Grenache

2008 Grant Burge Holy Trinity

2009 Domaine Soumade Rasteau Villages

This is always a luxurious, elegant, lush and generous wine that never fails to deliver- especially from the fabulous 2009 vintage. The yields at this excellent domaine are always low generally 35 hl/ha ( which is tiny ) for Andres Villages and much less for his super cuvees. The grape mix is mainly Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, with the proportions varying a little each vintage. Few vignerons are more interesting to visit than Domaine La Soumade’s Andre Romero, whose wines are longtime reference points for the wines of Rasteau, a village with some incredible terroirs as well as a high percentage of old vine Grenache. "Romero makes a bevy of Vin de Pays offerings, but his finest cuvees are his Cotes du Rhone and Rasteau wines. He also produces a small amount of Gigondas. Readers who don’t think Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon can do well in the Mistral winds and dry heat of the southern Rhone should check out Soumade’s offerings. St.-Emilion’s guru, Stephane Derenoncourt is the consulting winemaker, which may help explain why these wines are so good." R.Parker "The 2009 Rasteau is dark ruby/plum color is accompanied by plenty of black cherry liqueur, licorice, earth and spice characteristics. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy, succulent and hedonistic, this is a gorgeous wine to drink over the next 7-8 years."90/100 Parker

2009 Domaine Soumade Rasteau Prestige

"The 2009 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Rasteau Cuvee Prestige reveals abundant garrigue and black cherry notes intermixed with notions of licorice, earth and spice. Full, rich, supple-textured and relatively evolved, this classic Rasteau possesses heady alcohol, a big, bold, exuberant mouthfeel, and a succulent finish. It should drink nicely for 7-8 years.91/100 parker

2007 Bastide de Michel Oliver 'Cuvee Antoine'

This one was the star of our staff tasting for under $30 wines we landed in our new container- its a stunning old vine syrah. "The wines of Domaine la Bastide de Michel Oliver are made by superstar winemaker Michel Tardieu, of Tardieu-Laurent. Located in the heart of the Luberon region, at the edge of Provence, the estate is one of the rapidly rising stars of Southern France, producing stunningly rich, complex wines at outstanding prices. This wine is comprised of 80 % Syrah and 20 % Grenache, primarily older vines (20+ years), aged for 14 months in half barrels from France. The 2007 Cuvee Antoine is deep red with complex spice and black fruit aromas, intense, rich fruit and rounded tannins. Outstanding value!" Robert Parker

2009 Domaine Soumade Rasteau Fleur De Confiance

"A top cuvee made only in the finest vintages, the 2009 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Rasteau Fleur de Confiance comes from the oldest vines and/or best lots. While this cuvee is often capable of lasting 15-20 years, the 2009 seems destined for earlier drinking given the vintage character. Sweet, caramelized red and black cherry notes intermixed with spice box, earth and pepper are followed by a high glycerin, high octane style of wine (it must tip the scales at 15+% alcohol) with lots of density, atypically simple tannins and low acidity, which give it a forward, full-bodied, plush, heady mouthfeel. Velvety, opulent and fleshy, this is a wine to drink over the next decade".92 Parker The brilliant Andre Romeo and his son, Frederic, continue to be among the highest quality producers in Rasteau.

2009 Clos Des Pape Chateauneuf-du-Pape

“I tasted through various foudres of the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape and it is unquestionably a top-fl ight wine for Clos des Papes that is seductive and forward by the standards of this estate. It reminded me of the precocious style of the 2003, and Avril told me the 2009 is less alcoholic than either the 2003 or 2007, and the pH is a normal 3.75. Yields were a very small 20 hectoliters per hectare, largely because of their selection process and the drought. Every foudre I tasted was beautifully pure displaying a deep ruby/plum color, sweet kirsch and black raspberry fruit, full body, decent acidity (they never acidify here) and sweet, velvety tannins. This should turn out to be a mid-90-point wine that will take a back seat to the 2007, possibly even to their monumental 2006, but will surpass what they did in 2008, 2005, 2004, 1999 and 1998. The 2009 is a beautiful success that should drink well for 15+ years.” 92-95 Robert Parker

2009 L'Oratorie St Martin Cairainne Prestige

"This is one of the most highly respected estates in the Cotes du Rhone. Almost every insider speaks of l’Oratoire Saint-Martin, run by Frederic and Francois Alary, as an example of a perfectly managed, impeccably manicured vineyard as well as meticulous winemaking." R.Parker. "Similarly styled, the dark ruby/plum/purple-colored 2009 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Cairanne Cuvee Prestige offers aromas of figs, roasted Provencal herbs, forest floor, black cherries and black currants.89/100 Parker Probably the reference point for high quality Cairanne, this excellent estate has received many fine reviews from me in the past."

2004 Beaucastel Hommage Chateauneuf du Pape

It is only made in the top vintages, but the very limited cuvee of 500 or so cases of Hommage a Jacques Perrin, which is a wine with 60% Mourvedre and the rest the other permitted varietals, primarily Grenache, Syrah, Counoise, and some Vaccarese, was produced in both 2005 and 2004. The 2004 is potentially one of the legendary Jacques Perrin cuvees since the debut vintage of 1989. The potentially perfect 2004 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin has turned out to be just an amazing wine and one of the profound examples of this cuvee the Perrins have produced. It certainly has all the power, density, and richness of the great years, but there is almost a surreal elegance and lightness for a wine this powerful and dense. Almost difficult to describe, the gorgeous multi-layered texture, and the heavenly perfume of smoked meats, flowers, blueberries, blackberries, creosote, and truffles is a knock-out. In the mouth, it is medium to full-bodied with incredible intensity, purity, and overall symmetry. There's nothing out of place in this remarkable wine, and it seems somewhat approachable already, yet it will no doubt have the uncanny ability to age for 25-40+ years. 96-98/100 Parker

2008 Domaine L'Hortus Classique

Domaine de l'Hortus's dramatic location up against the cliffs of the Hortus and Pic Saint-Loup massifs themselves and offering shallow terraces with exposures ranging from north-facing for whites and Syrah (some propagated from Clape and Verset budwood) to south-facing for Mourvedre (from Tempier), sets it apart from other properties in its sub-appellation, and Languedoc pioneer Jean Orliac brings an unprecedented three decades of familiarity with this rocky realm of scree and iron- and quartzite-rich limestone. A blend of Syrah and Mourvedre "Black cherry, violets, and fennel on the noe with a creamy palate, with richly ripe fruit flavors and a twist of savory meatiness." A beaut from Southern France

2009 Autard Chateauneuf du Pape Ronde

"The outstanding 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape La Cote Ronde has the oak well-concealed beneath a cascade of black fruits. An equal part blend of Grenache and Syrah from 60-year-old vines (with the Syrah enjoying malolactic fermentation in barrel and aging in new oak), this wine displays plenty of licorice, creme de cassis, blackberry, subtle spice and a heady dosage of Provencal herbs in a full-bodied, thick, juicy style that never loses its place of origin despite the modern oak treatment. Full-bodied and powerful, it comes close to rivaling the best La Cote Ronde I have tasted to date, the 2007. It will be best drunk over the next 10-15 years" 92-94/100 R.Parker