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JRM - A convenient single-serve bottle of one of the great value wines of the world.

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Wine Spectator 86 - Star fruit, white peach and verbena notes mingle in this fresh, easygoing white.

JRM - A convenient single-serve bottle of one of the great value wines of the world. Delicious.

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Maker's Notes - Marius rosé is an expressive and fruity wine, counterbalanced by a pleasant acidity coming from the two grape varieties of which it is made : Grenache and Cinsault.

Giving off a a great roundness and freshness, this rosé perfect for wellness days and aperitif, will also be an excellent accompaniment to your summer kitchen (salads, barbecues, grills and Mediterranean dishes).

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Maker's Notes - Pretty deep red colour. The fresh nose is on ripe red fruit with hints of cherries. Well balanced with soft tannins, it is a full and fresh wine with a nice length.

Jeremy's Notes: One of the best wine values on earth. Always well made, approachable, fruity and well balanced. A pleasure wine for drinking any time with any food. Authentic, genuine and tasty.

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Maker's Notes -

Appearance: garnet red colour

Nose: complex and fine with notes of black fruit (blackberry / blackcurrant)

Palate: fruity with lovely notes of liquorice. Silky tannins. Creating a precise and elegant wine with lovely freshness

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Jeremy's Notes - Refreshing white featuring a fresh kiwi core, with Key lime and white peach notes mixed in. Shows a stony hint that gives the finish spine.  Good value.

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Maker's Notes - Pretty pale-yellow dress. This wine reveals an elegant nose with delicate notes of white flowers and citrus. This lively wine is very fresh and has a touch of minerality on the palate.

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Maker's Notes - Pretty delicate petal-rose colour. This wine offers an expressive, particularly fruity nose with notes of red fruit and citrus. On the palate, this wine shows a beautiful aromatic richness and a perfect balance between the body and the freshness.

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Maker's Notes -

Appearance: Deep, dark garnet, nearly black.

Nose: Intense and fiery with ripe fruit notes (blackcurrants/ raspberries).

Palate: Full and powerful. The ripe fruit notes are found again on the palate along with sweet spices. Pronounced silky, delicate tannins.

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Maker's Notes - The colour is a deep ruby red. The nose reveals powerful aromas of wild berries and spicies, truly typical from the "Syrah" grape. On the palate, strong flavours of blackcurrant and red berries surround a smooth fruit on the back of the wine. The finish has lots of personality.

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Wine Spectator 87 - Fresh and easy, with a stream of cherry paste flavors laced with light anise and floral notes. Grenache and Syrah. Drink now.

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Maker's Notes -

Appearance: bright, deep, dark garnet.

Nose: intense with notes of ripe fruit (blackcurrants/raspberries).

Palate:  delicious and full. The ripe fruit and soft spices come through again on the palate. Pronounced yet soft, delicate tannins.

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JRM - Delicious and attractive.  Smooth palate, lovely fruitiness and good balance.  A crowd pleaser any day.

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Maker's Notes - Beautiful yellow dress with green highlights. The nose is intense, the mouth is full of freshness and tense, it presents a nice balance in the mouth, between acidity and volume. It continues on a long finish with lemon-citrus notes.

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Maker's Notes - Pretty pale pink color with pastel undertones. The nose is seductive with subtle hints of red fruit (currants, strawberries, raspberries) and delicate flowers (rose, hawthorn). Well balanced in the mouth, between freshness and roundness, it offers a refreshing lemony finish.

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Maker's Notes - Appearance: bright, dark garnet. Nose: powerful red berry aromas (cherry, raspberry) accompanied by cocoa and sweet spice fragrances.

Nose: powerful red berry aromas (cherry, raspberry) accompanied by cocoa and sweet spice fragrances.

Palate: delicious and juicy on entry, a profusion of red fruit, full on the palate with silky, velvety tannin. The perfect example of a Grenache noir

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Maker's Notes - Appearance: Pale yellow colour with gold tints.

Nose: The wine shows aromas of white fruits (juicy pear) and blossoms.

Palate: Suave, gourmand and well-balanced, the wine shows a great freshness and persistency.

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Maker's Notes - An intense, bright colour, with a golden hue. To the nose the specific aromas of the grape variety are to the fore, with apricots, peaches, exotic fruits and preserved citrus fruit. The palate is both smooth and fresh, finishing on dried fruits hint.

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JRM - The 2019 Beaujolais-Villages displays pretty aromas of cherries and dried flowers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and juicy palate, concluding with a pure and precise finish.

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Wine Enthusiast 90 - For Bordeaux, the use of a round-shouldered, Burgundy-shaped bottle is revolutionary. The wine inside is more typical, crisp Sauvignon Blanc with freshness and a tight, mineral texture. The wine has poise and lightness, ready to drink now.

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Wine Spectator 90 - A fun, open-knit red, offering lively kirsch, anise and blackberry cobbler notes, followed by a light dusting of lavender on the finish. Grenache and Syrah.

Maker's Notes - The colour shows an elegant, ruby-red hue. The aromas are delicate, dominated by red berries, such as wild strawberries and raspberries. In the mouth this wine is supple and seductive on the palate, light, easy to drink, with a deliciously fruity and fresh finish

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Maker's Notes - The Cuvée Blanc is pure Chardonnay from selected parcels in the Beaujolais area of southern Burgundy. Produced in the traditional style, with eight months of barrel aging on the fine lees (no new oak), it is a deliciously juicy, rounded white wine, with a silky texture and surprising depth.

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Maker's Notes -

Appearance: Pale, bright hue with slightly bluish tints.

Nose: Powerful aromas of crushed strawberries and citrus complemented by floral notes.

Palate: Extremely fine on the palate, releasing fruity and floral notes of violets, complemented by a nice acidity which prolongs the enjoyment.

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CRU/JRM - Fresh and inviting, with more fruit and depth than many of its peers. Offers a plum and cherry puree profile, laced with floral and red tea accents on the finish.

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Wine Spectator 89 - Plump and fresh, with inner brightness as the star fruit, green melon and white peach flavors mingle gently. Ends with a kiss of verbena on the finish. Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Viognier.

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CRU/JRM - Seriously good Cotes du Rhone.  Stays interesting glass after glass.  Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier and Clairette. Drink now.

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Vinous 89 - Shimmering orange. Ripe red berry, orange pith and floral aromas

are complemented by a subtle nectarine flourish.  Smooth and open-knit, offering plump strawberry and tangerine flavors that take on a spicy quality with air. Shows good energy on the finish, which lingers with good, floral-tinged persistence.

Wine Spectator 87 - Fresh, with a light watermelon rind edge that adds freshness and direction to the light-bodied mix of white cherry and white peach flavors. Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault.

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Maker's Notes - This wine is clear, shiny, tuby red with cherry highlights. The varietal aromas of the Merlot express themselves with notes of red currants and black cherries. The attack is frank, the morello cherry and the vanilla accompany a final licorice and ample. With tannins that are both soft and omni-present, its potential for ageing is 10 to 12 years.

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CRU/JRM - Consistently fine Cotes du Rhone from one of the world's greatest wine makers.  Versatile, tasty and very well made. Serve this with anything.

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Maker's Notes - Intense, very aromatic bouquet with a mixture of floral hints of jasmine, hawthorn and lemon blossom. Full of fruit on the palate – mandarin, pear, lychee, pineapple… Lots of body and length with this wine which fills the palate. Wonderful combination of sweetness and liveliness. A very successful vintage.

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Maker's Notes -

Colour: light yellow with golden tints.

Nose: both fruity and floral. Citrus, Mirabelle-plum and orange blossom notes.

Palate: taut, mineral structure, lovely roundness. A fresh, nearly saline, wine. Very long finish.

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Wine Spectator 87 - A bright, racy rosé, with crisp-edged white cherry and strawberry flavors at the core. Fresh, breezy finish. Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Drink now.

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Jeremy's Notes - Perrin's Reserve Rouge is a reference wine for Cotes du Rhone.  Well balanced, nuanced, elegant and delicious.  They always get this right and the 2020 is no exception.  Terrific value, punching well above its price point.

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Maker's Notes - Attractive pale yellow colour with slightly green undertones. This wine shows a subtle, slightly buttery nose, with notes of white flowers such as almond and honeysuckle. The freshness on the palate has a nice minerality, enhanced by a delicate bitterness on the finish.

CRU/JRM - Very well made, tasty and attractive.  An anytime, anywhere go with anything white that never disappoints.  Serious value for money.

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CRU/JRM - Slightly sweet, fragrant and smooth. A unique wine favoured by those who appreciate a little sweetness.  Generates lots of Oohs and Aahs.

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Vinous 91 - Glistening orange-pink. Incisive red berry and citrus fruit scents are complemented by building floral and mineral nuances. Silky, dry and precise, showing good heft to the strawberry and blood orange flavors, which are braced by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. Smoothly blends depth and energy and finishes very long and focused, with lingering florality and a suggestion of chalky minerals.

Wine Spectator 88 - This lively rosé has a glossy texture sporting cherry, tea and blood orange notes that are fresh and inviting. Accents of herb and stony mineral fine-tune the finish. Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Rolle.

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Maker's Notes - This wine has a very expressive nose with notes of violets and fresh strawberries. Supple, rich and complex on the palate, it reveals beautiful aromas of pepper, black fruit and thyme before a long, silky and elegant finish.

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Maker's Notes - Pretty pink-gold colour with shiny reflections. On the nose, Nature Rosé offers a superb aromatic bouquet of great intensity with notes of red fruit such as pomegranate and blackcurrants. The palate is full of delicacies with delicious notes of small red fruit such as redcurrants and blackcurrants, perfectly balanced by great freshness.

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Maker's notes - Elegant, very pale colour with subtle green reflections. With great finesse, the nose opens up with delicate notes of white flowers and citrus. Balanced and fresh, the palate reveals the same seductive aromas and ends with a superb saline finish which offers beautiful length.

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Winemaker's Notes - The appellation of Côte de Brouilly sits on the steep slopes of the extinct volcano Mont Brouilly and is surrounded by the larger appellation of Brouilly. The soils here are volcanic with blue stones, from diorite deposits. The Stéphane Aviron Côte de Brouilly is sourced from two separate vineyards of these slopes. The first makes up about 75% of the blend and sits in the poor soils facing southwest on the hillside. Vines average 60+ years old in this parcel and these grapes account for the wine’s depth and structure. The second parcel faces due south with younger vines (45+ years) and contributes ripe juicy fruit to the final blend.

CRU/JRM - Stephane Aviron's wines are stunning value for money.  Highly respected and consistently well made.  This is silky and moreish.

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Vinous 90 - Pale pink. Racy and focused on the nose, displaying spice-tinged red fruit and citrus pith scents and a hint of florality. In a tense, nervy style, showing fine delineation to its strawberry, redcurrant and clementine flavors. Finishes tight and long, with the citrus fruit and floral notes repeating.

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Jeremy's Notes - Fruity and structured.  Good balance and palate feel.  Decent length with complexity but no heaviness.  Nice.

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Jeremy's Notes - Stephane Aviron's Julienas has been a big favourite for the last seven vintages.  The 2019 is another gem and perhaps the best vintage yet.  This is about as good as Gamay gets.  Beautifully smooth and well-crafted and a lovely complexity and finish.  Serious value for money.

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Maker's Notes - Our 14 hectare vineyard in Cairanne is located south west of the old village. The soils are stony, made of clay and sand. The wine is fleshy and develops beautiful aromas of blackcurrant, Garrigue and liquorice. Beautiful deep and intense purple colour. The fruity and expressive nose is an explosion of red fruit with spicy notes of pepper and juniper. Round and silky on the palate, it is a well-balanced wine between ripe fruit and slightly chalky tannins which bring elegance and structure.

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Maker's Notes - A lovely rich and fat hand-picked Chenin Blanc from the heart of France's Loire Valley.  Saumur whites are made from Chenin Blanc and are characteristically crisp and fruity. Here the wine has a pale yellow hue and an intense nose with aromas of ripe stone fruits at first with honey and toasty notes following. Strikingly crisp at first it then shows its real fruitiness and generous, ripe structure. And it wraps up well with a pleasingly fresh and clean citrus finish.

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Terroir: This cuvée is from two of the best parcels in Moulin-à-Vent: Rochegres and Le Mont. Stéphane Aviron considers this to be one of the best terroirs of Beaujolais. The soils here are white granite with iron and manganese deposits. The vines in the parcels are all old, averaging 65 years old and many over 100 years in age.

Vinification: Grapes are vinified separately until time for the final blending and bottling. Whole bunches are used and then macerated in temperature controlled stainless steel vats for ten days. The wine is aged in neutral Burgundian barriques, 228-liter barrels, that are between three and six years old for 12 to 14 months.

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CRU/JRM - From vines of between 55 and 90 years of age located on the steep slopes of the famed La Madone vineyard in Beaujolais, this has deep colour and a fine, perfumed bouquet. The texture is silky, with a pure, fresh finish.  Fantastic value for money.

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Wine Spectator 86 - A light-bodied red, with a broad profile offering ripe blackberry and bramble fruit flavors interwoven with herb, savory spice and anise accents. Plush, light tannins.

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Maker's Notes - The wine has a pale golden hue. The bouquet of this Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise shows intense fruity and floral aromas. On the palate, this wine has deliciously elegant freshness. It is full-bodied without excess, and has lingering fruity aromas on a melon and lemon-tinged finish.

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Maker's Notes - Elegant velvety crimson-red dress. The nose on this 2019 Rasteau opens with seductive aromas of cocoa and fresh strawberries. Powerful and well-balanced, the palate develops delicious notes of red fruit and black olives with delicate chalky tannins that give this wine real character.

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Vinous 92 - Limpid orange. Expressive, mineral-accented nectarine, strawberry and melon scents, along with blood orange and floral nuances. Palate-staining red berry, citrus and pit fruit and honeysuckle flavors deftly meld depth and liveliness. Shows firm cut and repeating mineral and floral notes on the impressively persistent, finely etched finish.

Wine Spectator 88 - This mineral-laced rosé shows elements of red berries, flint and spice encased in a smooth, supple texture. A vivid acidity gives this elegance, with melon and herb notes on the finish.

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Wine Spectator 90 - Dark cherry and red currant fruit melds nicely with notes of red tea and warm earth. Light alder thread stitches up the solid, juicy finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

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Vinous 92 - Diaphanous pink. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes raspberry, pink grapefruit, peach, succulent herbs and honeysuckle. Sappy and incisive on the palate, offering vibrant red berry, citrus zest and bitter quinine flavors that show impressive energy and back-end cut. The citrus and floral notes drive a long, nervy finish that shows fine delineation and mineral lift.

WA 91 - Very pale pink and imbued with the fragrances of crushed stone and sun-dried herbs, the 2019 Cotes de Provence Sainte-Victoire Rose is the embodiment of the appellation. This blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah is medium-bodied yet lively and refreshing, with white peach and melon flavors tinged with red currants, finishing cool and stony.

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Wine Advocate 89-91 -The 2018 Côtes de Roussillon Villages Latour de France Occultum Lapidem offers hints of grilled meat and oyster sauce, then raspberries, pepper and warmth. Medium to full-bodied.

CRU/JRM - Occultum Lapidem means "hidden jewel" and is a fitting name for this delightful and interesting wine.  A real gem.

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Vinous 89 - The 2020 Crabitey Blanc, 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon, offers an attractive mix of bright, floral accents and textural depth. Lemon confit, almonds, dried herbs, sage and mint are nicely lifted in this bright, nuanced white.

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Wine Spectator 89 - Cherry and plum paste notes are wrapped in a light-handed mix of singed alder and warmed licorice. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.

Wine Advocate 87 - The tank-matured 2018 Vacqueyras Domaine des Genets—a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre—is a solid representation of the vintage. A bit lighter in weight than expected and slightly herbal, it's a silky-textured, easy-drinking wine redolent of cherries and garrigue. Drink it over the next few years.

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Wine Spectator 93 - A refined, powerful white, with enveloping flavors of almond, white peach and spiced apple infused with wool, baking spice and vivid mineral elements. Dried flowers, heather, matchstick and honey notes mesh together on the long, lingering finish. Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris and Vermentino. Drink now through 2024.

Wine Advocate 89 - The 2017 Côtes du Roussillon Occultum Lapidem Blanc is a 60-40 blend of Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris, half fermented and aged in steel, the other half in demi-muids. It's plump and medium-bodied, with notes of lime zest and melon, a silky mouthfeel and hints of peach on the fresh, vibrant finish.

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Wine Advocate 89 - Matured in a mix of tank and demi-muids, the 2020 Saint-Péray Les Tanneurs boasts scents of ripe pears, melons and a hint of citrus. It's medium to full-bodied and round in the mouth, and while not that rich or concentrated, it's nicely balanced, citrusy and long on the finish.

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CRU/JRM - A perennial favourite and serious value for money.  Medium-bodied, cherries and raspberries at the front and a silky textured finish.

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Vinous 92 - Limpid magenta. Ripe, spice-tinged raspberry, boysenberry and pungent flowers on the highly fragrant nose. In a supple, fleshy style, offering juicy, well-concentrated red and blue fruit and spicecake flavors that turn livelier on the back half. Smooth and seamless on the impressively long and gently tannic finish, which leaves behind a sweet berry note.

Wine Spectator 89 - Fresh and open-knit, with a wave of raspberry and cherry puree flavors, laced with subtle chalky minerality and floral notes on the finish.

Wine Advocate 88 - The 2017 Vacqueyras les Christins is a 75-25 blend of Grenache and Syrah, matured in foudres and tanks. Scents of baked cherries are underscored by hints of darker fruit and licorice on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is supple and easygoing, then ends with softly dusty tannins.

Maker's Notes - Beautiful dark ruby color. The nose is intense and tasty with aromas of black fruit and spices and mineral notes. Balanced and complex on the palate, the tannins are dense and silky, with notes of blackberry, cassis and liquorice. Long and mineral on the finish, this wine is full of finesse and elegance and reveals the harmony and wisdom of old Grenache, in a traditional and pure register.

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WA 88 - Chapoutier's large-production white Crozes, the 2019 Crozes Hermitage Blanc La Petite Ruche, is a modest, melon and citrus-scented wine that's plump and round on the medium-bodied palate, lush and easy to drink, with a finish that's marked by notes of salted licorice and citrus zest.

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Wine Advocate 90 - Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Fleur la Mothe offers up pronounced notions of cassis, blackberry pie and Black Forest cake with hints of pencil shavings, black olives and lavender. Medium bodied, the palate has an impressive intensity of crunchy black fruits with a lively backbone and well-managed, grainy tannins, finishing long and fragrant.

Vinous 90 - I was pleased to see that the aromatics on the 2018 Fleur La Mothe have gained more refinement and focus since I tasted it from barrel, offering blackberry and briar, touches of blue fruit and sous-bois scents emerging with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, fine weight and focus and just the right amount of grip on the structured finish. Allow 3–4 years in bottle, because this Cru Bourgeois can age seriously well.

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Burghound 87 - A deft application of wood easily allows the pretty red pinot fruit aromas to shine. The super-fresh and highly energetic flavors possess excellent cut and a lovely mouth feel while delivering solid depth and length. This is very good for its level and a wine that should drink well almost immediately if desired.

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Wine Spectator 92 - Plump and bright, with star fruit, green almond and chamomile notes backed by an alluring lemon shortbread accent on the finish. Utterly delicious. Marsanne and Roussanne.

Wine Advocate 89 - The 2020 Crozes Hermitage les Launes Blanc features modest, composed aromas of melon, pear and citrus. It's a mellow, medium-bodied effort that hits the right buttons, delivering ample weight and richness on the palate without sacrificing length on the finish.

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Jeremy's Notes - As ubiquitous as Chardonnay has become, Burgundy is still its homeland and with good reason.  Terroir matters and Burgundy is all about terroir. This is about as good a value in Burgundian Chardonnay as it is possible to find.  Smooth, elegant, complex and long.

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Vinous 91 - Vivid orange-pink. Mineral tinged red berries, orange zest and nectarine aromas show fine clarity and pick up a floral nuance with air.  Juicy and focused on the palate offering sappy

tangerine and strawberry flavors that deepen steadily and take on a spicy white pepper note through the back half. Finishes long, gently chewy and precise, with repeating red fruit and spice notes.

Wine Spectator 90 - Pure and chiseled in feel, with racy-edged white cherry, rose petal, jicama and jasmine notes backed by a lingering wet stone accent on the finish. This has length and subtleties that set it apart from the pack. Cinsault, Grenache, Rolle and Tibouren.

Wine Spectator 90 - This elegant rosé combines orange pith, white cherry and grapefruit flavors, with undertones of mineral, spice and heather accents. Refreshing acidity gives this a mouthwatering finish.

Wine Advocate 89 - Plump and rounded on the palate, Miraval's 2021 Cotes de Provence Rose follows that up with a mouthwatering, citrusy finish. It's a pretty standard Provence offering but executed at a high level, with attractive scents of crushed stone accenting peach, melon and lime-like notes. Just who owns this wine estate may be in the hands of a French court, but the winemaking is firmly under the control of the Perrin family and reflects their high standards of quality.

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Wine Advocate 91 - Black cherries and crushed-stone aromas are joined by blueberries and hints of cracked pepper in the 2018 Saint-Joseph Deschants. This is atypically full-bodied and concentrated for this cuvée, showing all the glory of the vintage, wrapped in soft, ripe tannins and lingering on the finish.

Vinous 91-93 - Lively aromas of fresh black/blue fruits, olive and pungent flowers are complemented by a building mineral quality. Incisive boysenberry, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors stain the palate and become sweeter and deeper with air. Rich but well-balanced and energetic, finishing with sharp detail and a lingering floral note shaped by smooth tannins. Aged in a mix of concrete tanks and oak barrels.

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Vinous 90 - The 2016 Caronne Sainte

Gemme is raised for 12 months in 25% new oak. It has a generous raspberry and blackberry scented bouquet with just a touch of cigar box, though I would have liked more personality expressed. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. There is commendable depth here,

the acidity well judged and it sports excellent purity and length on the finish.

There is a tender quality about this Caronne Sainte Gemme underneath that

more obvious power.

Wine Advocate 88 - The 2016 Caronne Ste Gemme is medium garnet-purple colored and quite woody to begin, with a core of cassis and plums with menthol and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, taut and savory in the mouth, it has a chewy finish.

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Wine Advocate 88 - the 2012 Lucidus rouge offers Cote Rotie-like olive, underbrush and both blackberry and raspberry-styled fruit. Medium-bodied, elegant and lightly textured, it carries surprising richness and depth. Enjoy it over the coming couple of years as well.

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Wine Advocate 88 - Broad and corpulent, the 2019 Saint-Joseph Deschants Blanc is honeyed on the nose, with ripe pear and melon notes. Full-bodied, rich and round, it appears to be a fast-maturing example of this cuvée.

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Burghound 87 - Notably ripe yet nicely fresh aromas include those of plum, dark currant and plenty of earth. There is fine volume to the velvety and round middle weight flavors that offer very good depth in the context of what is typical for the genre, on the mildly warm and rustic finale. Worth considering.

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Wine Advocate 91 - A step up from La Petite Ruche, Chapoutier's 2019 Crozes Hermitage Blanc Les Meysonniers ratchets up the intensity and complexity, adding hints of honey and crushed stone to notes of ripe melon and citrus. Medium to full-bodied, round and succulent on the palate, it finishes with mouth-coating flavors and ample length. Aged in a mix of demi-muids and stainless steel, it's a deftly balanced but opulent Marsanne that drinks well now, so why wait?

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Wine Spectator 92 - Tasty lemon curd, verbena white peach and chamomile notes are guided by a flattering whiff of shortbread through the plump finish. Marsanne and Roussanne. Drink now through 2025.

Wine Advocate 88 - Honeydew and cantaloupe notes feature prominently on the nose of the 2020 Saint Joseph les Challeys Blanc, an 80-20 blend of Marsanne and Roussanne. Medium to full-bodied, it's not the biggest, richest Saint-Joseph blanc, but it's smooth, easy drinking and harmonious, with a clean, refreshing finish.

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Maker's Notes -

Appearance: very intense, beautiful ruby red hue.

Nose: the nose is powerful and shows great finesse. The alternation of strawberry jam aromas and spicy/peppery notes creates a very pleasant bouquet.

Palate: floral then spicy (pepper) notes on entry. The wine displays a superb tannic structure and lovely long-lingering flavours.

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Wine Advocate 90 - The 2016 Cap de Faugeres (composed of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon) has a medium garnet-purple color and reveals notions of warm plums, blackberry pie and black raspberries with touches of pencil shavings and sautéed herbs. Medium-bodied with a velvety texture and good core of black fruits, it finishes on a long-lasting earthy note.

Wine Spectator 90 - This is racy and fresh, showing a beam of loganberry and red currant coulis flavors driving along, laced with subtle savory detail and tobacco and iron notes. The racy finish is carried by mouthwatering acidity. Drink now through 2028.

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Wine Spectator 91 - Inviting aromas and flavors of baking spice and pastry give the more submerged notes of apple, peach and honey time to emerge as this white unfolds from start to finish. Opulent and heady, with a succulent finish.

Burghound 88 - Fresh and pretty aromas of green apple, citrus and a wisp of pear introduce round and delicious yet attractively vibrant flavors that flash a subtle minerality on the agreeably saline and dry finish. I like the texture and while this is not especially complex, and there is a hint of warmth, I do like the clean delivery. Note that this could be enjoyed young or held for a few years first.

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Vinous 88 - The 2012 Le Sartre is juicy and exuberant, with lovely mid-palate depth and terrific overall balance, especially at this level. Sweet tobacco, menthol, licorice and dried flowers add nuance in a racy, hearty red to drink over the next few years.

Wine Spectator 88 - Juicy and enticing, with raspberry and plum fruit forming the core while anise and fruitcake notes fill in the background. A tarry spine holds the finish, letting the fruit play out.

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Maker's Notes - The colour is a deep garnet red. In its youth it reveals black cherry aromas which will evolve towards notes of woodland and spices. On the palate, this is a warm, heady wine whose texture is well-rounded and silky. The finish is perfectly balanced.

CRU/JRM - Delas' Gigondas is consistently good, vintage after vintage.  This compares with wines at much higher prices.

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Wine Advocate 90-92 - The 2016 Fourney has an attractive, slightly earthy bouquet that opens nicely in the bottle, well defined and full of charm. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, quite classic in style with plenty of tobacco and smoke towards the structured finish. Give this two or three years in bottle and you should have a fine Saint Emilion.

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Wine Spectator 88 - Juicy and fresh, with a core of cassis and dark plum lined with singed alder notes and backed by a mouthwatering sanguine hint.

Wine Advocate 86- Tasted at the Cru Bourgeois annual tasting, the 2015 Larose Perganson felt a little muddled on the nose compared to its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly tough tannin, muscular yet balanced with a firm finish that will hopefully soften with bottle age. Tasted September 2017.

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Jeremy’s Notes: An entry-level priced Burgundian Pinot Noir with lovely complexity, depth and finish. Vosne-Romanée richness at a bargain price. An inexpensive way to fall in love with fine Burgundy.

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Decanter 92 - A blend of 60% Chenin Blanc with equal parts Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc. This has finesse on the palate, freshness and a delicate, persistent mousse. Crisp acidity, with vibrant lemon sherbet characters, but also plush and rounded on the mid-palate. Its complex and long with a pronounced green apple character on the finish, and it will keep.

Wine Enthusiast 90 - A blend of Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay, this is a round, mouthfilling sparkling wine with ripe apple flavors layered with grapefruit acidity and a tight, final texture that is crisp and mineral.

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Vinous 88 - Light pink in color. Aromas of fresh flowers, flower stem, watermelon rind and strawberry. On the palate, light and bright, lots of red raspberry, straightforward not too complex.

Wine Enthusiast 88 - With some tannins, this is a full-bodied and ripe sparkling rosé. It has strong wild strawberry flavors that give the wine a very fruity character. A sense of structure enhances the naturally rich nature of the wine.

Wine Spectator 87 - Fresh and nicely rounded, offering plump strawberry, red currant and peach flavors that hang gently on the finish.

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Wine Spectator 90 - This is very spicy, with vanilla, sandalwood and clove notes playing against currant, cherry and smoke flavors. Dusty tannins coat the mouth as this exits lazily on the finish.

Burghound 88 - A brooding and somber nose consists of ripe plum, pungent earth and a hint of the sauvage. The solidly well-concentrated flavors are lush to the point of opulence while brimming with dry extract that buffers the moderately firm tannic spine on the mildly rustic finale. This could be enjoyed young.

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Wine Spectator 88 - This red is supple and focused, with bright cherry, raspberry and currant flavors. Picks up a touch of earth and spice as it fades gracefully on the finish. Drink now.

Vinous 86-88 - The 2019 Côte de Nuits Villages Vieilles Vignes is fresh and well defined on the nose of blackberry and bilberry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip and a pleasant, quite saline finish. A delicious and pure Côtes de Nuits Village.

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Wine Spectator 88 - This red is supple and focused, with bright cherry, raspberry and currant flavors. Picks up a touch of earth and spice as it fades gracefully on the finish.

Vinous 86-88 - The 2019 Côte de Nuits-Villages Vieilles Vignes is fresh and well defined on the nose of blackberry and bilberry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip and a pleasant, quite saline finish. A delicious and pure Côtes de Nuits Village.

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Wine Advocate 92 - Toasted marshmallow and grilled melon notes appear on the nose of the 2017 Saint-Joseph Les Granilites Blanc. Full-bodied, rich and layered, it represents the next step up from the Deschants bottling. Sourced from the Tournon-Mauves area of the appellation, it's marked by the region's granitic soils, remaining fresh and long on the finish, despite being velvety in texture.

Wine Spectator 92 - Ripe and rich, with brioche, white ginger, creamed melon and green fig fruit flavors entwined together and gliding through the broad, creamy finish.

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Vinous 92-93 - Bright and expansive on the perfumed nose, displaying vibrant dark berry and floral scents that develop spicy character as the wine opens up. In an energetic, fruit-driven style, offering appealingly sweet black raspberry and cherry flavors and suggestions of licorice and candied flowers. Finishes very long and chewy, with building tannins and repeating spiciness.

Wine Advocate 92 -Aged mainly in barrel, the 2018 Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon boasts flamboyant aromas of cracked pepper, clove, baking spices and cedar set against a backdrop of black cherries and black olives. Medium to full-bodied, richly textured and long on the finish, it shows the structure of its granite sources—a sense of tannic restraint that suggests ample aging potential, yet doesn't preclude present-day enjoyment.

Wine Spectator 93 - Fresh and focused, with a lovely beam of dark cherry and bitter plum reduction notes laced with graphite, violet and anise. Racy, tightly focused finish. Best from 2021 through 2029.

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Wine Advocate 92 - Bottled just a week before my visit, the 2018 Saint-Péray Lieu-dit Hongrie was already showing off its stuff, bursting with notes of grilled pineapple and citrus. It's medium to full-bodied but crisp and firmly built, with a silky feel on the palate and a lingering, nicely focused finish.

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Wine Spectator 92 - Expressive, with welcoming black cherry and plum pâte de fruit aromas and flavors, gilded with violet and anise notes. Reveals a graphite edge on the finish. Tasty.

Wine Advocate 89-91 - The medium to full-bodied 2020 Crozes Hermitage Domaine des Grands Chemins features gently floral aromas and a backdrop of cherry fruit. It's silky and fine, with a hint of mocha on the lingering finish.

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Jeremy's Notes - We have imported La Bernardine every year and it never fails to sell out.  That's because it's wonderfully well made, scrumptious, luxurious and elegant.  Complex, smooth and long.  It will also age well if you decide to lay it down.

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Wine Spectator 92 - Features melted red licorice, fresh currant, spiced fruit cake and raspberry tart flavors that are inviting and supple yet quickly firm up on the palate, thanks to fine-grained tannins and red tea-laced acidity. Reveals good tension and persistence. Grenache and Syrah.

Wine Advocate 91+ - Delas's 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Haute Pierre is a blend of Grenache and Syrah vinified in concrete and aged in foudre. Remarkably, I still detected hints of cedar on the nose, joined by notes of leather, clove and raspberries. It's full-bodied and reasonably supple, except for some woody tannins. While it came across as a bit disjointed, in a few years this should come together nicely.

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Wine Spectator 94 - This lets a core of warm plum sauce, dark loganberry and singed anise flavors ooze out, while violet, white pepper, bay leaf and dark olive notes provide the frame. A mouthwatering mineral edge weaves throughout. Best from 2020 through 2035.

Vinous - 93: Dark purple. Dark berry preserve, licorice, incense, olive and exotic spice scents are accompanied by a building woodsmoke note. Sappy and broad on the palate, offering spice-tinged bitter cherry, blueberry and violet pastille flavors supported by juicy acidity. The floral note carries through a very long, dark-fruit-driven finish, and gently chewy tannins add shape and grip.

Robert Parker 91 -  The 2016 Cornas Chante Perdrix starts off a little tarry, but it quickly shapes up in the glass to reveal grilled meat and red plum aromas. It's medium to full-bodied, with an open-knit texture and a long, peppery and crisp finish. It should drink well for a decade or so.

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CRU/JRM - No ratings yet but this typically scores in the low to mid 90's with good reason.  It's as good as ever.

Maker's Notes - Beautiful, limpid colour of shiny ruby-red. The nose is revealed with finesse with an aromatic bouquet of fruit, full of freshness. On the palate, this wine is soft, elegant, with good acidity and seductive tangy notes of red fruit such as red currant. A wine of great finesse.

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Wine Advocate 92 - The full-bodied, richly textured 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Sinards Blanc is a barrel-fermented blend of Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, all drawn from a single vineyard parcel. Notes of pencil shavings accent honeyed pineapple and white peaches, backed by hints of lime and tangerine in this lush, almost decadent white wine.

Wine Spectator 92 - Bright, high-pitched style, with talc, white peach and jicama notes laced with hints of lime pith and fennel. Nice tension and energy through the mineral-edged finish. Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Clairette.

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Wine Spectator 91 - Bright and cheerful, showing a burst of damson plum, bitter cherry and raspberry fruit flavors liberally laced with dried lavender, warm earth and tobacco notes. The finish features light mesquite accents. Accessible now. Drink now through 2030.

Wine Advocate 90-92 - The final blend from tank of the 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Telegramme boasts delicate, floral aromas and hints of strawberries and raspberries. It's full-bodied but silky and tender, very charming, with decent length. I haven't been a huge fan of this cuvée in the past, but this is pretty darn good.

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Vinous 93 - Light bright yellow. Expansive aromas of white peach, tangerine, melon and pungent white flowers pick up a hint of honey with aeration. Plush orchard and pit fruit nectar flavors slowly become spicier and livelier with air. The floral quality lingers on a very long, seamless finish that shows excellent focus and spicy cling. In a hefty but surprisingly vibrant style, and pretty delicious already.

WA 91 - Not the most aromatic wine of the appellation, the 2016 Condrieu la Galopine relies instead on texture and charm. This medium-bodied wine was partly barrel fermented, and there is a vague sensation of roasted nuts, although apricots and melons dominate the palate before fading quickly into peppery-gingery spice on the finish.

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Wine Advocate 90 - Chapoutier's 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Pie VI offers distinctive aromas of peppermint, saddle leather and black olives. There's a healthy proportion of Syrah in this cuvée, and it seems to show. Medium to full-bodied, this is fairly structured and tannic, a bit more streamlined than most CdPs, but with a lingering finish laced with hints of meat, leather and peppery spice.

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Wine Advocate 93 - Drawn from three lieux-dits, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Pie VI is a blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah. Rich and concentrated, it marries dark, boysenberry fruit with hints of chocolate, leather and garrigue. It's full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, grainy finish.

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Burghound 89-91 - Spiced plum, floral and soft earth aromas introduce vibrant and well-detailed middle weight flavors that possess fine density before terminating in a dusty and youthfully austere finale. This is very good for its level as the premier cru contribution shows.

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Wine Spectator 93 - Ripe, fresh and racy in feel, with a well-detailed beam of plum, blackberry and anise notes, laced with violet, white pepper and black olive accents. The sleek finish features an iron hint vibrating like a tuning fork. Drink now through 2036.

Vinous 93 - Inky ruby. Ripe blackberry and cherry liqueur aromas are complemented by suggestions of nallspice, smoked meat, licorice and

violet. Taut, energetic black and blue fruit

flavors show very good depth, and a

smoky mineral element adds lift and

back-end cut. Chewy tannins lend grip to a spicy, floraldominated finish that hangs on with strong tenacity. This wine is made from fruit grown in some of the appellation's top sites, Reynard, Mazard and Saint-Pierre.

Vinous 93 - Bright purple. Powerful dark berry, cherry, incense and licorice scents are accompanied by building vanilla and floral pastille flourishes. Fleshy blueberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors stain the palate and pick up a smoky bacon nuance on the back half. Unwinds steadily with air and finishes chewy and impressively long, displaying alluring sweetness, an echo of florality and youthfully gripping tannins.

Wine Advocate 92 - A blend of grapes sourced from Reynard and Croix St Pierre (near the top of the appellation), the 2017 Cornas Temenos shows greater depth and richness than Les Arenes, with blackberry and black cherry fruit in reserve behind notes of crushed stone and pencil shavings (it's aged in 228-liter oak, 15% to 20% new). Medium to full-bodied, it's firmly structured and promising for the future.

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Wine Advocate 91 - The 2014 Siran has a very refined bouquet with blackberry, briary and light tertiary aromas. There is fine precision here, understated compared to the Sirans of old. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and a keen line of acidity. Linear in style and a little conservative towards the finish, but showing freshness from start to finish. Edouard Miailhe, proprietor of Siran, has really upped the ante here and this 2014 is just a classic Bordeaux claret that should drink well from the start, yet has the substance to suggest it will age with aplomb.

Decanter 91 - This exhibits a big, ripe, fleshy, blackberry nose, with vibrant fruit and a deep red colour. It’s sumptuous, concentrated and very rich, balanced by bold tannins yet not too extracted. It’s quite spicy and just lacks a little drive on the finish, but this is a fine offering from this increasingly impressive estate.

Wine Spectator 89 - Alluring black tea and singed sandalwood notes glide through, backed by accents of supple-edged cherry and plum preserves. Offers a gentle but persistent finish. Drink now through 2024.

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Vinous 94 - Inky ruby color. Intensely

perfumed dark berry, floral and spice qualities on the mineral-driven nose. Stains the palate with appealingly sweet

cherry-cola, black raspberry and candied

violet flavors that are sharpened by a spicy suggestion of freshly cracked pepper. Smoothly melds depth and energy and finishes extremely long and precise, with slowly emerging tannins and resonating floral and mineral notes.

Wine Advocate 93 - The 2019 Crozes Hermitage le Clos managed to escape hail damage but remains an intense, concentrated effort. Hints of violets and garrigue appear on the nose alongside cassis and black cherries, while the full-bodied palate is supple, leading into a long, licorice-tinged finish. Drink it over the next decade or so. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.

Wine Spectator 93 - Sleek and refined, with a smoldering bay and cast iron hints along the edges of a core of dark cherry and plum preserve notes. Juicy, yet restrained, iron-tinged finish. Drink now through 2030.

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CRU/ JRM - White Chateauneuf is a wine produced in insufficient quantities.  The complexity and elegance, combined with richness makes this a wine of luxury; palate-coating and scrumptious, with persistence and a long, satisfying finish.  Yum.

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Wine Spectator - 92: Powerful, wielding its whole-grain bread, nut and graphite aromas and flavours with aplomb. Open rather than dense, despite its weight, richness and well-integrated structure. Fine length leaves you wanting more.

Wine Advocate - 92: The NV Brut Grand Cru is absolutely striking. A big, rich wine, the Brut Grand Cru fills its broad shoulders beautifully, with gorgeous layers of deep, expressive fruit. Sweet floral notes, mint and honey add volume and complexity. The Brut Grand Cru is 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, based on the 2009 vintage with the addition of 20% reserve wines. All the elements are in the right place in this superbly crafted wine. Champagne is never inexpensive, but this is easily one of the best wines readers will find in its price range.

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Robert Parker - 89-91: Probably the finest basic Cote Rotie he has made since 1991 is the 2006 Cote Rotie Les Becasses. Dark ruby/purple with notes of cassis, bacon fat, smoke, and tapenade, the wine is medium to full-bodied, ripe, chewy, and long. This is heady stuff, a classic Cote Rotie that can be drunk now or cellared for 12-15 years.

Wine Spectator - 91: Edgy, with lots of green pepper, tobacco, olive and sage notes laid over a core of black currant fruit. Briary finish. This has plenty of range, but just needs to settle into itself.

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Wine Advocate - 92: Lallement’s NV Brut Grand Cru Cuvee Reserve is cool, implosive and structured, all qualities typical of the 2008 vintage. Sweet floral notes meld into mint, red berries, graphite and crushed rocks. The Reserve is at once rich yet weightless. This edition is 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay based on the 2008 vintage with 20% 2009 juice. The low dosage of 4 grams per liter contributes the wine’s tension and energy.

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Maker's Notes - Aspect: Coppery and bright, Nuances of yellow straw

Bouquet: Open and indulgent. Wisps of Linden Blossom, Honeysuckle, Hazelnuts, Mirabelle plum

Palate: Harmonious, Balanced, Vinous

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Burghound 90 - Noticeable wood and menthol nuances surround the notably ripe aromas of plum liqueur, violet and soft warm earth nuances. The slightly finer though still obviously powerful flavors possess outstanding richness while delivering better depth and persistence on the firm and ever-so-slightly warm finale.

CRU/JRM - A wine for laying down a few years.  Will reward patience.

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Burghound - 89-92: This is spicy, ripe and seductive and very Vosne with its mix of red and dark pinot fruit aromas that dissolve gracefully into rich, full and very generous fleshy medium-bodied flavors that possess both good volume and depth on the sappy, velvety and persistent finish. This isn't classy or sophisticated but it's easy to admire and has the depth to rise well above the ordinary.

Here the fruit aromas are darker and edged with caramel. In the mouth it is softer and a hint sweeter than the Malconsorts – there’s an impressively intense concentration of fruit in the mid-palate. Again some faint astringency to the tannin – this is a super Chaumes.

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Wine Advocate 92 - Offering up aromas of gingerbread, tangerine and smoky peach, the NV Brut Grand Cru Réserve Rosé is medium to full-bodied, broad and vinous, with a rich but tight-knit core of fruit, racy acids and a pinpoint mousse, concluding with a sapid finish. Disgorged in May 2018, this is a serious rosé that would work well at table.

Jeremy's Notes - Lallement's Grand Cru Brut Rose is one of our customers' favourites.  It has that irresistible balance of flavour, structure and texture that is so attractive and fulfilling.  Just delicious.  Everything you want in a Rose Champagne.

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WA 94 - Slighter richer is the 2015 Gigondas Clos des Tourelles. It shows similar floral notes but fills the mouth with ripe stone fruit and cherries, fine tannins and an incredibly silky finish. All of the Perrin Gigondas show the elegant side of the appellation.

Vinous 92-94 - Vivid ruby. Expressive aromas of blackberry, cherry compote and candied flowers are sharpened by a smoky mineral topnote. Gently sweet and focused on the palate, offering intense red and blue fruit flavors that deepen and spread out slowly with aeration. Shows hints of candied licorice and allspice on a very long, sappy finish that features smooth tannins and an exotic twist of blood orange.

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Wine Spectator 92 - Fruity and savory, this red evokes cherry, raspberry, wild thyme, rosemary and chalky mineral flavors. Tightens up on the finish, with assertive tannins. Best from 2023 through 2038.

Wine Advocate 88-90 - (Barrel Tasting) The 2016 Nuits Saint-Georges Vieilles Vignes offers simple, slightly smudged redcurrant and strawberry fruit on the nose. More definition here would have been nice. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, moderate depth, the 100% whole bunch lending sous-bois/woodland notes toward the finish that finally delivers the complexity I would be seeking. I suspect that this will improve during the remainder of its élevage.

Burghound 87 - A discreet application of wood sets off equally somber aromas of herbal tea, spice, earth and plum liqueur. The succulent, round and impressively voluminous flavors exude a subtle minerality that adds a sense of lift to the mildly tough and austere if complex and lingering finish that flashes evident rusticity.

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Wine Advocate 89 - The 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is approximately half Grenache Blanc, with the balance a blend of Clairette and Roussanne. The Grenache and Clairette are vinified and matured in concrete, while the Roussanne is barrel fermented and aged, and then the components are blended. It's marked by struck flint, melon and tangerine on the nose, while the palate is medium to full-bodied and reasonably generous but also crisp and slightly bitter on the finish. Drink it over the next year or two.

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Wine Spectator - 90: This round, open rosé reveals dried berry, currant leaf and spice aromas and flavours. There's an appealing graininess to the texture and a chalky sensation on the finish.

This pale pink champagne with salmon highlights offers a generous nose that is intense yet refined with strong hints of red berries, especially wild strawberries. It brings to mind jelly, redcurrants and almonds. With aeration, hints of lime and hawthorn are revealed. It develops on the palate with tart flavours of blackberry and blackcurrant. The finish is a delicately spicy, delicious treat.

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Wine Advocate 93 - Black cherries and garrigue appear on the nose of the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape, a blend of about 60% to 70% Grenache, plus lesser amounts of Mourvèdre and Syrah. Full-bodied, richly concentrated and tannic, with a long, mouthwatering finish, it's one entry-level CdP that should be cellared a year or two prior to consumption.

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Wine Spectator 94 - A suave and smoky style, with sandalwood, black tea, olive, juniper and bay leaf notes leading the way, followed by a core of lightly steeped bitter plum and blackberry fruit. Concentrated, showing latent length as all the elements take a late encore, supported by a lingering mineral echo. Should unwind a bit more slowly than most of its colleagues. Best from 2022 through 2035.

Wine Advocate 93 - The 2017 Saint Joseph Sainte-Epine comes from a couple of vineyards planted in 1981 on weathered granite soils geologically identical to those found in Hermitage's Les Bessards. Crushed stone, salted licorice and pencil shavings accent black cherries and black olives, while the full-bodied palate is velvety but structured, ripe and warm but firm and mouthwatering, with at least a decade of aging potential. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.

Vinous 93 - Opaque ruby. Deep-pitched black and blue fruit, licorice and pungent floral qualities on the powerfully scented nose. Broad and fleshy in the mouth, offering bitter cherry, cassis and salty olive flavors that become more lively and turn sweeter on the back half. Smoothly blends power and energy and finishes long and spicy, with a hint of smokiness and slowly mounting tannins.

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Maker's Notes - The nose is a basket of fruits with yellow and white flesh, where peach and exotic fruits dominate. A few notes of vanilla and brioche add a touch of extra fat. The richness of its mouth unfolds in a long sarabande of persistent aromas.

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CRU/JRM - High-class Vosne with all the richness, elegance and complexity one would expect.  A luxurious wine from a denomination that usually demands dizzying prices.  This is a comparative value proposition.

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Vinous 93 - Large-scale, dramatic and intense, the 2014 Faugères is exceptionally beautiful and polished. Succulent red cherry, plum and pomegranate notes make a strong first impression. Sweet floral notes, spice and new leather add aromatic nuance throughout. This is an especially effortless wine with all of its elements in the right place.

Wine Advocate 92 - The 2014 Faugeres still has bundles of red plum and juniper berry on the nose, if anything even more generous than when I tasted it a few months ago. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, superb structure and well judged acidity. It merges with more black fruit towards the finish and has palpable energy on the finish—still excellent.

Wine Spectator 90 - Sports a lively core of bramble, blackberry and black currant, with good licorice and fruitcake notes filling in behind. Presents some slightly rambunctious energy but should settle in soon enough. Best from 2018 through 2028.

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Robert Parker - 92: The top-notch 2006 Hermitage La Sizeranne boasts an opaque ruby/purple color along with a sweet bouquet of black raspberries, creme de cassis, acacia flowers, crushed rocks, and subtle wood. Full-bodied, rich, and broad with moderate tannin, good acidity, and a long finish, the 2006 will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age, and keep for 15+ years.

Wine Spectator - 91: A bright, juicy style, with forward raspberry and boysenberry fruit backed by sweet spice and fruitcake hints. The solid, juicy finish has a good graphite edge.

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WA 95 - A much smaller production cuvée, the 2015 Condrieu Clos Boucher (aged 80% in barrel and 20% in stainless steel) is a sensational Condrieu that offers textbook, yet pedal to the metal notes of white peach, tangerine, citrus blossom and hints of minerality. Impeccably balanced, fresh and lively, it should be given six months in bottle and enjoyed over the following 4-5 years.

Vinous 94 - Very light gold. Powerful, mineral-accented orange pith, melon, white peach and violet scents show impressive focus and vivacity. Possesses an impressive blend of depth and finesse, offering concentrated citrus and pit fruit, honey and candied ginger flavors complemented by a subtle anise quality. Finishes with superb mineral cut and lift, leaving suave floral and mineral notes behind. This complex, densely packed wine would complement lighter foods as well as rich ones and, from my experience with older vintages such as the 2005 and 2010, it's a highly reliable cellar candidate.

WS 93 - Ripe and creamy in feel, with pear, quince, almond cream, shortbread and warm brioche notes melded together, backed by a light hazelnut echo on the flattering finish. Drink now through 2020.

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Vinous 90-93 - Deep red. Superripe yet vibrant on the nose, with a sappy lift to the raspberry and spice aromas. Lush, silky and sweet, with underlying minerality giving energy to the raspberry and cocoa powder flavors. This dense but vibrant wine really saturates the palate with flavor. Seems a bit richer in alcohol than most of these 2007s, which is not at all a bad thing.

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Vinous 92 - The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Latitude 1er Cru is a big, vinous wine. Bold, ample and large on the palate, the Latitude exudes power. Dried apricot, roasted nuts and spices are pushed forward in a rich, creamy wine that reflects the personality of these clay-rich soils on the southern edge of Vertus. With time in the glass, the Latitude gains freshness, volume and intensity.

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Wine Advocate 93-95 - The 2018 Hermitage Chante-Alouette is ripe and custardy in feel, with plenty of richness that's balanced by ample freshness. Hints of citrus, melon and white peach mingle easily on the nose and palate, offering a lovely introduction to white Hermitage.

Vinous 93 - Pale, glistening yellow. Penetrating aromas of fresh orchard and pit fruits are accompanied by hints of chalky minerals and pungent flowers. Juicy and concentrated in style, offering pear nectar, white peach and Meyer lemon flavors that tighten up and show fine definition on the back half. The floral note repeats strongly on the energetic finish, which hangs on with impressive, mineral-tinged persistence.

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Wine Advocate 94 - One of the gems in the vintage is the 2013 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes, which comes from both the Bessards and Grandes Vignes lieux-dits on Hermitage Hill. Completely destemmed, then vinified in stainless steel and concrete tanks, the wine is aged 18 months in 30% new French oak; it offers terrific notes of dark fruits, graphite and ample minerality in a full-bodied, layered, ripe profile. It’s more approachable than the Les Bessards, yet will still have three decades of longevity.

Vinous 93 - Brilliant violet. Complex mineral- and smoke-accented scents of dark fruit liqueur, violet and olive paste gain urgency from a smoky mineral quality . Juicy and sharply focused on the palate, offering sappy blueberry and bitter cherry flavors that deepen and become sweeter with air. Shows excellent depth and vivacity and finishes spicy and very long, displaying a resonating floral quality and building tannins.

Wine Spectator 92 - Ripe for the vintage, with a fleshy core of plum compote and raspberry coulis flavors, backed by ample cocoa-edged grip that melds through the loam- and anise-accented finish. Best from 2017 through 2023.

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Wine Advocate 90 - This disgorgement of the NV Cuvée des Moines Brut Rosé is from September 2017 and is (probably) based on the 2014 vintage. The salmon colored wine leads to a delicate, fresh and vinous nose with intense red fruit and floral aromas and a refined chalkiness. It's a bit reductive perhaps but nicely round and fruity on the elegant and refined palate. An excellent cuvée of Pinot Meunier (40%) and equal parts of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

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Wine Spectator 89 - Though rich, a line of juicy acidity runs through this spicy white. Peach, apple, marzipan and orange zest flavors hold court, playing out on the chalky finish. Drink now through 2021.

Vinous 87 - Bright pale yellow. Very ripe aromas of peach, spices, flowers and menthol, with a touch of reduction. Supple, spicy wine with an almost exotic quality to its very ripe stone fruit flavors. A touch aggressive with alcohol in the middle palate but with some balancing sweetness. Finishes with a slightly bitter phenolic edge and decent length.

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Vinous 94 - An intensely mineral-driven wine, the NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Longitude pulses with energy and tension. Partial aging in cask gives the wine much of its texture and slightly burnished quality to the fruit. Dried pear, spice, menthol and licorice are laced into a vinous, textured finish that speaks to crystalline purity and nuance. As the name suggests, the Longitude emerges from a collection of parcels along the same longitude of chalk and limestone soils, in this case Vertus, Cramant and Oger, fermented in a combination of cask and stainless steel. This release is based on 2012, with the addition of 40% reserve wines. Dosage is 4 grams/liter. Disgorged: November 2014.

Wine Spectator 92 - Lithe and graceful, this bright Champagne is refined and chalky in texture, displaying a lovely mesh of ripe apple, apricot, lemon parfait, biscotti and fresh ginger flavors.

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Wine Advocate 96-98 - Even better than I remember it being last year, and potentially edging out the L'Argnée this vintage, the 2017 Gigondas Clos des Tourelles is just flat-out terrific juice. From yields around 15 hectoliters per hectare, it's 80% Grenache and 10% each Mourvèdre and Syrah, all aged in foudre. Soaring floral notes of rose petals, violets and garrigue appear on the nose, followed by ripe raspberry flavors that flow almost weightlessly across the silky, full-bodied palate. So fine, so elegant, so long, it nearly left me speechless.

Vinous 95 - Opaque, bright-rimmed ruby. Intensely perfumed, mineral-accented cherry and dark berry scents are accompanied by suggestions of licorice, candied flowers and exotic spices. Fleshy and broad in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated cherry pastry and blackberry flavors that become more energetic as the wine stretches out. Shows superb energy and mineral lift on an impressively long, subtly tannic finish that leaves behind a suave floral note.

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Wine Advocate 95-97 - There are a whopping two demi-muids of the stellar 2017 Gigondas L'Argnee Vieilles Vignes in the pipeline, so readers will have to be on their toes to grab a bottle or two. Made from the same pre-Phylloxera parcel of Grenache, it's incredibly intense this vintage, boasting enough purple raspberries, black cherries and Asian spices to send me almost into sensory overload. Yet for all the flavor, this full-bodied wine is velvety-silky in feel, with a long, elegant finish.

Vinous 94 - Opaque ruby. Highly expressive aromas of mineral-tinged red berries, incense and licorice candy, along with a suave floral nuance that builds as the wine opens up. Appealingly sweet and seamless on the palate, offering penetrating raspberry, cherry, spicecake and candied lavender flavors that are braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Finishes silky, sweet and impressively long, with gentle tannins and lingering floral pastille and exotic spice notes.

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