Southern Rhône Blend

Limoux's steep slopes and limestone-dominated soils create the terroir behind this refreshing and beautifully energetic rosé. Grenache and Syrah provide the backbone of the blend, giving both generosity and spice, while the addition of a little Cinsault brings red-berry definition.
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

This Côtes du Rhône has been specially made for us by Rémi Pouizin, the talented winemaker and owner of Domaine Dieu-le-Fit. Made with exclusively organic grapes, the wine displays real purity of dark-berried fruit, with subtle spicy notes and a black-olive twist that is so typical of this region. Its juicy fruit core is wonderfully balanced by refreshing acidity and crunchy, chalky tannins.
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer

The Native is a blend of concrete-aged Grenache and wood-aged Syrah and Mourvèdre. The Grenache makes up 70 percent of the blend, its fruit sourced from a variety of soil types, with more black clay higher up the slopes and, beneath that, soils punctuated by pudding stones but build on sand. Silky tannins enrobe a pleasing dark fruit core, with myrtle and red cherry both evidenced. Drink 2018-2021.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer

This is a blend of 51 percent Syrah, 31 percent Grenache, 14 percent Mouvèdre and four percent Counoise. “Patelin” is slang for “neighbourhood” and is a project that enables Tablas to be selective with their own fruit, as well as sourcing from some high-quality vineyards around their ‘hood, Paso Robles. Each vineyard which makes it into the blend is mentioned on the label. Bright and energetic, the wine has aromas of violet, blueberry and pepper spice. It has a silky but pronounced tannin profile, with a juicy and generous mid-palate.  
Fiona Hayes, Wine Buyer

An impressively deep and inviting nose of crème de mure and violets, nicely defined. Full-bodied but not massive, it has a rounded mouthfeel and concentrated berry fruits with notes of sloe, menthol and woody herbs. A powerfully intense wine with a lovely sense of freshness and a polished mouthfeel, with a fine patina of dusty tannins. It will age to the medium term, but is more about joyful early drinking. 
Matt Walls, Decanter (autumn 2017)

This beautiful 17th-century estate dominates the village of Gigondas, just as this outstanding wine will come to dominate the ever-growing reputation of its wines. The investment made by the Perrins here demonstrates their faith in these cooler sites; in this instance the north-west orientation defines the micro climate and ensures a late harvest. Fifteen months later, the latent complexity has been captured and bottled and the results are superb: Grenache dominates with over 90 percent of the blend, and very successful it is too. Blue and black fruits vie for attention; the attention, secured, is held by the midpalate focus, purity and impressive length. Griotte and mocha on the finish complete a most satisfactory gustatory experience.
Simon Field MW - Rhône Buyer

Deferential perhaps to what the Chapoutiers have achieved in the north with their single plots in Hermitage, the Perrins have segregated their top domaines into a ‘parcellaire’ category. Fully owned and farmed on the most rigorous organic principles, these exciting wines reflect the family’s faith in the villages of Vinsobres and Gigondas, the hillside locations of which chime with changing meteorological and climatic patterns.

A chamber piece, appropriately enough, a whimsical sonata in praise of the Grenache grape, from the southerly and relatively cold vines of Chaupin. Spring flowers and bright acidity add feminine charm to the ripe fruit and ensure that the wine is immediately etched on the memory.
Drink 2019-2014.
Simon Field MW – Wine Buyer

Thirteen plots, with a concentration on the famous
Crau plateau, have gifted this blend which is made up
of 80 percent Grenache, 10 percent Mourvèdre, seven
percent Syrah and three percent Cinsault. Gentle
extraction after a modest cold soak has been followed
by eighteen months ageing, shared between vat and
350 litre casks, none of which are new. Benchmark
Châteauneuf aromas of black olive and the scrub cede
to a dark and savoury palate, hugely textured and
with layers of potential. The 2016 calling cards of pure
acidity and elegant tannins are both present and the
finish is imperious. Drink 2020-2028.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer

Of the 13 plots which make up this wine, the key ones are Beaurenard in the north-west, Charbonnière on the central Crau plateau and Gallimardes in the south... in other words, this has a richly diverse provenance. The blend is 80 percent Grenache, 10 percent Mourvèdre, seven percent Syrah and three percent Cinsault. The wine displays classic aromas of thyme, sous-bois and macerated plum and an equally classic palate, which is long and unnervingly complex. Drink 2020-2028. 
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer

The forebears of sisters Sophie and Catherine Armenier have been making superb wines since 1344 it seems, maybe modifying their techniques a little along the way, but not too much. Biodynamic in all but the letter, they are based close to Beaucastel, but their plots, albeit more modest in total surface area, are more widely spaced over the appellation, with the most significant holdings in the areas around Courthézon and on the central Crau plateau. Low yields are key to the exceptional quality of the wines.

Christophe describes this as “the best Chaupin ever”,
and if there was ever an illustration of Grenache
that is richly wrought, powerful and luxuriously
textured, yet still structured and not tipping over into
a decadent over-indulgence, then this would be it. The
herbal hints at the back of the palate ground the wine
magnificently; otherwise it’s an ethereal paean to
Provencal pleasure. Drink 2022-2028.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer

Careless of the apparent vagaries of the vintage, Vincent Avril has produced an outstanding wine in 2014. Despite the virtual exclusion of the troubled Syrah, the wine has a warm and welcoming colour and a typically generous Papes nose of kirsch, Morello cherry, lavender and forest floor.

This generosity pursues us all the very to the very long finish, its most engaging characteristics being the harmony of sweet fruit and savoury tannins and the weight in the mouth which marries Burgundian poise with Mediterranean warmth. An exceptional piece of work, the final blend of which is 50% Grenache and 30% Mourvèdre, the balance shared principally between Counoise and Vaccarèse.
Drink 2017-2025+
Simon Field MW Wine Buyer

Incorporating 20% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah and 6% Clairette, the Grenache-dominated 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes is gorgeous. Slightly more rich and textured than the Cuvee Chaupin, it boasts tons of blackberry, cassis, ground herbs, crushed flowers and creamy licorice in its full-bodied, layered and ripe personality. The tannin quality here is first-rate, and this will benefit from short-term cellaring and evolve for over a decade.
Jeb Dunnuck - Wine Advocate Issue#215 Oct 2014

The Vieilles Vignes cuvée is made up of four different plots, each with its own distinctive terroir adding complexity to the ensemble. Most of the vines are from 1940 and 1965, with the youngest 20 percent from 1976 and 1993. The blend is 80 percent Grenache, 15 percent Mourvèdre, three percent Syrah and two percent unattributed. The wine is, as usual, superb, with an evocative garrigue nose and a palate which somehow marries a dark-chocolate plush with an almost ethereal, poetic finish.
Simon Field MW - Rhône Buyer

Christophe Sabon took us on the most fascinating vineyard tour in October 2014, underlining once again why he is held in such esteem in the appellation, and why Janasse make such widely praised wines across the spectrum. His sister, Isabelle, who operates the commercial side of the business, places 2013 stylistically between 2010 and 2011; she advises that the wines are a little more powerful than 2011 and perhaps a little rounder than 2010. Praise indeed, but a commentary that seems to be justified by the wines themselves.