2017 Rhône
Showing 1-30 out of 30 items
Hide All Tasting Notes
Remi Pouizin,
Ready, but will keep,
A blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre, this wine is back in 2017 – not having been made in 2016 due to poor flowering. It offers a complex blend of wild strawberries, red cherries and sweet-spice undertones. There is a density and concentration to the nose, neatly balanced by a silky texture and chalky, firm tannins. Drink now to 2026.
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer
Ready, but will keep,
Laurent has increased his vineyard holdings in Vacqueyras by 1.5 hectares. The eight-hectare total, spread over several parcels, makes up this blend of Grenache (65%), Mourvèdre (20%) and Syrah (15%). Dark plum and red cherry notes take on a supporting role in relation to a dominant herbal character, with hints of lavender. The rich and concentrated core is balanced by juicy acidity and firm, powdery tannins. Drink now to 2023.
Ready, but will keep,
This unique cuvee is made entirely from Clairette, spending 10 months in old oak barrels – not to impart oak flavours, but rather to allow micro-oxygenation which stabilises the wine and allows it to develop additional complexity. The resulting wine has a very mineral nose, with herbs and a hint of camomile. The palate starts gently with more mineral notes, but builds to very pure stone and citrus fruit notes, all in balance with the crisp acidity. Drink now to 2022.
Oliver Barton, Buyer Assistant
Oliver Barton, Buyer Assistant
Ready, but will improve,
This is a wonderful example of what good-value Gigondas can offer. The intensity of aromatics with liquorice, kirsch, rosemary and thyme is inviting and persists on the finish. While the fruit concentration is powerful, there is a touch of sweetness and spice on the mid-palate, the tannins powdery and firm, providing balance and focus. Drink now to 2024.
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer
Ready, but will keep,
This is very much in keeping with Emmanuel’s dynamic style of winemaking. As the name indicates, the fruit from three different plots are aged differently, in barriques and demi-muids. The result produces a dark and smoky nose. On the palate, bramble fruit is intertwined with very silky, polished tannins and a rich but well-balanced finish. Drink now to 2024.
Oliver Barton, Buying Assistant
Oliver Barton, Buying Assistant
Domaine Des Saumades,
For laying down,
This is an assemblage of Grenache Blanc, Clairette Blanc and Bourboulien. Quince, honey and orange blossom aromatics are generously supported by toasted almonds and savoury spice. The wine has a waxy, glycerol palate with a breadth and density that is refreshed by a zesty core. Drink now to 2025.
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer
Maison Chapoutier,
For laying down,
This cuvee is mainly matured in concrete vats, with only 30% of the wine seeing oak. This brings a real focus on the purity of fruit. The nose is dark and dense with lots of blackberry fruit. A good mineral streak runs through the palate which is well-structured with firm tannins. Drink 2020-2025.
Oliver Barton, Buying Assistant
Oliver Barton, Buying Assistant
Maison Chapoutier,
For laying down,
This is a blend of three parcels from the mid-slopes of Cornas. The team has sourced the best fruit from this vintage and the plots complement each other well, giving a wine full of dark broody fruit, wood smoke and spice. The tannins here are very fine and inky black but may need some time. Drink 2020-2029.
Ready, but will improve,
This is a “sélection parcellaire” coming from vines that are over 60 years old, in the northern part of St Joseph. Thanks to time in 25% new French oak, this wine displays an attractive sweet spice and cedar aroma. Rich and generous in body, its subtle smoky and meaty notes support the luxurious red and black fruit. Concentrated and complex. Drink 2020-2028.
Paul Avril et Fils,
For laying down,
The 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape looks to be a huge success and reminds me of the 2007. As is normal, Vincent keeps multiple foudres with different blends (as well as a foudre of the final blend), and it's always incredibly educational tasting through the different barrels. The final blend has a classic, sweet bouquet of kirsch, spices, and garrigue, and it's full-bodied, deep, and thrillingly concentrated on the palate. The blend is shifted more toward Mourvèdre due to the tiny quantity of Grenache in the vintage, which makes me think this cuvée might close down shortly after bottling, but it's upfront and incredibly expressive today. 96-99/100 Jeb Dunnuck
Domaine Du Tunnel,
For laying down,
This wine is unapologetic in its bold and assertive exterior. It is insanely powerful – with a density of black berry and plum fruit, overt pepper and liquorice spice, combining with iodine and tapenade aromas. There is so much to say about its flavour profile that it currently takes centre stage, but its significant tannin structure and juicy acidity will ensure its longevity. Drink 2020-2035.
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer
Domaine Vincent Paris,
For laying down,
Here the fruit is from a single plot, where the vines average over 100 years in age, and it sees 100% whole-bunch fermentation. Low yields provide a wonderful concentration of fruit set against a structured tannic background, and yet more elegance from the vibrant acidity. Along with generous fruit, the finish has delightful notes of fresh herbs and violets. Drink 2020-2030.
Oliver Barton, Buying Assistant
Oliver Barton, Buying Assistant
Maison Chapoutier,
For laying down,
This is the only white Crozes-Hermitage in our 2017 offering, It has a powerful nose of green fruit and peach with pleasing mineral and honeyed notes. The palate is packed with juicy fruit – lots more peach and some zesty lemon. Full-bodied and textural, the finish has a pronounced freshness. Drink now to 2023.
Oliver Barton, Buying Assistant
Oliver Barton, Buying Assistant
Jaboulet,
For laying down,
Ah, the awkward third child. So much promise, so much to live up to in the shadow of the 2015 and ’16, will this simply turn out to be the petulant spoilt brat? Not one bit! This was never going to be the Oxbridge-attending, first XI fielding equal of its immediate siblings, but no one likes a know-it-all, so step forward the cheeky, the affable 2017. A healthy dollop of damson jam and fig compôte (like the middle of a fig roll perhaps?) make up the solid core of lively fruit here, embellished by dried herbs, an ashen granite-like mineral note and salty liquorice. Waves of silky plummy tannins are butted with a lovey tart cranberry finish and I’m thinking nothing more profound than, “hmmmm, gosh, what a lovely wine”. Drink 2020-2030. He’s done the family proud.
Jared Ehret, Private Account Manager
Jared Ehret, Private Account Manager
Domaine Pierre Gaillard,
For laying down,
A blend of Pierre’s five hectares in Cote-Rôtie, this wine is expressive and generous. The mix of red and black fruit is well supported by savoury and sweet spice, as well as hints of smoke and tapenade. The wine displays a fleshy core with firm yet ripe tannins. Drink 2020-2030.
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer
Domaine Pierre Gaillard,
For laying down,
Grapes for this wine are sourced from Côte Rozier – situated in a south-facing amphitheatre, this site is particularly warm and gives real concentration to the cuvee. Helped by the 30% new French oak, the wine displays sweet spice, supported by some savoury garrigue so typical of the region and the Syrah grape. The tannins are chewy but well-handled. Drink 2021-2040.
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer
For laying down,
This cuvée shows much promise. The blend includes just under 80% Grenache which is sourced from 13 plots across the appellation, but centred around the prized La Crau commune. This vintage is rich in bright red and black fruit, with plenty of signature sweet spice, building to a savoury olive and black pepper finish. The oak use is minimal which allows full focus on the top-quality fruit. This generous wine is both full of fruit and serious, with a long future ahead of it. Drink 2021-2040.
For laying down,
Marcoux’s top cuvée is made from just two plots, where some of the vines are over 100 years old. There is 90% Grenache here, giving the wine a rich spicy nose, with oodles of black fruit and garrigue notes. On the palate, it shows great harmony and elegance. There is plenty of cool fruit to balance the plentiful but fine tannins which melt on the tongue. The finish is typically complex and lengthy. Drink 2022-2042.
For laying down,
This famous vineyard is currently shared by five vignerons. Rostaing uses only whole-bunch on the fruit from their plot. Inky black in appearance, the nose reveals youthful bramble fruit with heady violets creeping through. The palate is textured and muscular, the dark blackberry fruit combined with a hint of pepper and iron. The finish is very long and the tannins fine, adding to the wine’s finesse. Drink 2022-2042.
Oliver Barton, Buying Assistant
Oliver Barton, Buying Assistant
Domaine de l'Oratoire Saint Martin,
Ready, but will improve,
The Réserve des Seigneurs has significantly less Grenache this year (40%), with a higher proportion of Mourvèdre (40%) and Syrah (20%) compared to the 2016. This has not been detrimental to this delicious cuvee, however, with opulent layers of pepper, violet and black fruit combined with liquorice spice. A luxurious, silky texture is complemented by fine-grained, powdery tannins and brisk acidity. Drink now to 2025.
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer
Fiona Hayes, Rhône Buyer
For laying down,
This is Rostaing’s signature blend from various parcels across the appellation, using 95% wholebunch to great success. The wine itself has a dark inky colour which is an indication of the concentration and richness to come. The palate shows incredibly pure, dark fruit with a textbook note of violets. Despite its pedigree this is very approachable, but will reward a few years’ patience. Drink 2021-2031.
Oliver Barton, Buying Assistant
Oliver Barton, Buying Assistant
Domaine Mouton,
Ready, but will keep,
Jean-Claude’s Côte-Rôtie comes from the Côte Blonde. He uses 25% whole-bunch and ages it in 400-litre barrels. Medium-bodied, there is plenty of red-berry fruit here which mingles with smoky, meaty and mineral notes. The tannins are fine and grippy, leading towards a rustic, earthy finish. Drink 2020-2028.
Oliver Barton, Buying Assistant
Oliver Barton, Buying Assistant
Ready, but will improve,
Showing 1-30 out of 30 items
Oliver Barton, Buyer Assistant