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 Chapelle97VMFirst, 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 disap..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $2,145.00 -
1983 Guigal Cote Rotie la Landonne98RPThis murky, purple/garnet-colored wine offers up an exotic nose of tea, smoked duck, licorice, truffles, and earth. Extraordinarily concentrated, and almost too rich to be called a..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $1,185.00 -
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 $3,400.00 -
1985 Paul Aine Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle96JSHints of amber to the brick-red center color. It shows lots of saffron, mushroom, forest floor, pastrami and other dried meats. Full body with incredible silky tannins and a depth ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $335.00 -
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 $1,630.00 -
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 $720.00 -
1990 Paul Aine Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle100DECJaboulet's Hermitage La Chapelle 1961, 1978 and 1990 are considered to be among the greatest wines ever made in the Rhône Valley. The 1990 was sourced from Les Bessards, Le M..." Learn MoreAs low as $1,175.00 -
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 Cathelin98JDThe 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 Hermita..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $9,135.00 -
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 $175.00 -
1996 Rayas Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Syrah94JDFrom a cool terroir located 25 kilometers north of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and from Syrah cuttings from J.L Chave, the 1996 Château Rayas Côtes du Rhône Ch&acir..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $515.00 -
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 $9,870.00 -
1998 Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline97RPThe awesome 1998 Cote Rotie La Mouline is a seamless, full-bodied classic with many characteristics of the 1997 La Landonne , but more structure, tannin, and muscle. It will need t..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $795.00 -
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 $2,660.00 -
2000 Andre Brunel CDP Cuvee Centenaire96JDA blend of 80% Grenache (from the Farguerol vineyard), 8% Syrah and 12% Mourvedre, the 2000 Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Cent..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $155.00 -
2000 Beaucastel CDP Hommage a Jacques Perrin99RPThe 2000 possesses an impenetrable black/purple color as well as a sumptuous bouquet of melted licorice, creosote, new saddle leather, blackberry and cherry fruit as well as roaste..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $479.00 -
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 Clos Des Papes CDP96DECFully mature at 17 years of age, this should remain on a plateau for the next seven or eight years. The palate is still generous and silky, with a touch of light tannin and notes o..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $135.00 -
2000 Domaine du Caillou CDP Res. Clos du Caillou99JDA spectacular wine, the 2000 Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Caillou Reserve is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvedre and exhibits ripe, smoky and dark ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $235.00 -
2000 Mordoree CDP Reine De Bois98JDWow, Domaine de la Mordorée's 2000 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de la Reine des Bo is almost the quintessential Chateauneuf and is glorious stuff. They should bott..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $140.00 -
2000 Rayas CDP93RPThe 2000 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape, which Emmanuel Reynaud believes is better than 1998, came in at a whopping 15.2% alcohol. It is reminiscent of a hypothetical blend of the 1998 ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $2,370.00 -
2001 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape96JDStill incredibly youthful and a touch reserved (especially when compared to the ’00), the 2001 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape still needs another 5 yea..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $75.99 -
2001 Domaine du Caillou CDP Res. Clos du Caillou100RPAs frighteningly spectacular as the 2000 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve Le Clos du Caillou was (I’ve drunk a half dozen or more bottles since my initial report), the 2001 Chatea..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $375.00
