Fine Wine > Still > France > $20-50 > 92-95 Pts > Red

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"From tank, the l'Oustal Blanc 2009 Minervois Giocoso - incorporating some Cinsault along with its usual Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan - is redolent of incense, freshly-baked ginger cookies, and confitured cherry and black raspberry ... There is terrific grip and lingering spice here, while a..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"The exceptional 2009 Crozes-Hermitage is one of the top wines of the vintage. A complex bouquet of black olives, licorice, ground beef, spring flowers and red and black currants soars from the glass of this 100% Syrah that is aged in 3-year-old barrels as well as larger foudres. With remarkable..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Domaine Grand Venuer's 2010 Lirac Clos de Sixte is outstanding. It is a full-bodied, rich, textural wine with abundant blue and black fruits interwoven with garrigue and licorice..."

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"The 2010 La Blaca (70% Syrah, 15% Grenache and 15% Carignan) exhibits an inky/purple color along with lots of camphor, acacia flower, blackberry and black raspberry fruit notes. Full-bodied, unctuously textured, juicy, heady and lush..."

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"This is full of succulent dark currant, dried cherry, stewed meat and violet flavors that take on plenty of mocha and bittersweet chocolate notes. The tannic finish is muscular, yet restrained, and features white pepper and cedar overtones. Drink now through 2020."

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Alary’s top cuvee, the 2010 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Cairanne Font d’Estevanas is a blend of equal parts old vine Grenache and Syrah, the latter planted in 1961, grown in the clay/limestone hillsides ... it is a fabulous unfiltered wine offering abundant notes of licorice, truffles, camphor, black..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Another blockbuster is the 2010 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Rasteau Cuvee Marc. Composed of 50% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre and 25% Syrah, this is a fabulous value from an increasingly promising appellation. A sumptuous bouquet of kirsch, licorice, chocolate fudge, blackberries and graphite emerges from..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Blackberry and black licorice on the nose, with hints of fresh herbs. Full and silky, with a solid core of fruit and tannins. Goes on beautifully...91-94"

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"Sandalwood, cinnamon, bergamot, and smoky evocation of crushed stone tinge sweet concentrate of black raspberry on the nose; then follow on a palate of already velvet-like textural richness yet vibratory intensity and positively refreshing primary juiciness. Notes of iodine, chard, shrimp shell,..

Cellar/Tasting Notes
"This 20+-acre vineyard, acquired by Gerard and Chantal Perse in 2001, is planted on a clay and limestone plateau. The 2009, a blend of 80% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, was cropped at 22 hectoliters per hectare, and possesses 14.2% alcohol. One of the top wines of the..