The 1998 Cornas possesses depth as well as attractive ripeness, medium to full body, and aromas and flavors of damp earth, leather, blackberries, and minerals. It requires 2-3 years of cellaring, and should last for 14-15 years. The Wine Advocate, Feb 28, 2001, Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The spectacular, dense ruby/purple-colored 1997 Cote Rotie La Mouline boasts a complex nose of violets, peaches, and cassis. Soft, voluptuous, medium to full-bodied, and incredibly seductive, it is reminiscent of the 1991 and 1987. Anticipated maturity: now-2015. Wine Advocate (140), Apr 2002, Robert Parker
The 1996 Cote Rotie is a classic wine. The dark ruby/purple color is followed by notes of overripeness (even in such a cool year). The wine is full-bodied and dense, with copious tannin, roasted duck, bacon fat, animal, pepper, and cassis notes intermixed with apricots (about 1/2% of Viognier is included), and a chewy, well-structured, surprisingly long finish. It needs several years in the bottle, but possesses all the components necessary to age well for 12-15 years. This estate has been one of the most consistent small producers of Cote Rotie over the last decade. Aged for nearly two years in a combination of small barrels and larger foudres, the wine is bottled without fining or filtration. I asked Jean-Luc Jamet when the best time to drink their wines was, and he surprised me by saying, "between 8-12 years of age." I have found Jamet's dense, powerful vintages to only begin to evolve and open at age 10 (i.e., the 1988 and probably the 1991 as well). Jamet's prices remain among the more reasonable of the appellation, particularly given the high quality. 121, The Wine Advocate, 28 Feb 1999, Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1996 Hermitage La Chapelle is immensely impressive. The acidity is high. The color is black/purple, and the wine is extremely concentrated, but unevolved and impossible to penetrate. It could turn out like the 1983 and never develop as well as its early promise suggests. Nevertheless, it is a massive effort with extraordinary concentration, but the high acidity requires a minimum of 10 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025 Wine Advocate (129), Jun 2000, Robert Parker
This lighter-styled wine appears diluted in terms of color, but it possesses surprising quantities of sweet black cherry fruit intermixed with hints of resin, licorice, and tobacco. It is a medium to full-bodied Chateauneuf with far more flavor and intensity than its light-ish colors suggest. The wine requires consumption over the next 5-8 years. eRobertParker.com, Jan 2003, Robert Parker
The brawny, black/purple-colored 1995 Cote Rotie La Landonne reveals the animal, sauvage side of the Syrah grape. Licorice, prune, iron, and vitamin-like aromas compete with copious quantities of black fruits and smoke in this complex, structured, muscular, massive Cote Rotie. It will require 5-6 years of cellaring, and should keep for 30+ years. Wine Advocate (121), Feb 1999, Robert Parker
The 1995 Cote Rotie La Mouline (11% Viognier included in the blend) was scheduled to be bottled (unfined and unfiltered of course) in February, after 42 months in 100% new oak. This is one of the most extraordinary wines made in the world. As I have said many times, if I were ever stranded on the proverbial desert island with only one wine to drink, it would have to be La Mouline. A compelling perfume of violets, black raspberries, coffee, pepper, and pain grille soars from the glass. Medium to full-bodied and lush, with a terrific multi-layered texture and outstanding purity, this is a phenomenal example of La Mouline. It possesses enough structure and substance to last for two decades, although it will be delicious upon release. Wine Advocate (121), Feb 1999, Robert Parker
Two stellar performances from the Jamet brothers, both the 1996 and 1995 are impressively-endowed, rich, highly-extracted yet beautifully harmonious examples of Cote Rotie. The spectacular 1995 Cote Rotie reveals an even more opaque purple color than the 1996. The wine exhibits fabulous concentration, massive body, and a finish that lasts for nearly 30 seconds. At present, it is more impressive for its potential than its current drinkability. The juicy, smoky Syrah character is well-displayed in the tar, licorice, cassis-scented nose. Thick, viscous, highly-extracted flavors are pure and mouth-coating. This large-scaled Cote Rotie will be at its apogee between 2002-2018. Wine Advocate (113), Oct 1997, Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Verset's excellent, nearly outstanding 1995 Cornas offers a deep purple color, followed by a sweet, fragrant nose of jammy cassis fruit intermixed with minerals, licorice, and spice. Full-bodied, with copious spice, as well as impressive extraction of ripe fruit, this medium to full-bodied, surprisingly accessible Cornas can be drunk now as well as over the next 12-15 years. 113, The Wine Advocate, 31 Oct 1997, Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Similar to the 1995, the 1994 Châteauneuf du Pape Hommage À Jacques Perrin (70% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah, 10% Grenache, and 5% Counoise) comes from a vintage that had a hot summer (even hotter than 1995), followed by heavy rains on September 17th during harvest. Due to the warming growing season, ripeness was further along here, and this vintage favored those that harvested prior to rains. Probably the least impressive wine in the lineup, the 1994 offers a savory, complex profile with lots of garrigue, cured meats, Provencal herbs and sweet red and black fruits. It’s medium to full-bodied and concentrated, but there’s a slight dry edge to the tannin that gives me pause, and this is a wine I’d opt for drinking over the coming 4-5 years while there’s still ample fruit. 217, The Wine Advocate, 28 Feb 2015, Jeb Dunnuck
The great glories of this house are its Cote Roties, of which there are now five separate offerings. The single-vineyard 1994s were singing loudly when I saw them in July. All of them scored significantly higher than they did during the two previous years, which is not unusual as Guigal's upbringing (elevage) of the wines results in better examples in the bottle than in cask. All three wines flirt with a perfect score. At this tasting, they reminded me of Guigal's 1982s - opulent, sumptuously-textured, forward, rich, precocious, flattering wines that will drink well throughout their lives. The exotic 1994 Cote Rotie La Turque exhibits a dense purple color, and a fabulously-scented nose of licorice, Asian spices, truffles, minerals, and gobs of black fruits. Full-bodied, with great richness, a multi-layered personality, and an exotic, overripe character, this is a sensational, chocolatey, rich wine with more tannin than La Mouline. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2020. Guigal is one of the cellars where the wines always taste better after they are bottled than they do from cask, although as the scores in this segment indicate, some profound wines can be found in the 1994, 1995, and 1996 vintages Chez Guigal. 113, The Wine Advocate, 31 Oct 1997, Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1994 red Hermitage appears to be superb. Last year it tasted like a richer sibling of the 1985. This year it tasted significantly richer, but with the 1985's softness, elegance, and precocious appeal. The wine possesses a black/ruby/purple color, an intense, smoky, cassis, and mineral-scented nose, full body, superb density, a soft attack, good grip, and a long, impressively endowed finish. It is a wine of undeniable power, spice, tannin, fruit, silk, and fat-what else can you ask for? It should be drinkable by the year 2000 and last for 25 + years. Last tasted 6/96. Rhone Book, The Wine Advocate, 1 Jan 1997, Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A sleeper of the vintage, the 1994 offers up a fragrant perfume of kirsch, raspberries, leather, and tobacco in a medium to full-bodied, surprisingly authoritative style with outstanding depth, ripeness, and length. Compared to the cost of the 1990 and 1995, this is a steal. E2003, The Wine Advocate, 1 Jan 2003, Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1991 La Sizeranne reveals a saturated color and a pure nose of cassis, licorice, and roasted scents. A full-bodied, concentrated wine, it is as concentrated and intense as the 1990. Compared to Le Pavilion, this is much more forward. Anticipated maturity: 1998-2010. Last tasted 6/96. Rhone Book, The Wine Advocate, 1 Jan 1997, Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Showing a touch of oxidation, but still thoroughly enjoyable, full-bodied and textured, the 1991 Hermitage la Chapelle has lots of olive and darker fruits, as well as that mature la Chapelle bouquet of chocolate, soy and roasted meats. Big, fleshy and textured on the palate, I love it for its richness and it still has plenty of sweet tannin. I wouldn't push the aging curve here and see no reason to delay gratification, especially with the subtle kiss of oxidation. Nevertheless, this outstanding Hermitage offers plenty of character. Special Report (Sep 2015), The Wine Advocate, 14 Sep 2015, Jeb Dunnuck
The superconcentrated, opaque purple-colored 1990 La Mouline is closer in style to the otherworldly 1988 than I would have thought. Extremely rich, with a huge, bacon fat, toasty, cassis, and floral-scented nose, as well as phenomenally rich flavors, it is a wine known for its voluptuousness and extraordinary intensity. Anticipated maturity: 1997-2018. Last tasted 3/97. Rhone Book, The Wine Advocate, 1 Jan 1997, Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1990 Hermitage La Chapelle lived up to its reputation on this occasion, and of the three titans (1990, 1978 and 1961), it was probably my favorite. Still inky colored and ruby at the rim, it offers an absolutely profound bouquet of sweet cassis, smoked meats, chocolate, licorice and spice. This is followed by a full-bodied, insanely textured, pure and hedonistic palate that has that perfect mix of still-vibrant fruit and ample secondary nuances. I suspect the '61 was even richer at this stage, but the overall purity and freshness here are incredible. It will continue to evolve for decades, but I'd happily open bottles today. Special Report (Sep 2015), The Wine Advocate, 14 Sep 2015, Jeb Dunnuck
The 1989 single-vineyard Cote Roties are magnificent. Reminiscent of Guigal's 1985s and 1982s, the black/purple-colored La Landonne possesses fabulous concentration, and a sweet, expansive personality. It has plenty of tannin, but there is so much fruit that the tannin is largely concealed. This is another mammoth-sized wine with extraordinary extract. Anticipated maturity: 1999-2020. Rhone Book, Jan 1997, Robert Parker
This was the first vintage in the vertical tasting of La Chapelle that is beginning to reveal considerable secondary nuances and color development. Opaque purple/garnet with a touch of amber at the edge, this sexy, rich effort is more pleasurable aromatically than on the palate. However, it possesses multiple dimensions as well as abundant aromas of cedar, damp forest, spice box, and Asian spices. The soaring bouquet suggested the wine was more mature in flavor than it turned out to be. The wine is dense, with a firm, noticeably tannic edge, full body, and concentrated, powerful flavors. It is a classy, understated La Chapelle that requires another 5-6 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025 Wine Advocate (129), Jun 2000, Robert Parker
Once again the darkest, thickest, most powerful, and formidably concentrated of Guigal's single-vineyard Cote Roties, the 1985 La Landonne is also the least flattering and most intimidating. Like its two siblings, it is throwing a hefty sediment, with the inside of the bottle resembling that of a 15-year-old vintage port. The color is still a murky, inky purple. The nose offers up aromas of beef blood, vitamins (iron?), minerals, smoke, and truffles. Extremely thick, full-bodied, and massive, with noticeable tannin, this monster wine reveals no hard edges, but it does possess teeth-staining extract and power. It is a remarkable effort! Anticipated maturity: 2000-2025. Last tasted 8/96. Rhone Book, The Wine Advocate, 1 Jan 1997, Robert M. Parker, Jr.
One of the more finesse driven wines in the vertical, the 1985 Hermitage la Chapelle offered beautiful, complex notes of coffee beans, dried meats, potpourri and mint to go with a full-bodied, elegant and seamless feel on the palate. Following on the heels of the monster-sized '89, it still stood out for its purity, fine tannin and length on the finish. It's a beautiful wine drinking at point. Special Report (Sep 2015), The Wine Advocate, 14 Sep 2015, Jeb Dunnuck
Chave has always loved the 1983 (a sentiment I share, but the tannin in the wine is worrisome). It seems to me that his 1983 has the potential to be super, but it still remains charmless and austere. Deep dark ruby in color with some amber at the edge, it has a profound concentration of ripe, smoky, berry fruit and Asian spices, full body, exceptional depth and length, as well as a formidable tannin level. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2025. Rhone Book, Jan 1997, Robert Parker
Chave's 2019 Hermitage Blanc delivers just the merest hint of toasted grain on the nose, accenting green peaches and waves of honeyed richness. It's full-bodied and concentrated but not overdone, with tremendous length and a hint of bitterness on the finish that left me wondering if this wine will need 20 years to show its best, or if it was still suffering a bit from being bottled in July 2021. Joe Czerwinski, 21st Jan 2023, Wine Advocate
Tasted prior to bottling, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc contains a whopping 80% Roussanne. There's 15% Grenache Blanc, with the balance being a blend of the appellation's various permitted white varieties. It's a rich, full-bodied example of white Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with honeyed notes of pineapple, peach and citrus all playing leading roles, while a touch of anise appears on the lingering finish. The Wine Advocate (238), 1st Sep 2018, Joe Czerwinski
Like the 2018, Gonon's 2017 Saint Joseph les Oliviers Blanc is an 80-20 blend of Marsanne and Roussanne. The varieties are picked on the same dates, but they're pressed and fermented separately, then blended and aged further. The wine is honeyed and rich, full-bodied and creamy textured, with notions of ripe melon and pineapple spiced up with hints of pepper and salted licorice on the long, lush finish. End of January 2020, The Wine Advocate, 1 Feb 2020, Joe Czerwinski
Chave's 2016 Hermitage Blanc is a tremendous wine. It's a bit closed on the nose (bottle shock?), but it wows on the palate, rocking it with seismic waves of super ripe pineapple and melon fruit and more than a small dose of what I can only describe as magma-like essence of stone. It's full-bodied and mouthfilling in its richness, yet it never seems heavy or overdone. Remember that yields were constrained by hail, so don't delay in procuring whatever your budget will allow. Wine Advocate (239), Apr 2002, Robert Parker