Highly Allocated Gems
Showing 244–252 of 655 results
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Domaine de la Janasse 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape
$59.99Southern Rhone Valley
Wine Advocate 92 Rating
Looking pretty close to the 2009 and 2010 in terms of quality, the 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape has slightly less Grenache than prior vintages, with 15% Mourvedre, 8% Syrah and the rest Grenache. Violets, underbrush, sweet black raspberry and cassis all flow from this medium to full-bodied, pure and elegantly styled effort. Showing plenty of fruit, good acidity and terrific purity, it should evolve gracefully for 12-15 years. Drink 2015-2027. R24-1 -
Domaine De La Janasse 2012 Chateauneuf du Pape Chaupin
$79.99Southern Rhone Valley
Wine Advocate 94 Rating
The 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin, which I was able to taste (and drink) from multiple bottles, is a beautiful Grenache that comes from the cooler, northeastern edge of the appellation. Coming almost all from the Chapouin lieu-dit (it gets a small bit from La Janasse), it gives up the classic notes of black berries, spring flowers, violets, and licorice that I always seem to find in this cuvee. Building nicely on the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured, has tons of sweet fruit and solid, if not firm, tannin that come out on the finish. It will be better in another couple of years and have 15+ years of overall longevity. R24-1 -
Domaine De La Janasse 2020 Chateauneuf Du Pape Chaupin
$89.99Southern Rhone Valley France
Jeb Dunnuck 99 Rating
I was blown away by the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Chaupin, a 100% Grenache release that comes almost exclusively from the Chaupin lieu-dit in the northern part of the appellation. It's never as inky-hued or powerful as the Vieilles Vignes but always screams Grenache with its sexy, ripe, seamless, and remarkably elegant style. The 2020 offers a translucent ruby/purple hue as well as incredible aromatics of blackberries, black raspberries, peppery garrigue, herbes de Provence, and flowers, and it opens up nicely with time in the glass. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, it has silky tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. I finished my note with “a Grenache lover's dream.” This is up with the finest vintages produced and will evolve for 15+ years. SP33-10 -
Domaine de Saint Prefert 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Collection Charles Giraud
$199.99Southern Rhone Valley
Jeb Dunnuck 100 Rating
Even better (as well as a perfect wine), the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Collection Charles Giraud checks in as a nominal blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre that was brought up in demi-muids. It reveals a deep purple color as well as heavenly notes of blackberry and currant fruits intermixed with loads of cured meats, spice box, Asian spices, and a distinct loamy soil and minerality. Always more structured and powerful than the Reserve Auguste Favier release (no doubt due to the Mourvèdre component), it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building yet polished tannins, flawless balance, and a great, great finish. Pure perfection in a glass, it’s as good as wine gets. Give bottles 2-4 years and enjoy over the following two decades. Hats off to winemaker Isabelle Ferrando for yet another thrilling wine! SM -
Domaine Della 2018 Pinot Noir
$69.99Santa Lucia Highlands California
Jeb Dunnuck 93 Rating
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Located south of Monterey, the Santa Lucia Highlands is a great AVA that produces an amazing amount of outstanding Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrahs. Starting with the appellation 2018 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands, it comes all from the Soberanes Vineyard (in the relative center/southern end of the appellation) and spent 15 months in 47% new French oak. This beautiful, elegant, complex wine displays the fruit-loaded style of the appellation yet stays balanced, nicely textured, and even elegant. Black cherries, black raspberries, leafy herbs, a touch of flowers, and some earthy/forest floor notes all emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with a soft, supple texture, again, terrific balance, and a great finish. It's slightly less expensive than the single vineyard, but I think it’s just as good. SP1-2 -
Domaine Della 2020 Chardonnay
$54.99 -
Domaine du Pegau 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee da Capo
$299.99Southern Rhone Valley France
Jeb Dunnuck 99 Rating
The 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Da Capo is smoking good. Blackcurrants, lavender, garrigue, violets, cured meats and saddle leather all flow from this rich, unctuous, incredibly decadent 2015 that has sweet tannin, a huge mid-palate, and more concentration than just about every other wine in the vintage.SP38-6 -
Domaine du Pegau 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc
$59.99Southern Rhone Valley France
Wine Advocate 95 Rating
Pegau's 2019 Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc Cuvée Réservée is almost Burgundian in character, the way it balances upfront generosity with mouthwatering length. The flavors are different, offering hints of crushed stone, underripe pineapple, white peach and dried spices, then this medium to full-bodied wine adds vaguely chalky textural elements on the long finish. Silky and streamlined, it does a wonderful job of preserving freshness throughout. SPB1-1 -
Domaine du Pegau 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape
$89.99Southern Rhone Valley France
Vinous 96 Rating
The 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée is one of the strongest vintages for this wine in recent history. It is magnificent, soaring from the glass with pungent aromas of crème de cassis, ripe raspberry and strawberry, cured meat, tobacco, licorice, iodine and garrigue. Full-bodied, vibrant to the core and offering a multidimensional profile, this wine is really, really good. The Féraud family and the entire team deserve a round of applause for this sublime Cuvée Réservée, which will still be kicking ass 20 years from now. R45-4 SP37-17
