Fine Wine > Red > Still > $20-50 > France

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Perhaps the greatest Chateauneuf du Pape Guigal has ever made (he agreed, by the way) is the voluptuously textured, opulent, nearly over the top 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape. Dense ruby/purple, with an exquisite nose of kirsch, blackberry, black raspberry, charcoal, licorice, and garrigue, this blend..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"A blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2006 exhibits a dense purple color as well as a sweet perfume of creme de cassis, cherry liqueur, licorice, spice box, and crushed rocks. With full body, sweet tannin, admirable purity, and brilliant harmony among its..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"A blend of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2006 exhibits a dense purple color as well as a sweet perfume of creme de cassis, cherry liqueur, licorice, spice box, and crushed rocks. With full body, sweet tannin, admirable purity, and brilliant harmony among its..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"There's a deep well of dark fruit on the nose, with crushed blackberry and hints of dark chocolate. Subtle and rich. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. Tight and powerful. Excellent length to this. —J.S."

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"... it displays plenty of kirsch, sweet cherries and red currants along with some sandy/loamy soil and roasted herb notes in a very sexy, up-front, lush, medium to full-bodied style. There’s not a hard edge to be found in this La Croix de Gay ..."

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Juicy red currant with subtle smoked herbs, truffle, and spice box jump from the glass of this dense ruby/purple-colored wine. Possessing silky tannins, seductive, ripe fruit with an opulent texture and no hard edges, but serious tannin lurking behind the wealth of fruit and glycerin, this is..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"A good value among over-achieving St.-Emilion estates is La Fleur Cardinale’s 2009. Composed of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, some of the abrasive tannins noticeable early on in this big wine (14.5% alcohol) are now sweeter and better integrated. Made from tiny yields..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"... One of the sleeper cuvees of the entire cellar, ground pepper intermixed with tapenade, creme de cassis, and smoky barbecue notes are followed by a wine with great fruit, good acidity, and striking minerality. It should drink well for a decade or more."

Cellar/Tasting Notes
...this ripe, richly fruity wine has plenty of black cherry, black currant and cedary notes intermixed with some tobacco leaf and subtle background barrique smells. The wine is medium-bodied, possesses excellent concentration...

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"… shows lovely focus in its small red berries, flowers and mint…The Marsannay is a very pretty wine at this level."