Fine Wine > Red > France > $50-100

Cellar/Tasting Notes
Although it begins with austerity, its acidity and tannins dominant, the palate opens beyond its youthfulness after a few moments. It becomes dark and powerful, certainly still dryly tannic, but the fruit is generous, and the final taste is of beautiful, ripe fruits.

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"A virile, muscular-styled effort with high tannin, the 2006 Kirwan exhibits notes of crushed rocks, roasted herbs, black cherries, and currants. Although slightly tough-textured, it possesses impressive depth and richness. If some of the disjointedness and rustic edges become sweeter and better..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Taking advantage of the delicious fruit of 2006, this Branaire-Ducru shows a charming side. It brings out ripe, spicy black plums and black cherry spice to go with the lively, fresh tannins. That’s not to say that there isn't structure, but today it is the fruit that dominates."

Cellar/Tasting Notes
The Les Drazeys has a very nice dark ruby colour with an open and attractive nose, rather classic but complex and "unusual" at the same time. It has a well balanced structure on the palate with soft tannins, lively aromas, nice rhythm, and nice Côte de Nuits architecture. ..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"A candidate for wine of the vintage, the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape (a tank-aged blend of 90% Grenache and the rest Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault from 80+ year old vines) is a naked expression of Chateauneuf du Pape that is pure fruit and complexity. Its dense purple color is followed by aromas of..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
This red from Provence has great distinction, with subtle aromas and an extremely complex bouquet permeating through a deep ruby red color. Robust, rich in noble tannins, this wine has good aging potential.

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"A powerfully ripe wine, with pure black currant flavors over soft, polished tannins. The wood balance is exemplary, offering just the right lift. Touches of cinnamon and vanilla give an extra dimension."

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"I can’t say enough about how beautifully classic, racy, and gracious the wines of Brane Cantenac have become over the last decade. The stunningly elegant 2006 exhibits a sweet, subtle smoke note intermixed with creme de cassis in its medium-bodied style with superb nobility, concentration, and..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
[This] sensational Chateauneuf du Pape has fabulous fruit concentration. Full-bodied, pure and certainly a star of the vintage [it] is a brilliant achievement in 2009, and I kept going back to the glass for another whiff of the kirsch and black raspberry notes.

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Firmly structured, dark-fruited wine, very solid and dense. It has weight along with black currant fruits and acidity. It’s a wine that is rich but seriously structured for aging. "