Wine Spectator: 97 Points  Very rich, but cuts like a knife, with dried apricot, marzipan and wet stone notes leading the way for richer flavors of candle wax, heather, honey and white peach on the back end. The long, extremely taut finish...

Vinous:  95 Points Saturated red. Deep, concentrated aromas of kirsch, cola and blackcurrant, with mounting smokiness and Indian spice qualities. Livelier on the palate, offering sweet raspberry and cherry-cola flavors, velvety texture and a strong...

Wine Spectator: 96 Points  Shows the great embedded structure of the vintage, with a strong graphite undertow pushing the layers of blackberry, boysenberry and plum fruit, while additional sweet spice, mocha and bittersweet cocoa notes fill in...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 95 Points  The exuberant 2007 Hermitage Blanc reveals notes of petroleum, crushed rocks, earth, white currants and peaches, an unctuous texture, high glycerin and good acidity. This big, thick white Hermitage will...

  Wine Spectator: 96 Points  Sinewy and reserved, with a light dusting of cocoa powder over the tangy damson plum, red licorice and cassis notes. The long, supple finish, with a lovely wafting note of Lapsang souchong tea, is packed with...

Wine Spectator: 99 Points  Ripe and unctuous, showing terrific cut, with heather, white peach, green almond, Anjou pear, persimmon and macadamia nut notes all framed by a toasted brioche hint. Exquisitely detailed through the finish, this shows...

Wine Spectator: 97 Points  Still a bit reserved aromatically, with hints of orange blossom and crème anglaise peeking out, this features a captivating display of racy quinine, honeysuckle and white peach flavors inlaid into a rich core...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 96-98 Points  The 2011 Hermitage (also still in barrel), in comparison, is more focused and straight, with a slightly more serious feel to its tannin profile and overall structure. All of the samples (again,...

Vinous: 94 Points Dark purple. A heady, exotically perfumed boquet evokes black and blue fruit liqueur, incense, smoked meat and floral pastille, with a minerally nuance lending vivacity. Broad and sappy on the palate, offering intense...

Importer's Note: At the Domaine de Durban, the grapes are harvested as in the past: picking is done by hand so as not to damage the grapes; sorting is done straight from the vine, in order to eliminate the grapes damaged or not fully ripened. The grape...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 94-97 Points  Still in barrel at the time of this tasting, the 2013 Hermitage will certainly be one of the wines of the vintage. Offering classic, granite-induced notes of smoked dark fruits, graphite, searing...

Winemaker's Note:This is the grand wine of this tiny domaine. The vines are situation on the higher slopes of the Chaillot vineyard. The “terroir” is more complex here with a mixture of soil types and expositions. There are terraces of pure...

Winery Notes:  Emmanuel Reynaud is the fourth generation of wine growers. He took over from his father at Chateau des Tours and later in 1997 also  Chateau Rayas after the decease of his uncle Jacques Reynaud. The domain covers 40 ha. from...

Winery Notes:  Emmanuel Reynaud is the fourth generation of wine growers. He took over from his father at Chateau des Tours and later in 1997 also  Chateau Rayas after the decease of his uncle Jacques Reynaud. The domain covers 40 ha. from...

Wine Spectator: 98 Points Honeysuckle, verbena and chamomile aromas stream out first, followed by a remarkably creamy core of yellow apple, white peach, heather honey and warm mirabelle plum notes. Hazelnut oil and brioche line the finish,...

Vinous: 95-97 Points Tasted in components: #1, from Peleat: Vibrant red and dark berry character, along with intense floral and mineral nuances and silky texture. #2, from Beaume: Heady, smoke- and spice- accented dark berry and floral pastille...

Importers Notes: Located in the northern part of the Vaucluse, the soils are mostly on slopes with limestone and rocks, at medium alitude (until 350 meters). Grapes usually ripeness in late September. The soils are poor and the Mediterranean climate...

Jeb Dunnuck: 99 Points  A classic blend of mostly Mourvèdre, the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage A Jacques Perrin is a blockbuster that’s certainly the wine of the vintage. Possessing an inky purple color to go with an...

James Suckling: 97 Points All 13 grapes. This has a dark fruited, blueberry and blue plum nose with wide swinging tannins. Some white peppery elements, violets, brooding dark spices, blue fruits and dark plums. Builds from the ground up. Dark...

Importer's Note: At the Domaine de Durban, the grapes are harvested as in the past: picking is done by hand so as not to damage the grapes; sorting is done straight from the vine, in order to eliminate the grapes damaged or not fully ripened. The grape...

Jeb Dunnuck: 100 Points  Matching the otherworldly 2009, the 2015 Hermitage Blanc is a perfect wine and certainly one of the greatest whites ever made from this hallowed estate. The normal blend of 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne from the...

Importer's Note:Dominique Ay, the serious-minded proprietor of Domaine Raspail-Ay, makes one of the most iconic wines in all of Gigondas . Its 19 hectares make up one contiguous block of vines, midslope on the rugged clay/limestone...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:  93 PointsA stunning entry-level effort, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape from Mas de Boislauzon is full-bodied, richly textured and plush. This 70-30 blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre was raised exclusively in...

Producer's Note:The 2016 vintage in the Southern Rhone valley is exceptional, both in terms of quality and quantity, thanks to idyllic weather conditions that protected the region from climatic accidents throughout the whole year. Pretty pale yellow...

Jean-Marc Autan, the current proprietor of Piaugier, is the latest in a long line of family members to farm this remarkable estate located at the foot of the dramatic Dentelles de Montmirail in the southern Rhone Valley. Their 30 hectares of vineyards...

James Suckling: 98 Points  Impressive, complex array of wild cherries, raspberries, garrigue herbs, lightly spiced pastry and stony, chalky minerals. Super-fresh florals. The palate has superb texture, roundness, completeness, depth and detail...

James Suckling: 98 Points Impressive, complex array of wild cherries, raspberries, garrigue herbs, lightly spiced pastry and stony, chalky minerals. Super-fresh florals. The palate has superb texture, roundness, completeness, depth and detail. Powerful...

Wine Maker's Note:One cannot think of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the most celebrated cru of the Southern Rhone, without thinking of Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe. The Brunier family is legendary in its own right, havingbeen rooted to the enigmatic plateau...

Vinous: 90-92 Points  Opaque ruby. Smoke-accented blueberry and cherry compote aromas pick up peppery spice, lavender candy and mineral nuances with air. Fleshy and broad on the palate, offering sweet, deeply concentrated red and blue fruit...

Importer Notes:  This wine comes from our friend Antoine, a young wine- maker who just took over his family business in the Côte du Rhône appellation. This 100% Grenache cuvee is a firework of flavors! This wine is like a little piece of...