle. Drink now through 2034+. — 2 months ago
Rene Rostaing
Côte Blonde Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2004
This was a real treat after the Gentaz-Dervieux since Rene Rostaing is Marius Gentaz’s son-in-law. While the vineyards that belonged to Marius are now famously part of the Rostaing domaine, that vineyard goes to Rene’s Côte Brune; this is his Côte Blonde and arguably his most famous bottling. This 2004 pours a cloudy ruby with brambles, purple flowers, blood, dust and leather. Slightly rustic which is what I want from Rostaing. I love the individuality and how it paired with the Iberico pork cheek, mushroom ragu with lavender and thyme. Plenty of life left. Drink through 2034+. — 2 months ago
Domaine Alain Voge
Les Chailles Cornas Syrah 2018
100% Syrah with a medium ruby hue and medium(+) aromas and flavors that emerge from the glass with a balance of ripe cherry, red plum, blackberry, blackcurrant, blueberry, boysenberry next to violet, black peppercorn, cured meat, smoke, cedar, sandalwood, vanilla, clove, nutmeg and cardamom.
This wine has complexity for days with fine-grained, integrated tannins, high alcohol (14%), a round mouthfeel, and lingering finish.
An excellent pairing with ribeye on the grill (marinated in olive oil, garlic, rosemary, and aged balsamic). So delish. — 2 months ago
E. Guigal
Crozes-Hermitage Syrah 2020
Baller. Wegmans buy. — a month ago
E. Guigal
Condrieu Viognier 2020
The fragrant 2020 Condrieu enters the stage with prominent lemon flesh, yellow apple, white peach, apricot and melon aromas. Medium- to full-bodied, it dazzles with a juicy core of ripe stone fruit flavors, mellow acidity and solid drive on the complex finish. (Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous, March 2024)
— a month ago
Rene Rostaing
Ampodium Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2021
The 2021 Côte-Rôtie Ampodium used 90% whole-clusters during fermentation. This winemaking technique becomes visible in the aromatic profile through a marked stemminess, complemented by bright red fruits, cedar and floral shadings. Medium-bodied and framed by low levels of soft tannins, the 2021 is a polished and refreshing Ampodium that concludes with a bright finish. (Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous, March 2024)
— a month ago
E. Guigal
La Mouline Côte-Rôtie Syrah 1994
Believe it or not, this is my first La-La and what a way to do it with a 1994 no less! Flintstone vitamins, gym socks, pomegranate, purple flowers, minerals like crazy…and what seemed like an impenetrable wall of granite. Tons of baking spices. Modern? Yeah of course but my goodness the quality is indisputable and this worked really well with Iberico pork cheek, mushroom ragu with lavender and thyme. The reality is, even at 30 years old, this is youthful. Drink now through, I dunno, 2044? — 2 months ago
Paul Jaboulet Aîné
Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage Syrah
Good length, a bit bordeaux like. $35, 2015 vintage  — 2 months ago
E. Guigal
Brune et Blonde de Guigal Côte-Rotie Syrah 2017
Decant and leave for an hour or so. Delicious. — 24 days ago
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
Hermitage Blanc Marsanne Roussanne 1994
The 1994 was initially a bit shy on the nose but after many hours in the decanter, it showed such amazing character. In fact, it shared some characteristics with a lightly peated single malt scotch, with light smoke, marmalade, honey, golden raspberry and wet stone. More of its character was unlocked with food. In this case, monkfish, sweet potato, leek, and winter truffle. Drink now through 2034+ — 2 months ago
Rene Rostaing
La Landonne Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2021
The 2021 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne offers a red-fruited profile paired with pencil shavings, meaty undertones and a marked herbaceous streak. Framed by firm tannins and balanced by refreshing acidity, the 2021 hits the palate with juicy red fruits and great intensity. Still, it can’t compete with the more generous and complex 2022. (Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous, March 2024)
— a month ago
Joe Weinberger
This was still incredibly youthful. Would never have guessed ‘89. — 5 months ago