Southern Oak

Château de la Gardine

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2015

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Beautiful nose of blueberries, black plums, cherries, spices, dark chocolates, oak, licorice and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black plums, cooked cherries, herbs, spices, light cedar, earth, chocolates and peppercorn.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and raspberries.

This is a delicious GSM blend from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Elegant and rich. Fruit forward and complex.

This 11 year old, from the great 2015 vintage, is drinking beautifully now, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

I've had the 2021 vintage not too long ago, and this one is drinking much better now.

Nicely balanced, and good by itself as a sipping wine or with food.

A blend of mostly Grenache, with Syrah and Mourvedre.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$70.
— 14 days ago

Ted, Doug and 7 others liked this

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2000

Bought at auction. First bottle awful. This one is lovely. Needed two hours of air to settle and integrate. Freeze dried strawberries, dried cherries, plum, dust, herbs like tarragon and thyme on nose. I could smell for hours. Palate is bigger than I expected more game and herbs than fruit. Leather with dried cherries. There’s more herbs and plums and cooked/reduced berries but not super sweet. Good tannin still. Pretty good and fun to try at 26 years. I am guessing warm vintage based on abv. — 14 days ago

Tom and Scott@Mister liked this

Domaine Charvin

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2010

Somm David T
9.3

This is an unusual CdP. In the sense that is is dark, thick and like chocolate for water.

My first of three bottles.

The nose shows a very light flaw, some soft VA, bandaid. The core is all dark currants, candied, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, both plums-heavier black, black raspberries, hints of raspberries & wafting strawberries. Chocolate cake w/ fudge frosting, incense, black pepper, black coffee, anise to black licorice, grilled meats, crushed rocks, lime-sandstone, dry herbs with floral candied dark, red flowers with liquid violets wrapped in lavender.

The palate reveals; dark currants, candied, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, both plums-heavier black, black raspberries, hints of raspberries, some pomegranate & wafting strawberries. Chocolate cake w/ fudge frosting, caramel, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, incense, Christmas cake, red & dark cola, olive tapenade, black pepper, black coffee, anise to black licorice, smoke, grilled meats, soy sauce, crushed rocks, lime-sandstone, moist clay, dry herbs with dark, gentle dark spices, red& dark flowers with candied liquid violets wrapped in the same candied lavender, grand, round, rainfall acidity w/ a rich, lush, well balanced, nicely toned/structured, elegant finish that shows length that lasts 90-120 seconds and falls on chocolate cake, clay & spice.

Untypical for a CdP to be so thick, round, rich and a bit of wine candy.

93-95 with the meal.

Drink over the next 7-10 yrs and perhaps a couple to three yrs +. Greatly depends on storage and how you like your wines in age.
— a month ago

Vanessa, Bob and 8 others liked this

Château de Beaucastel

Coudoulet de Beaucastel Côtes du Rhône Red Rhône Blend 1988

So, initially I thought this was nowhere near the 1990 Marcoux CdP, and this is Côtes du Rhône (WHAT????), but for a 38 year old CdR, it’s pretty fine, zero tannins, definitely lower alcohol (label says 12.5% ABV, but I’m not buying it?!?!), but no noticeable ABV and smooth and suave, honestly, I attribute the great showing to the 1988 vintage!!? — 2 months ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Steven, Peter and 8 others liked this
Peter van den Besselaar

Peter van den Besselaar Influencer Badge

i like surprises
Ira Schwartz

Ira Schwartz Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Doug Powers would’ve put my money on over the hill. . So great when I’m wrong on those.. Very happy for you.

Clos des Papes

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 1990

Like the last bottle, this shows some VA (though nowhere as bad as the bottle from 3-4 months ago), redfruits, some earthy aromas as well, good depth and balance on the palate, lingering finish, overall a very good bottle of aged Clos des Papes CdP. — 2 days ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Ira, Brian and 6 others liked this

Famille Perrin

Les Sinards Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2023

This is a very nice wine. Enjoyed with a pork chop with cranberry glaze and friends. Light and delicate nose of fruit and terroir. The wine is nicely balanced with soft tannins, delicious acidity and works perfect! Enjoy!! — 7 days ago

Silver Oak

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Great improvement from the last btl. Unfortunately my last & not on the top of my list to replace. — a month ago

David, Dave and 4 others liked this

Château Mont-Redon

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2016

Still catching up from two weeks ago. Well wasn’t this quite the joy! Slightly shy upon opening, with more red fruit on the palate. Developed considerably in the glass and bottle, filling out with black fruit and a tight, beautiful tannin core. Seems in a great place right now but with years ahead of it. — a month ago

Château de Saint-Cosme

Côtes du Rhône Syrah 2024

At Stubborn Seed in Vegas — a month ago

Paul, Scott@Mister and 7 others liked this

E. Guigal

Côtes du Rhône Red Rhône Blend

Quite nice with Shawarma chicken and with roasted leg of lamb. — 2 months ago

Château de Saint-Cosme

Gigondas Red Rhone Blend 2010

[Tasted on July 2, 2026 at Home]
— 3 months ago

Château de Trinquevedel

Tavel Grenache Rosé 2024

Quaffable rose. Party notes. No time. Maybe I’ll return to this. — 5 days ago

Tom, Doug and 1 other liked this

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Mon Coeur Côtes du Rhône Red Rhone Blend 2024

Robust Côtes du Rhône red blend (Syrah & Grenache) with notes of dark fruit with strong tannin, enjoyed with salmon crudo at The Banks restaurant, Boston — 7 days ago

jesus, David and 1 other liked this

Château Rayas

Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 2010

Jol
9.4

Très puissant bonne année Ouvert depuis la veille — 25 days ago

Joe, David and 6 others liked this

Silver Oak

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

2007 vintage. Nice fill. Used a Durand to open but good cork nonetheless. Decanted and tasted after 15 minutes. JFC...does the oak ever die on this nonsense? Tried to bushwhack through it without success. Even the Alexander Valley product has the good sense to have the oak minimized/integrated/drop off after a decade. Not the case here. There's a reason why I haven't even considered carrying this on a wine list since the late 90's. This go round didn't exactly convert my opinion. 8.16.26. — a month ago

Ted, Tom and 9 others liked this

Clos de l'Oratoire des Papes

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2023

Timothy Eustis
9.3

My style of CdP. 2023. Rich and fruity with strong backbone of acidity. Ripe tannins, but in background. Garrigue all day long. Love — a month ago

Jay, Peter and 3 others liked this
Peter Sultan

Peter Sultan Influencer Badge

Plus points for the label!!@Timothy Eustis

Famille Perrin

Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 1990

Classic Besucastel! I first visited this property in 1987, and the Brett character was unmistakeable. This 1990 is aging extremely well. Strong Brett aromas, but the fruit is also strong and in balance. If you are one that thinks Brett is an unforgivable flaw, you will hate this. Great Chateauneuf from a great vintage! Celebrating my son’s 33rd birthday tonight (1993 wasn’t a great vintage in CdP!) with a perfectly grilled NY steak. I am very pleased with this wine — 2 months ago

Doug, Scott@Mister and 6 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

Glad you enjoyed it!! I do prefer the 1988 and 1989, but this is damn good!!!
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Jim Powers, oh, and Happy Birthday to Connor!!