Southern Rhone

80 % Grenache and 20% Syrah. Nice freshness in the nose with herbal and wild blackberry notes. The palate is fruity and spicy with wild raspberry, rosemary and thyme notes. This is a balanced, well-structured and mineral Rhone red.

Now we're talking next level. 

This wine is the big brother to the gorgeously weighty, seriously good Domaine de la Solitude Chateauneuf-du-Pape white. 

This one is a blend of Grenache 50%, Syrah 25% and Mourv?dre 15% and a quarter of the wine was barrel aged in a mixture of demi muids and foudres for 18 months. It's an outstanding full bodied red that drinks well now but will reward those with the patience to wait at least five years, preferably a lot longer than that to enjoy its savoury aspect come into its own. 

A great new addition to our exciting Southern Rhone wine shelves. 

Now we're talking next level. 

Domaine de la Solitude Chateauneuf-du-Pape is an exciting dry, full bodied, ageworthy white wine from the Southern Rhone's most famous appellation. It's a blend of Roussanne 40%, Clairette 30%, Grenache Blanc 20%, Bourboulenc and Picpoul 10%. Approximately 40% of the wine was aged in barrels on fine lees for 10 months and its smooth, full body and savoury flavours are beautifully balanced by the high acid components in the blend, namely Roussanne and Bourbolenc. 

Here is a wine to enjoy in a large glass right now or to age further for at least six to seven years, potentially beyond that. It will reward short, medium and long term drinking.

Vacqueyras has always played second fiddle to Chateauneuf but the wines are finally starting to get the credit they deserve and this full bodied, deep and complex red is an excellent expression of this appellation. 

Sang des Cailloux means ?blood of the stones,? and the galets ridden nature of the soil comes across in the mineral, stony aspect of this wine which is deep and full of energy and with notes of lavender, red and black fruit and olive. It is ready to drink now but will age gracefully for at least ten to fifteen years.

This wine is made from grapes grown on the elevated Plateau des Garrigues, where the vines are planted on a mixture of red clay, limestone and galets roule - or pudding - stones that are famously found in Chateaunuef.

The vineyards of Domaine du Vieux Lazaret are spread over 93 hectares, split into 35 different parcels of vines throughout A.O.C. Ch?teauuneuf-du-Pape. It is today among the largest domaines in Ch?teauuneuf and is owned by the Quiot family.

The Cuvee Exceptionelle is 60% Grenache, 40% Syrah and is juicy abd fruit forward with a decent smattering of new oak providing a palate that is all about dark berry fruits and vanilla. 2015 was a very decent vintage in the Southern Rhone ,and, although drinking now - will do well with time in the cellar.

Classic smooth and fruity Cotes du Rhone from a family estate in the heart of Chateauneuf du Pape. Organic, sustainable, though not certified.

Grenache dominant blended with Syrah and a touch of Carignan. Vibrant purple - ruby coloured, perfumed baked plum pie and raspberry fruits and bouquet-garni on the nose. Medium body, good fruit dominance, more berries mixing with red currants and milk chocolate, with fine tannins and savoury spices rounded out the finish.

Winemaker Paul-Vincent Avril typically works with a blend of three main grapes - 20% Mourvedre, 50% Grenache and 10% Syrah, with the balance being a mix of all the other permitted varieties (Clos des Papes is one of the few estates to use all permitted varieties for both red and white Chateauneuf). This is dense and complex Chateauneuf that will profit from 20 years plus in the cellar.

95/100 Decanter, Matt Walls
"Defined raspberry and redcurrant fruits, some woody spices in the background. Quite a rounded, fluid style, the acidity is really quite marked this year. Tannins are gentle, and it finishes on raspberry and redcurrant coulis. There's a silky touch on the palate. It's built around the acidity, the tannins are just gently sandy. Good sense of purity, quite a Burgundian vintage. Less Grenache in the blend this year as it was particularly hit by the frost." Drink 2025 - 2038

This Chateauneuf du Pape is a full-bodied and rich blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. This is a concentrated, deep wine with dark fruit, cherry and spiced notes. Expect this wine to age gracefully over the next few years.

This lush, silky reds a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah from the southern Rhone Gigondas appellation. Lush, plush and full bodied with bright red plum flavours and spice supported by the structure of Syrah's black plum flavours and firm tannins. 

A rare and special Cotes du Rhone made entirely from the dark spicy Syrah grape which delivers big time in this full bodied dry red that has ageing potential to burn - and it drinks beautifully now, especially with meaty savoury dishes. 

Buy two and age one. Supplies are limited. Get in fast.

?This has very concentrated fruit presence with an excellent sense of purity and focus. Aromas of rich, dark berries define the nose. Long, rich palate with a striking, layered, spicy impression. Ripe dark plums and chocolate to close. Drink or hold.? 

92 points James Suckling

Only old vine Grenache (between 75-90 years) is used to make this wine. This is a deep, rich and vibrant red. The nose is very complex with notes of raspberry, licourice and spices. This is an opulent, generously fruity wine. Drink from now through to 2027.

World's most reliable drinker perhaps? Well, you certainly seem to get a guarantee of ripe fruit and decent complexity with well made Cotes du Rhone, and this wine is no exception.

Ogier is located in Ch?teauneuf-du-Pape, and this little number offers glimpses of its bigger sister appellation with superb body and real depth of fruit flavour.

Wine growers in the northern Rh?ne since 1481, the Chave family represents 16 generations of unbroken lineage committed to the production of some of the finest Syrah, Marsanne, and Roussanne on the planet. Jean Louis joined his father in 1992 after completing undergraduate studies at University of Connecticut and a degree in oenology at Davis. It was at that time that he completely replanted vineyards on the family?s original estate in Saint-Joseph, which had been abandoned in the early 1900?s when phylloxera hit the region.

Jean-Louis Chave Selections, his n?gociant line which sources grapes from various areas in the northern Rh?ne, represents a more accessible way for the consumer to experience the wines of the Chave family. ?Mon Coeur? C?tes-du-Rh?ne is a blend of excellent plots in Vinsobres, Visan, Buisson, and Estargues while ?Sil?ne? Crozes-Hermitage is 50% estate Syrah and 50% purchased. As with all things Chave, quality is eminent even at the entry level.

75% Grenache + 25% Syrah from sandy light soils at the limit of the slopes of Sablet in the Southern Rhone.

Winemaking: The stems are removed and the Syrah and Grenache are fermented separately over 10 to 15 days in concrete tanks at a temperature of around 25 degrees. The wines is then matured for 3 months in oak.

Tasting: Bright ruby colour. The nose is very aromatic with intense reds fruit, hints of spice and liquorice. The palate is expressive and fleshy and follows suit with the nose.