Syrah / Shiraz

"All of the single vineyard Ermitages turned out as good as I had hoped, possibly even better. In short they are among the strongest wines one coul...

"The 2004 Cote Rotie La Mordoree is dark ruby/purple in 2004 with notes of cassis, melted licorice, incense, and pepper. The wine has good power, c...

"Aromas of lilacs, crushed rocks, blue and red fruits and a gamy, earthy scent emerge from the dark ruby-hued, medium-bodied 2008 Cote Rotie La Mor...

"The more closed, dark ruby/purple-colored 2007 Cote Rotie La Mordoree exhibits tart acidity as well as a cooler, greener mouthfeel. Notions of bay...

"The 2014 Ermitage le Pavillon is another wine from this team that defies the vintage. Full-bodied, concentrated, impeccably balanced and seamless,...

"The sweetly fruited, downright sexy 2014 Ermitage le Meal offers plenty of raspberry jam, toasted bread and floral notes in a ripe, expansive, mou...

"A cool, rainy and difficult year in the Northern Rhone, the 2008 Ermitage le Meal is still beautiful and has a semi-opaque, ruby color, complex no...

"Chapoutier's 2007 Ermitage le Meal offers a full-bodied, charming, character-filled personality to go with notes of black raspberries, creme de ca...

"It is an amazing achievement. Even better is the 2008 Ermitage l’Ermite (449 cases). Not as concentrated as Le Pavillon, it reveals a powdered roc...

"Closer in style to the ’11, yet with more mid-palate depth and concentration, the 2009 Ermitage Les Greffieux is a voluptuous, decadent and seriou...

"Much more peppery, spicy, perfumed and open, the 2008 Ermitage Les Greffieux is Cote Rotie like with its olive tapenade, game, white pepper and cu...

"Classic Bonneau with its knockout perfume of sweet kirsch, blackberry, saddle leather and roasted herbs, the 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des ...

"The 2015 Cornas Vin Noir, from 100-year-old vines, is a tour de force. Crushed stone and violets set the stage for this full-bodied wine that’s lo...

"Delorme’s 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee la Reine des Bois is up with the top eight to ten wines of the vintage. Made from 80% Grenache then small...

Domaine Leon Barral is one of the best producers in Faugeres and has been at the forefront of a move to more traditional farming methods.  The wine...

Araujo Estate was established when Bart and Daphne Araujo acquired the celebrated Eisele Vineyard in 1990, beginning a 23-year period in which the ...

This almost pallindromically named Mediterranean red is a concrete tank-aged blend of Grenache, Carignan and Syrah grown on shale.  Coming from a b...

"I always think of this cuvée as a mini-Hermitage (sometimes not so mini) and the 2014 Crozes Ermitage Les Varonniers has lots of crushed rock-like...

"On another level, the 2014 Côte Rôtie La Mordorée is a perfumed, incredibly layered and even sexy 2014 that has lots of black raspberry fruits, fl...

"I was shocked at the quality of the 2014 St Joseph Le Clos; this warmer, east-facing vineyard continues to impress. Full-bodied, beautifully conce...

"The 2014 Ermitage Les Greffieux offers a big mouthful of fruit as well as a more gamey profile in its black olive, beef blood, smoke and ripe dark...

"A blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 15% Mourvedre aged in tank as well as demi-muids, the 2010 Vacqueyras Vieilles Vignes comes from the estate...

"From a vintage called “classic” by winemaker Christine Vernay, the 2006 Cote Rotie Maison Rouge is a still youthful, layered, impeccably balanced ...