2015 – Bosquet des Papes A la Gloire de mon Grand-Père – Produced from 98% old vine Grenache, with just 1% Cinsault and 1% Clariette for spice and floral notes, the wine is full bodied, deep and intense. Rich, concentrated, juicy and opulent, the layers of sensuous, rich fruit keep on coming. The opulent fruit filled finish is a stunner. 96 Pts

2015 – Bosquet des Papes Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes – Sexy stuff here, with its silky, elegantly textured fruit. Light on its feet, due to the freshness, full bodied and concentrated due to all the ripe, juicy fruit and with a spicy, fruity, clean finish that feels and tastes great. The wine was made using 86% old vine Grenache, 7% Syrah and 7% Mourvedre. 95 Pts

2015 – Bosquet des Papes Tradition – Medium bodied, finesse styled, fresh and silky, with an elegant slant to its red fruits. Sweet, spicy, lush and polished, I really like the character going on here. The wine was blended from 75% Grenache, 12% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, 1% Vaccarese and 1% Counoise and 1% Cinsault. 92 Pts

2015 – Bosquet des Papes La Folie – The debut vintage from Bosquet des Papes of La Folie was produced from 80% old vine Grenache and 20% Mourvedre. Explosive aromatics are set off with smoky oak, once past the wood, the wine displays spicy, dark red berries, hints of blue fruit, earth and spice. Full bodied, powerful, long and concentrated, the wine is a bit too present at the moment making this not fun to enjoy young. But there is the structure and a wealth of fruit, along with ample tannins to allow for some real age on this wine. This will be a beauty with a few years of age. 94 Pts

2015 – Brotte Chateauneuf du Pape Domaine Barville – Medium bodied, with a sweet and tart core of fruit that is paired perfectly with its Provencal herbal character. 89 Pts

2015 – Brotte Domaine Barville, Secret Barville – Luscious, fresh and sweet, with polished, juicy, red plum, black cherry and kirsch. Those fruits and flavors stick with you, from start to finish. The wine has good character and will drink well early, yet age a bit too. 92 Pts

2015 – Brotte, Chateau de Barville, Les Hauts de Barville – Forward, early drinking, medium bodied, fresh and correct, there is a nice, sweet, fresh, juicy kirsch and cherry essence in the nose and finish. 91 Pts

2015 – Cabrieres Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Polished, supple and silky textured, on the palate you quickly discover loads of fresh, sweet fruits, packed with garrigue, kirsch and black raspberries. The finish continues in the same vein with just picked, peppery black raspberries. The wine was made from a blend of 50% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre and 10% Cinsault. 91 Pts

2015 – Le Clos du Caillou Les Quartz – Wild, fresh picked cherries, saline, rocks and stones are out in front. The purity of fruit really stands out on the palate, which has concentration and staying power coupled with its silky tannins. The wine was made from 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah. 94 Pts

2015 – Le Clos du Caillou Chateauneuf du Pape Tradition – Silky, soft polished fruits with sweetness and freshness here. The wine has a beautiful polished exterior and loads of kirsch and sweet plums in the finish. This is perfect for drinking young while waiting for its bigger brothers and sisters to develop more complexities. The wine was made using a blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah. 92 Pts

2015 – Le Clos du Caillou La Reserve – The purity of fruit here is impossible to ignore. Dark in color, balanced, fresh and lively, the wine has concentration of flavor, elegance and freshness, with a luscious, sensuous texture and a spicy, mineral character. This is quite a strong result here. The wine is produced from a blend of 55% Grenache and 45% Mourvedre. 97 Pts

2015 – Le Clos du Caillou Les Safres – Wet earth, garrigue and cherries might be what you find first. But the center of polished, rich, intense, silky red fruits is what rivets your attention. Sweet, spicy fruits, freshness and silky tannins complete the wine. The wine is made using 95% Grenache, 2% Mourvedre, 2% Cinsault and 1% Vaccarese. 93 Pts

2015 – Les Cailloux (Lucien et Andre Brunel) Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Sweet cherries and pepper line right up for the perfume. On the palate, the wine is fresh, forward and polished, which is a good setting for the juicy kirsch in the finish. The wine is made using a blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah and 5% Cinsault. 91 Pts

2015 – Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Cuvee Centenaire – If silky textures and a purity of fruit are what you’re seeking, you came to the right place. Soft, polished, sensuous textures and sweetness of flavor with peppery accents and loads of kirsch on the back end are going to keep you coming back for more. The wine is made from 100% old vine Grenache. 95 Pts

2015 – Charbonniere Chateauneuf-du-Pape – With equal amounts of earth and pepper, the wine is forward, soft and silky with polished tannins and a blast of spicy, sweet, red fruits in the finish. The entry level of wine here, offers good value and it’s ready to drink on release. 91 Pts

2015 – Charbonniere Mourre des Perdrix – Soft textured, with elegant, silky tannins, concentration of flavor and loads of sweet, ripe, juicy, peppery cherries in the finish The wine was produced from 70% Grenache 15% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre. 92 Pts

2015 – Charbonniere Cuvee Speciale Les Hautes Brusquieres – Deep in color, with an equal depth of flavor, the wine is rich, concentrated, deep and long. There is a wealth of fruit here and a finish that really fills you up with its spicy red berries and ripe, tannins. You can age this stunner, or drink it young. The wine was produced using a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. 94 Pts

2015 – Domaine de la Charbonniere Vieilles Vignes – As you would expect, there is real old vine intensity of flavor and concentration here. The Grenache is quite peppery, the finish is long and the fruit in the end note has a real kick to it. 93 Pts

2015 – Clef de Saint Thomas Pierre Troupel – Forward, spicy and fresh, with sweet, easy to taste, dark red fruits with hints of peppery spice. The wine was made using equal portions of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. 90 Pts

2015 – Domaine Clef de Saint Thomas La Clef de St. Thomas – Soft textured and easy to like, the wine offers sweet red fruits, and spice that will not require aging to show its best. The wine was made from a blend of 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 25% Mourvedre. 88 Pts

2015 – Clos du Mont Olivet – Medium bodied and finesse in style, the wine makes a beeline to its red cherry center. Silky tannins and sweetness in the fruit is the name of the game here. The wine was made from a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 6% Mourvedre and 4% of various, allowable AOC grapes. 91 Pts

2015 – Clos du Mont Olivet La Cuvee du Papet – Sexy, silky and sensuous, there is purity to the fruit, length and ripe, polished tannins. The wine has weight, balance, harmony and a plethora of sweet, ripe, red fruits to make this something that tastes as good as it feels. Produced from a blend of 75% old vine Grenache, 15% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah, the wine reached 15% alcohol. 96 Pts

2015 – Clos Saint Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Earthy, with plush, polished, ripe tannins, fresh, sweet, ripe, red fruits and a nice, purity in the soft textured, pure, kirsch finish. 90 Pts

2015 – Clos Saint Jean Deus-Ex Machina – Love this wine. Power and complexity, purity and freshness, lushness and length, there are all here. The wine is mouth filling, and still perfectly balanced, which is a good thing as you really want more of the juicy kirsch, plum and peppery black raspberry that keeps on coming. The wine was made from blending 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvedre. 97 Pts

2015 – Clos Saint Jean La Combe des Fous – Lots to love here, with its luscious, rich, dense, sensuous hedonistic textured red fruits. Speaking of fruit, there are multiple layers of red, and dark red berries that paint your palate with layers of freshness and juice. 96 Pts

2015 – Duseigneur Catarina – With a fresh nose of Provencal herbs, thyme, pepper ad earth, the wine is medium bodied, with a blast of peppery, sweet, black raspberries. Luscious and lusty, the wine is made from 85% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. 92 Pts

2015 – Duseigneur Joanna – Polished textures, sweet, fresh and spice red berries and a boat load of cracked black pepper create the wine. Full bodied, and loaded with spicy kirsch, the wine is made from 100% old vine Grenache. 93 Pts

2015 – Gigognan Clos du Roi – Ripe juicy black cherries and spice notes, soft, tannins and a core of sweet, red berries are what you find from start to finish in this already, tasty wine. The wine is made from 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. 90 Pts

2015 – Gigognan Cuvee Cardinalice – Medium bodied, fresh, spicy and delivering a liberal dose of Provencal herbs that only add to the fresh, sweet, ripe, red berries and kirsch that make up the wine. The wine is created from blending 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. 92 Pts

 

2015 – Giraud Cuvee les Grenaches de Pierre – With a fabulous purity of fruit, silky tannins and a finish that does not want to quit, this just keeps on going. And that’s a good thing, because I cannot get enough of all the juicy, ripe, kirsch, garrigue, wild strawberries and supple textures! The wine is made from 100% old vine Grenache. 95 Pts

2015 – Giraud Les Gallimardes – Deep ruby red in color, there is a complex spicy quality to the layers of red berries, pepper and garrigue, that tastes good and feels better. The purity in the kirsch really shows here. Concentrated, deep, richly textured and long, the wine was made from blending 90% Grenache with 10% Syrah. 96 Pts

2015 – Giraud Tradition – Kirsch, iron and garrigue make their presence with no effort. Silky, soft and sensuous, this elegantly styled Southern Rhone combines freshness with polished, red berries. Drink it young or age it. It’s hard to believe this is their entry level wine, because it’s so good. The wine was produced from blending 65% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre. 92 Pts

2015 – Grand Tinel Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Medium bodied, forward, elegant and fresh, the fruit is sweet, light and in balance. Not for long aging, but as an early drinker, this is quite nice with a lot of easy drinking charm. The wine is made from blending 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre. 91 Pts

2015 – Grand Tinel Alexis Establet – Floral and fresh, with cherry blossoms, kirsch, thyme and black pepper at its core, the wine delivers its elegant, sweet, soft textured, supple, red cherry character with ease. The wine is made from 100% old vine Grenache. 93 Pts

2015 – Grand Tinel Heres – Silky soft and polished, this refined wine tastes and feels great. Loads of elegant, polished, fresh berries, with a good sense of purity in the fruit. This is the first time for me with this wine. The wine was made from 100% old vine Grenache. 94 Pts

2015 – Les Halos de Jupiter – With a nose that starts with charcoal, smoke, stone, pepper and red fruits. From there, when you move to palate, the wine is medium bodied, round, soft and polished, finishing with ripe, juicy cherries and thyme in the finish. You can drink this young, as well as age it for further development. 92 Pts

2015 – Les Halos de Jupiter Adrastee – From 100% old vine Grenache that comes from vines in the clay soils planted in the La Crau lieu-dit that are over 100 years of age. With all the density of fruit and flavor, this is concentrated and long, that is also providing you with a real sensation of minerality from the moment you meet the juicy, kirsch nose. On the palate the wine is rich, fat, and juicy, with sweet, pure, red fruits, polished tannins and an opulent personality. 95 Pts

 

2015 – Jean Royer Cuvee les Sables de la Crau – Polished, silky and fresh, the fruits are ripe, sweet and delicious. Loads of kirsch here on the palate and nose, with even more fruit in the juicy, elegant, fresh finish. The wine was made from 100% old vine Grenache from vines located in the La Crau lieu-dit. 93 Pts

2015 – Jean Royer Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Medium bodied, fresh and sweet with a tobacco and spice note to compliment the fruit, the wine is already approachable, due to its forward charm, leaving with wild strawberries and on the nose, and palate. The wine was made using 90% Grenache, 5% Syrah and 5% Cinsault. 92 Pts

2015 – LAbbe Dine – Medium bodied, fresh and with ample, sweet, red cherry and wild strawberry to get things started. The wine is soft, polished and peppery, with just the right garrigue accent to hit the spot. 90 Pts

2015 – Mayard La Crau de Ma Mère – Polished, sweet and fresh, there is an elegant texture to the juicy, sweet kirsch that is complicated by spicy notes and soft, round tannins. The finish delivers a bowl of fresh, juicy, cherries. The wine was made using 70% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah. 92 Pts

2015 – Mayard Clos du Calvaire – Earthy, with garrigue and spice. There is a sweetness and elegance to the fruit, polished tannins and freshness in the finish, making this a really fine wine. The wine is made from a blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Cinsault and 5% Mourvedre. 90 Pts

2015 – Mayard Domaine du Pere Pape – A nice mineral note pops right up, just before you find the lush, red fruits. Sweet and silky, with freshness and purity, the wine was made from a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Cinsault and 5% Mourvedre. 91 Pts

 

2015 – Olivier Ravoire Chateauneuf-du-Pape – With a nose of florals, kirsch and spice, the wine is medium bodied, soft and polished, with a peppery, fleshy, cherry note that kicks in with the finish. This should be charming on release. The wine was produced from blending 80% Grenache with 20% Syrah. 90 Pts

sweet, polished fruits and herbs, with the perfect, peppery hint, that just keeps on going. 94 Pts

2015 – St. Paul Chateauneuf-du-Pape – With a strong Provencal, herbal charm, the wine is medium bodied, fresh and forward. Dominated by kirsch and red plums the wine should offer its sweet. spicy, red fruits with ease on release. The wine was made blending 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. 89 Pts

2015 – St. Paul L’Insolite – Dark, spicy and deep, the wine is rich, stony and fresh. Full bodied and intense, there is a peppery accent to the red berries and lift giving this a freshness from start to finish. Made from 100% Syrah, this is an interesting wine to taste, as there are only a handful of Chateauneuf du Pape wines made with only Syrah. 92 Pts

2015 – Vaudieu Avenue – Smoked meat, garrigue and cherry liqueur get this off the ground and on to a good start. On the palate, this is sexy, with sweet, lush, cherries that don’t want to quit. Made from 100% old vine Grenache, there is sweet, fruit, depth, purity and freshness going on here. 95 Pts

2015 – Vaudieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Ripe, juicy kirsch, flowers, herbs and wild cherries kick things off. Spicy red fruit with olives adds the finishing touch to this medium bodied, soft, spicy, red berry treat. The wine was blended using 81% Grenache and 19% Syrah. 92 Pts

2015 – Vaudieu Amiral G – From 100% old vine Grenache, from vines not too far from Rayas, this earthy, mineral driven beauty shows black raspberry, garrigue, thyme and pepper in the nose, and on the richly textured, full bodied, soft palate. With weight and depth, this is really fine and will age nicely. 94 Pts

2015 – Vaudieu Val de Dieu – Intense and rich, yet, elegantly refined and pure, the spicy, sweet cherry and floral nose is just great. The tannins are pure silk and the kirsch really sticks with you from start to finish. The wine was made blending 60% Grenache and 30% Syrah with 10% Mourvedre. 95 Pts