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Rhône Valley

The Rhône Valley in southeast France follows the Rhône River for 125 miles and is home to some 170,000 vineyard acres. It is beloved by admirers of robust, fruit-filled, tannic red wines made from Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsualt. Though red wines predominate, the Rhône Valley also makes excellent fruity, full-bodied but dry white wines from Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne. Some of the justly famous wines from the Rhône Valley include Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Condrieu, Gigondas and Cornas. Rosé wines are also produced. Vineyards have been cultivated in this area since at least 600 B.C., and by the 13th century the wines of the region were being served to the Pope, who during the 13th century resided in nearby Avignon rather than in Rome. The prestige associated with the reds preferred by the Pope led to the name Châteauneuf-du-Pape, or the “new home of the pope.” The region is generally divided into north and south when discussing wine types, and there are many appellations within the valley. Along with Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne, Rhône wines are among France’s best known and most collected wines.

2018 E. Guigal Chateau de Nalys Chateauneuf du Pape

Lightly depressed cork

WE  97   
WS  95   
VN  94   
JS  94   
JD  94   
WA  93   
WS  #10 of 2021   

2018 E. Guigal Chateau de Nalys Chateauneuf du Pape

Lightly depressed cork

WE  97   
WS  95   
VN  94   
JS  94   
JD  94   
WA  93   
WS  #10 of 2021   

2001 Domaine de Beaurenard (Coulon) Boisrenard Chateauneuf du Pape

Label condition issue

RP  97   
WS  95   
ST  88-91   

2001 Domaine de Beaurenard (Coulon) Boisrenard Chateauneuf du Pape

Light label condition issue

RP  97   
WS  95   
ST  88-91   

2000 Bois de Boursan Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Felix

Light capsule condition issue; signs of past seepage; light label condition issue

RP  96   
ST  93   

2016 Franck Balthazar Cornas Les Chaillot

WS  95   
VN  95   

2012 Roger Sabon Chateauneuf du Pape Le Secret des Sabon

WS  95   

2016 Chateau Saint Cosme Côte-Rôtie

Light label condition issue

JD  95   
WA  93   
WS  93   
VN  93   

1999 Tardieu-Laurent Côte-Rôtie

Light capsule condition issue; light signs of past seepage; light label condition issue

RP  95-97   
ST  93+    
WS  91   

1999 Tardieu-Laurent Côte-Rôtie

Light label condition issue

RP  95-97   
ST  93+    
WS  91   

1998 Tardieu-Laurent Côte-Rôtie

Light capsule condition issue; light signs of past seepage; light label condition issue

WA  94-96   

2010 Domaine du Coulet (Matthieu Barret) Cornas Billes Noires

WS  94   

1999 Domaine Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve

Light capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; signs of past seepage; light label condition issue; light writing on label

RP  94   
ST  93   

1999 Domaine Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve

Light capsule condition issue; light label condition issue

RP  94   
ST  93   

1998 Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage

Light capsule condition issue; elevated cork; signs of past seepage; light label condition issue

ST  94   
RP  91-93   

1998 Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage

Light capsule condition issue; lightly elevated cork; signs of past seepage; light label condition issue; light writing on label

ST  94   
RP  91-93   

2019 Maison Stephan Côte-Rôtie Les Binardes

Light label condition issue

VN  93   
CT  92.4   

1999 E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Label condition issue

WS  93   
RP  90   
WS  #1 of 2002   

1999 E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Lightly depressed cork; label condition issue

WS  93   
RP  90   
WS  #1 of 2002   

2017 Xavier Gerard Côte-Rôtie

Light label condition issue

VN  93   
JR  16.5+    

2009 Alain Verset Cornas

WA  92   

2010 Alain Verset Cornas

VN  92   
WA  90   

2011 B. Levet Cote Rotie Les Journaries

WS  91   
VN  90-92   

2003 Jasmin Côte-Rôtie

Depressed cork; label condition issue

WS  90   

1990 Delas Freres Cote Rotie Seigneur de Maugiron

Light capsule condition issue; label condition issue