James molesworth`s recommended rhône V

James Molesworth’s Recommended Rhône
V a l l e y
w i n e s
Nearly 925 wines were reviewed for this report. A free alphabetical list is available at www.winespectator.com/113010.
WineSpectator.com members can access complete reviews for all wines tasted using the online Wine Ratings search.
Top Wines
wine
Top Wines (continued)
ScorePrice
2008 Châteauneuf-du-Papes
Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2008
95 $100
E. Jeune Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine de St.-Paul 2008
94 $182
94 $110
A terrific effort that’s true to the character of the vintage, with a core
of mulled damson plum, blackberry and sweet tobacco.
Roger Sabon & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve 2008
94 $115
Pure,drivenandwell-rounded,withabeamofkirsch,crushedplum
and bright red currant fruit coursing through.
Domaine St.-Préfert Châteauneuf-du-Pape Auguste Favier Réserve 2008
Château de St.-Cosme Gigondas Le Poste 2008
94 $81
Château de St.-Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides 2008
Gorgeous aromas lead the way for a stylish yet persistent core of
raspberry, red currant and mulled cherry fruit flavors.
93 $85
Blackberry and mulled plum fruit is supported by well-embedded
acidity, with pastis, violet and black tea notes on the finish.
93 $40
Sixtine Réserve 2008
93 $99
93 $75
Ripe and fleshy, especially for the vintage, with dark bittersweet
ganache, fig, pepper, tobacco and cassis notes.
93 $76
Domaine de Mourchon Côtes du Rhône-Villages Séguret S Family Reserve 2008
Traditionalstyle,withblackcurrantandcherryfruitlacedwithblack
tea, sandalwood, incense and mulled spice.
Château de St.-Cosme Gigondas 2008
93 $44
Racy and fresh, with mouthwatering mineral and shiso leaf notes.
93 $63
Rock-solidred,withraspberry,kirsch,juniperandapplewoodnotes.
Domaine La Barroche Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2008
91 $50
92 $68
Tardieu-Laurent Vacqueyras Vieilles Vignes 2008
Les Vins de Vienne Gigondas Les Pimpignoles 2008
Lucien & André Brunel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 $44
Les Cailloux 2008
Offers a broad, ripe, silky palate of raspberry and blackberry fruit.
92 $75
91 $40
91 $41
Dark and alluring, with cocoa, black tea and truffle notes that lead
the way for blackberry, currant and fig paste flavors.
Verypure,withbrightredcherry,pomegranateandredcurrantfruit
carried by a licorice note. The finish is tangy but ripe.
This solid red displays mulled plum, blackberry and fig fruit.
91 $60
Verysolid,withbriarandsagenotesframingthejuicycoreofmulled
currant, crushed fig and bitter cherry flavors.
This has impressive density, with fleshy plum, cassis and berry fruit.
Domaine Giraud Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenaches de Pierre 2008
91 $NA
Quite dark, offering admirable depth and richness for the vintage,
with blackberry and linzer torte flavors.
Cuvée Speciale 2008
Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2008
91 $32
Very juicy, with damson plum, blackberry and black currant fruit
mingling with mulled spice and black tea hints.
Domaine de Mourchon Côtes du Rhône-Villages Séguret G Family Reserve 2008
Fine-grainedandBurgundian,withcherry,cloveandfruitcakeflavors.
Château de Vaudieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2008
91 $24
Balanced and persistent, with a core of plum, boysenberry and fig
flavors backed by graphite and black tea. Well-integrated.
Pierre-Henri Morel Gigondas 2008
Astylish,perfumyversion,withalluringaromasgivingwaytoasilky
palate of kirsch, pepper, shiso leaf and plum skin.
Tardieu-Laurent Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas 2008
Gabriel Meffre Gigondas Laurus 2008
93 $55
Ripe yet fleshy, without any of the vintage’s raisined edge or offset
acidity, which allows the flavors to stretch out.
Roger Sabon & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Prestige 2008
93 $70
Shows inviting aromas and flavors of black tea, warm fig sauce and
crushed plum and currant fruit, with a racy graphite note.
Taut and pure, with a very direct beam of crushed kirsch, raspberry
and pepper notes. Stays mouthwatering and driven.
Olivier Hillaire Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Petits Pieds d’Armand 2008
Château de St.-Cosme Gigondas Le Claux 2008
93 $75
Delivers a dark profile, with tobacco, sage, licorice root and mulled
black currant fruit backed by fig bread and smoke.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2008
Cuvée du Vatican Châteauneuf-du-Pape 94 $75
Nicegripcarriessage,madurotobacco,figpaste,mulledblackcurrant
and blackberry fruit in this bright, tangy red.
Large-scaled but beautifully rendered, with a dense core of Black
Mission fig, blackberry and black currant fruit.
Domaine de la Charbonnière 92 $55
Other Southern Rhônes
Vieilles Vignes 2008
M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Croix de Bois 2008
92 $48
Stylish,withblackcherry,damsonplumandmaceratedcurrantfruit.
Vieilles Vignes 2008
Tardieu-Laurent Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 $38
Invitingaromasleadtolushcherrypreserve,plumandaniseflavors.
Lush, with well-defined fruit and nut character and impressive mouthfeel.
Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 $60
Deliciouslyripe,withplum,anise,blackberryandboysenberryfruit.
Delivers dark roasted fig, macerated currant and plum fruit flavors.
Vieilles Vignes 2008
M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Barbe Rac 2008
ScorePrice
Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2008
Darkandalluring,withcaptivatingblacktea,charredmesquiteand
kirsch flavors allied to a remarkably silky mouthfeel.
Château de beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape White wine
Vignerons de Caractère Vacqueyras Domaine Mas du Bouquet 2008
Quite rich, with stylish cocoa and spice aromatics backed by fleshy
plum, raspberry ganache and blackberry flavors.
91 $40
91 $19
James Molesworth’s Recommended Rhône
V a l l e y
w i n e s
Nearly 925 wines were reviewed for this report. A free alphabetical list is available at www.winespectator.com/113010.
WineSpectator.com members can access complete reviews for all wines tasted using the online Wine Ratings search.
Top Values
Top Wines (continued)
wine
ScorePrice
northern rhÔne whites
M. Chapoutier Ermitage White L’Ermite 2008
95 $490
Ripe and focused, with a quinine streak stitching together honeysuckle,macadamianut,driedpeach,papayaandnectarineflavors.
M. Chapoutier Ermitage White de l’Orée 2008
94 $190
Dried chamomile flower and lime zest notes lead to vibrant flavors
of anise, fennel, white peach, salted butter and quinine.
M. Chapoutier Ermitage White Le Méal 2008
94 $190
93 $99
93 $75
93 $66
92 $78
92 $63
92 $100
92 $75
Domaine de la Guicharde Côtes du Rhône-Villages Massif d’Uchaux Cuvée Genest 2007
Domaine de la Janasse Côtes du Rhône White 2009
90 $13
90 $15
90 $14
Henri de Lanzac Tavel Château de Ségriès 2009
92 $75
Domaine de la Présidente Côtes du Rhône-Villages Cairanne Grands Classiques 2007
90 $15
Adark,modernstyle,showingfig,boysenberryandfruitcakeflavors.
90 $15
La Domelière 2009
This ripe red delivers a dark beam of plum, fig sauce and graphite.
90 $20
Racy, with flavors of red currant, cherry, sandalwood and incense.
Éric Texier Côtes du Rhône-Villages
Vaison-La-Romaine 2007
92 $80
90 $18
Apowerful,focusedrosé,withcherry,raspberryandredcurrantfruit.
Éric Texier Côtes du Rhône-Villages Chusclan 2006
90 $20
A strong iron edge frames the black cherry, violet and spice notes.
Les Vins de Vienne Côtes du Rhône White 90 $19
Les Laurelles 2009
92 $65
Thisripewhiteshowsalmond,nectarineandwhitepeachflavors.Solid.
Les Vins de Vienne Viognier Vin de Pays des Collines Ripeanddefined,withthevintage’stangyedgeoffsettingtheplump
melon, peach and heather honey notes at the core.
François Villard Condrieu Les Terrasses du Palat 2008
Dark and ripe, but pure, with fig paste and black currant fruit.
Cave de Rasteau Côtes du Rhône-Villages Rasteau
Rhodaniennes White Taburnum 2008
Verylivelyandripe,withgreenplum,anise,fennelandyellowapple
fruit flavors, all laid over bright, racy minerality.
90 $15
Racy, pure and long, offering a delightful beam of flavors.
Nicelyroundedforthevintage,withgrahamandgingernotesleading
the way for dense pear, fig and toasted almond flavors.
Les Vins de Vienne Vin de Pays des Collines 90 $20
Ripeandforward,withjuicyplum,blackberryandblackcurrantfruit.
92 $100
There’s a broad, soft core of creamed peach, nectarine and apple
flavors, but the edges are fresh and mouthwatering.
Les Vins de Vienne Condrieu Les Archevêques 2008
90 $20
Ripeandlush,withatangyframetotheplum,blackberryandfigfruit.
Domaine Font Sarade Ventoux 2009
Very lush for the vintage, with gorgeous melon, papaya, banana
cream and sweetened butter notes that extend throughthefinish.
Tardieu-Laurent Hermitage White 2008
90 $20
Thisstylishredshowssilkyplum,anise,violetanddarkpeppernotes.
Creamed yellow apple, peach and persimmon aromas give way to
a lush mouthfeel, with pear, melon, brioche and quince notes.
Tardieu-Laurent Condrieu 2008
Domaine Constant-Duquesnoy Vinsobres 2007
Dionysos Côtes du Rhône-Villages Cairanne
La Cigalette 2007
Broad,ripeandjuicy,withtextbookanise,peachandquinceflavors.
This has Viognier’s typical weight, but with extra zip.
E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane 2008
90 $20
Ajuicyred,withanopen-knitfeeltoitsmulledcurrantandberryfruit.
Domaine Le Couroulu Vacqueyras Cuvée Classique 2007
93 $73
A vibrant, tangy style, offering a core of yellow apple, melon and
green fig notes. Handles the vintage’s style admirably.
Jean-Michel Gerin Condrieu La Loye 2008
91 $17
A ripe red, boasts a juicy core of violet, plum and boysenberry fruit.
Veryjuicy,withafleshycoreofberryandbittersweetganachenotes.
Racy, with a taut edge to the quinine, quince, fig and pear flavors.
Shows excellent length and precision for the vintage.
Mathilde & Yves Gangloff Condrieu 2008
91 $19
Loaded with anise, fig bread, licorice and maduro tobacco flavors.
Chante Cigale Côtes du Rhône Vieilles Vignes 2007
Superbright and high-toned, this is pure and driven, with enticing
melon, lemon verbena, star fruit, apple and fennel notes.
Yves Cuilleron Condrieu Les Chaillets 2008
Domaine Les Grands Bois Côtes du Rhône-Villages Cairanne Cuvée Maximilien 2009
A lush, velvety mouthfeel caresses fig, currant and dark plum fruit.
This sports extra ripeness for the vintage, with layers of quince,
mango, green plum and pear character.
François Villard Condrieu Le Grand Vallon 2008
91 $19
Offers a dense core of plum, hoisin sauce, fig and berry fruit flavors.
Domaine des Auzieres Côtes du Rhône-Villages Gorgeouslypure,withcreamy,almostlush,apple,papaya,quinceand
pear flavors that glide with a porcelainlike feel.
François Villard Condrieu De Poncins 2008
Domaine Les Aphillanthes Côtes du Rhône-Villages Plan de Dieu Cuvée des Galets 2009
Roaix Le Serre Rouge 2007
This is really rich, yet the tangy acidity is there, with apricot, fig,
brioche and creamed melon flavors.
Georges Vernay Condrieu Les Terrasses de l’Empire 2008
ScorePrice
Domaine Roche Côtes du Rhône-Villages Cairanne 2009
Gorgeous apple and melon flavors form the core, with quinine,
candied lemon peel, cherry blossom, quince and green fig notes.
Michel & Stéphane Ogier Condrieu 2008
wine
90 $20
Rhodaniennes 2009
Pureandfocused,withmelon,peach,chamomileandquininenotes.
92 $62
Vignerons de Caractère Vacqueyras 90 $20
Seigneur de Fontimple 2009
Fleshy and forward, offering succulent plum and blackberry fruit.
Nov. 30, 2010 • Wine Spectator
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