Château de Manissy 2019 Côtes du Rhône "Oracle"

The very talented Florian André at Chateau de Manissy makes this delicious Côtes d Rhône from Grenache, Carignan and Counoise in organic/Biodynamic farming on sandy, brown clay/limestone soils. "The wine shows a shiny dark red, purple tints; the bouquet charms thanks to its sunny curve of aroma that mixes dried herbs with blackcurrant fruit, all neatly presented. There’s a little smokiness. The fruit purity stands out on the palate, the blueberry fruit with notes of tar-tannin, licorice accompanying it as it runs with calm continuity. This is bang on the money Côtes red, a pleasure to drink with its keen clarity, the length in shape to allow red meats into the dining equation. The freshness contributed by the Counoise is very helpful." (DrinkRhone) This is a superb everyday red at a crazy price!

Santa Duc 2017 Côtes du Rhône Les Vieilles Vignes

The Santa Duc CDR Les Vieilles Vignes is from old vines of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Counoise, Cinsault and Carignan in Rasteau, Cairanne, Sablet and Plan de Dieu, whole bunch fermentation, 3 week vinification, aged in concrete for 12 to 18 months. For a pretty humble seeming wine, this has a ton of character, with floral and  brambly blue and red fruit, nutmeg, allspice and lavender notes and an appealing red and black fruit/garrigue character on the palate. A wonderful value and drinking beautifully now!

Aphillanthes 2015 Côtes-du Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu Vieilles Vignes

The Aphillanthes Plan de dieu "Vieilles Vignes" is a beautiful bottle of mature Cotes du Rhone, from 50 to 70 year-old vines, 80% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre from clay-limestone, siliceous, garrigue soils at Sérignan (Plan de Dieu). "This holds a well-set raspberry and plum-fruited nose, soft white pepper present, a subtext of blackberry, mulled mulberry. This attacks on rounded, smoothly textured rolling red fruit with trim herbs around it, detail indicating the age of the vines, an assured and calm depth. This is notably tasty, but long and stylish also; it is silken wine, en finesse and showing good truth. It is well balanced, very long." - drinkrhone

Gour de Chaulé 2020 Côtes-du-Rhône Cuvée de la Vigneronne

A small amount of Cotes du Rhone is produced from the vineyards owned by Gour de Chaulé in the communes of Vacqueyras and Violes. As with the more noble Gigondas, this cuvée is based almost exclusively on the Grenache grape (approximately 90% of the blend). It is vinified in a fashion similar to the Gigondas except that the elevage is less long. This is to say that there is an extended cuvaison with stems included, malolactic is done in cuve and the wine sees large foudres before being bottled eighteen months after harvest without fining or filtration. The 2020 is a bit more dense and powerful than either 2018 or 2019, but retains good freshness and overall balance. The aromas are quite pretty, showing ripe cassis, strawberry and black cherry with hints of violet, spice and garrigue. The palate shows peppery ripe fruit, cassis, black plum and strawberry, with earth, spice and citrus. This is drinking well now and will be a great accompaniment to pork or lamb chops and anything grilled this summer. Serve a bit cool. Legally entitled to the AOC Vacqueyras, this rare and delicious Cotes-du-Rhone is a superb value!

Sang des Cailloux 2019 Vacqueyras Rouge Cuvée Floureto

"One of the top domains in the appellation and of a benchmark for cellar-worthy Vacqueyras. Comprised of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah , 10% Mourvèdre/Cinsault/Carignan from 17 ha of biodynamically farmed plots on the Plateau des Garrigues. Grapes are hand-harvested, destemmed, and fermented in concrete with native yeasts and aged in foudre. An old friend if ever there was one. A bottle of the 1995 Sang Des Cailloux enjoyed in 2010 taught me that one should really cellar at least a few of these every vintage. You expect Châteauneuf from a good producer to be humming along at 15 years of age, but Vacqueyras? But more than humming, that humble bottle sang (pun intended) with juicy black fruit, resolved tannins and a nose full of dried violets and garrigue. It was quite a wine and mustachioed vigneron Serge Férogoule (since retired) was quite a man. That bottle was enough to convince me to tuck away a few bottles of his wines nearly every subsequent vintage. And this is what I am urging you to do, as well. And the Sang des Cailloux 2019 Vacqueyras Cuvée Floureto is a cracking place to start. The robe is an inky purple hue to the rim of the glass. The nose is a bit circumspect upon opening, but a quick decant reveals aromas of crushed violets, wild blackberry, mulberry, and garrigue with hints toasted peppercorn and fennel seed. The palate is concentrated and firm just out of the bottle, but with a bit of coaxing reveals plummy rich black and blue fruit flavors. This shows a concentrated ripeness that nonetheless remains tethered to the deeply-pitched mineral core, ennobled by firm, but sophisticated, tannins and a mineral tang that speaks to the old vines and biodynamic farming. This is certainly young but displays exquisite potential in its “callow” youth. Lovely wine of terroir with oodles of upside. John McIlwain

Sang des Cailloux 2015 Vacqueyras Cuvée de Lopy

The 2015 Cuvée de Lopy is from very old vines of Grenache grown in clay-limestone, galet stone soils, with 20% old-vine Syrah. "The 2015 shows a dark red, complete robe. The nose smoulders quietly, has airs of mulberry and raspberry, soft spice, geranium. The palate strikes out well – this holds good, stylish, clear Grenache, plum and ripe raspberry in the flavour, with live, cool tannins which have a very good quality. It flows with stylish richness, is complex, a wine of terroir from deep-rooted vines, those that drank from those low-down soils and their minerals this year. Blueberry, floral and mineral prompts also come through. Drink now, through 2036" - drinkrhone.com. 12 btls only.

Les Pallières 2019 Gigondas Les Racines

The Les Pallieres "Racines" is 80-85% Grenache (average age 70 years), 5-7.5% Syrah & 5-7.5% Cinsault, 5% Clairette blanche from vineyards near the cellars at 250 metres, 80% destemmed, gentle crush, 30-35 day concrete, oak vat vinification,  large oak vat aged 10 months, then large 60 hl barrel 7-9 months, unfined, unfiltered,  Domaine Les Pallières is undeniably one of the greatest, longest-running properties of the Southern Rhône — outside the village of Gigondas, woven into the foothills of the beautiful and brooding Dentelles de Montmirail. The domaine had been a continuously running farm within the same family since the fifteenth century! From DrinkRhone: "full red robe; there’s real depth on the nose, beef, bulls blood, intense black berry jam, Southern/sudiste tones, black olives. The palate gives a constant surge attack, a very good wheel of rolling black fruits, is well together, ends with a fine note of stylish juice, precision from the tannins there. It’s both elegant and full, well extended, a very good bottle, has a real upholstered finish." Drink this beautiful Gigondas over the next 30 years.

Clos du Joncuas 2015 Gigondas

(Tasted January 2023: Beautiful nose, gorgeous fruit, a bit softer and richer than the 2016, great finish, delicious!) 80% Grenache with Mourvedre, Cinsault and Syrah, on Triassic clay/limestone soils, always farmed organically. Whole cluster fermentation in vat with 12 months aging in large old barrels. Although we love this beautifully old-fashioned, organic wine in every vintage, Dany and Carole Chastan have made perhaps their best wine ever in 2015! The wine shows deep aromas of blackberry, dark chocolate, prune, garrigue, musk and citrus, quite focused and elegant. The palate is pure, supple and balanced, even at 15% alcohol, with dense blackberry, tart cherry, red currant, spice, earth and minerals, with tart red fruits, minerals and citrus in the very long finish. This is a superb Gigondas that can be enjoyed immensely now with a steak, pork or lamb chops, Morrocan tagines and full-flavored cheeses. Cellar 10 to 15 years for a mature experience. This is a superb wine and a great value - thanks to Carole and Dany for their great farming and traditional winemaking!

Clos du Joncuas 2019 Gigondas

(80% Grenache with Mourvedre, Cinsault and Syrah, on Triassic clay/limestone soils, always farmed organically. Whole cluster fermentation in vat with 12 months aging in large old barrels.) The 2019 Gigondas from Clos du Joncuas has a very expressive nose. Aromas of ground coffee, black licorice, dark cherry, and amazing, dense smells of ripe violets and roses. The palate follows a vein of crushed graphite, with plump black plums, blackberries, sage, and espresso. Structurally, there are well-set tannins, balanced on the gums and the back of the tongue, and the finish is bright with salinity, plus a long lasting essence of cherry. A concentrated, well-flavored, Southern Rhone that is drinking very well now, but can be can be put flat for a decade or more. After a few hours open, the wine expands, the mouthfeel becomes more gripping and a cool, lapping minerality takes hold. Bold and delicious, a real treat! David Hatzopoulos

Clos du Joncuas 2019 Vacqueyras La Font de Papier

(Arrives 10/19) From 80% Grenache with Syrah and Mourvedre, grown on gravelly limestone terraces, always farmed organically, whole-cluster fermention and aged in concrete vats. A fabulous wine from the Southern Rhone, the 2019 La Font de Papier Vacqueyras from Clos du Joncuas displays a fine equilibrium between black fruits, tapenade, and a pungent saline soil signature. The robe straddles the border between dark ruby and purple. The nose is a bit backwards on opening, but time in the glass reveals aromas of plum skin, cassis, game, garrigue, and forest floor. The palate is warm, concentrated, and structured with black fruits, olive, and faint licorice flavors giving way to a salty core and ripe, if somewhat tannic frame. This displays good energy and freshness with fine balance and drive. Very good with pan-roasted loin of lamb and white beans, though this isn’t so structured that a grilled tuna steak with tapenade would suffer for the pairing. Delicious, though a couple of years on its side will surely be rewarded. I’ve learned that a few bottles of southern Rhône reds in the wine fridge are an investment in drinking pleasure. John McIlwain