Rhone Blend Wines
Rhone Blend Wine
The Rhône valley has historically been an underappreciated region when it comes to viticultural accomplishments. It has long remained in the shadows of Bordeaux, Champagne and other regions that normally represent the pinnacle of French winemaking prowess, yet it consistently gives birth to some of the most awe-inspiring, compelling and mouth-watering wines in the world. Blends like Hermitage or Côte-Rôtie are nothing short of heavenly, and they’re often underrated, not appearing in as many conversations as they truly deserve.In terms of grape varietals, the Rhône offers a fair amount of variety. Syrah and Grenache dominate the red wine blends of the region, whereas white wine aficionados can enjoy a tasteful, complex combination of Marsanne, Viognier, and Roussanne. Every one of these wines simply oozes with character and complexity, requiring multiple tastings to properly deconstruct for all except the best-trained connoisseurs.
You have quite a few excellent choices, regardless of your personal preference. A 2003 or 2001 vintage of “Hommage à Jacque Perrin” from Chateau de Beaucastel or a bottle of Réserve des Célestins from 2000, made by the artisan Henri Bonneau, can send you soaring to the cosmos as your senses are stimulated to their conceivable limit. The deep, often inky appearance of these wines reveals their raw power and boldness, making them a common favorite among those who explore this region’s produce. Examining each wine from the Rhône valley in detail would take us longer than the average fermentation period for one of these masterpieces, but allow us to introduce you to some of the finest representatives.
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1964 Paul Aine Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle93RPFirst, a magnum of 1964 Hermitage La Chapelle from Paul Jaboulet Aîné. Lucid in hue, it sports modest bricking on the rim. Its initial tightness on the nose soon disappears to re..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $2,325.00 -
1985 Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline100RPOne of the all-time great La Moulines, this still youthful and unevolved wine does not have the tannic ferocity of the 1988, or the sheer force and intensity of the 1978, 1976, and..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $3,520.00 -
1988 Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque100RPDeep purple-colored, with grilled meat and smoky, barbecue-like aromas beginning to emerge, along with lavishly ripe scents of black plums and cassis, the 1988 La Turque is not qui..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $1,845.00 -
1989 Chapoutier Hermitage Le Pavillon100RPThe 1989 Le Pavilion is a prodigious wine. Made from yields of 14 hectoliters per hectare, this parcel of old vines (averaging 70-80 years of age) has produced an opaque black/purp..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $780.00 -
1990 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape98JSThis offers a super rich, earth, leather, spice and sweet-tobacco nose with a very similar texture to the 2017. It has a rich, dark, nutty core with very intense, long black fruit ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $575.00 -
1990 Chave Hermitage99JDThe 1990 Hermitage is fully mature yet holding beautifully. Perfumed notes of sweet cassis and blackberry fruits, rose hips, smoked meats, and exotic spices all flow to a full-bodi..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $1,895.00 -
1990 Paul Aine Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle100RPI’ve been lucky enough to drink probably a case of the 1990 Hermitage La Chapelle, and it’s always either rated pure perfection or just off that magical number. On this occasio..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $1,270.00 -
1995 Chapoutier Hermitage Le Pavillon100RPStill a youngster, the blockbuster 1995 Ermitage le Pavillon is a quintessential Hermitage in every way. Full-bodied, powerful, thick and unctuous, with tons of smoky, black, black..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $2,999.00 -
1995 Chave Hermitage Cathelin97RPThe 1995 Hermitage Cuvee Cathelin is another magical wine from this family estate that’s drinking brilliantly today. Its vivid ruby, semi-opaque color (classic mature Hermitage) ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $9,410.00 -
1996 Chapoutier Cote Rotie ''La Mordoree''91RPI was less impressed with the 1996 Cote Rotie La Mordoree from bottle than I was from cask. Michel Chapoutier still believes it is one of the finest examples he has produced, but a..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $190.00 -
1998 Beaucastel Chateauneuf Du Pape95JDA big, rich wine with huge amounts of fruit oozing out of the glass. Great concentration and intensity, with licorice flavors from the Mourvèdre, finishing with chewy tannins. A g..." Learn MoreAs low as $149.00 -
1998 Chave Hermitage Cathelin Cuvee98+VMReticent, minerally nose hints at great sweetness and ripeness; notes of blackberry and tar emerge with aeration. Round, rich and layered in the mouth; still quite closed but the w..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $10,685.00 -
1999 Guigal Cote Rotie La Turque100RPThe 1999 Cote Rotie La Turque reveals notes of toasty vanilla and espresso in addition to Asian spices, mocha, pepper, blackberries, creosote, and roasted meats. The exotic perfume..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $1,239.00 -
1999 Rayas CDP92RPThe dark ruby-colored 1999 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape admirably conceals its 15% alcohol. With serious structure and tannin, this medium to full-bodied, closed 1999 offers beautiful..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $2,880.00 -
2000 Andre Brunel CDP Cuvee Centenaire96RPThe heady 2000 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Centenaire is more evolved than either the 2001 or 1998. Extremely full-bodied, with low acidity, and a knock-out bouquet of blackberry and..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $165.00 -
2000 Beaucastel Chateauneuf Du Pape94RPAbsolutely firing on all cylinders and with an open, borderline slutty profile, the 2000 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a dream on the nose, showing complex, meaty ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $115.00 -
2000 Chave Hermitage Cathelin Cuvee97AGChave’s 2000 Cuvée Cathelin was monumental. It was a privilege to taste, but also a shame to open so early. If the 1991 seemed young, the 2000 came across as a veritab..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $6,749.00 -
2000 Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes99RPThe 2000 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is even better, with another layer of texture and depth. Chocolate-laced fruits, cured meats, spice, crushed rock and sweet spice all s..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $139.00 -
2001 Pierre Usseglio CDP Deux Freres99RPThe 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des Deux Freres elicits “wows”. Aged 60% in neutral wood foudres and 40% in one, two, and three-year old Burgundy barrels, this 200..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $275.00 -
2001 Pierre Usseglio CDP Mon Aeiul99RPMeaning Ancestor, and named in honor of Thierry and Jean–Pierre Usseglio’s grandfather, the 2001 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul, 100% ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $155.00 -
2001 Tardieu Laurent CDP Vielle Vignes92-94RP(aged in 50% new oak) Full red-ruby. Nose initially dominated by smoked plum, roasted nuts and black cardamom, but showed strong black raspberry fruit with aeration. Huge and exoti..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $94.95 -
2001 Tardieu Laurent HermitageDeep, bright ruby-red. Superripe aromas of beefsteak tomato, gunflint and smoke, with a medicinal austerity lurking behind the wine’s roasted elements. Fat, dense and full; a..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $125.00 -
2003 Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupoin95RPDeep purple in color with slight lightening at the edges; the 2003 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin shows stunning aromas of kirsch, raspberry compote, swe..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $135.00 -
2003 Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes98RPOne of the vintage’s most compelling wines, the huge, dense purple-colored 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes offers aromas of creme de cassis, creosote, and flowers ..." Learn MoreAs low as $155.00