Vinous (95)

Translucent yellow. Seductively perfumed aromas of passion fruit, pear nectar, white peach and orange zest, along with suggestions of jasmine and tarragon. At once concentrated and lively, offering vibrant, mineral-laced orchard and pit fruit flavors that are complicated by a suave, steadily building floral nuance. Finishes with a strong jolt of minerality, repeating florality and noteworthy persistence. This wine's blend of power and finesse is quite something.

Indulge your senses with the richness of Anglore Lirac 2018. This distinguished red wine emanates from the prestigious Anglore Estate, nestled in the famed terroirs of Southern Rhône valley, France. It's an organic, biodynamic wine meticulously produced by the expert winemaker, Eric Pfifferling. Known for his finesse, Eric has skilfully blended Grenache, Carignan and Mourvèdre grapes, aged in old barrels for a year, resulting in this exceptional Lirac vintage.

The Anglore Lirac 2018 boasts an engaging nose of dark fruit and wild herbs, leading into a palate of intense richness. This lush wine demonstrates harmonious tannins and exhibits the perfect balance of acidity and opulence. Its natural, non-interventionist style makes it an ideal choice for those seeking a pure, unadulterated taste experience. The Anglore Lirac 2018 truly embodies the elegance and intensity of wines from the renowned Rhône valley, making it a deserving addition to any connoisseur's collection.

Crafted in the Southern Rhône Valley, the Anglore Lirac 2019 is a remarkable expression of Eric Pfifferling's expert winemaking prowess. Cultivated under the Mediterranean sun, in the mineral-rich terroir of Lirac, this unique blend benefits greatly from the old Carignan and Grenache vines it’s sourced from. Produced organically with no added sulphites, through the process of spontaneous fermentation, the Anglore Lirac 2019 delivers a harmonious balance of fruit and terroir, capturing the rich essence of its environment.

The wine reveals a stunningly rustic palette, boasting of stewed cherries, laced with hints of baking spice and a mesmerising earthiness. Turning towards a velvety textured, medium-bodied composition, it delivers a complex and lingering finish. The character and finesse of the Anglore Lirac 2019 cement it as a leading example of natural wines from the Rhône region, not just a joy to savor but a true testament to Pfifferling's dedication to quality and authenticity.

Vinous (90)

Good deep, youthful red-ruby color. Pungent, sauvage nose combines game, black pepper, black raspberry, black plum, leather, woodsmoke and fresh blood. Big, rich and full in the mouth, offers Cornas rusticity in all its glory. Fat and peppery. This seems richer but lower in acidity than earlier bottles I've tasted, and could use a bit more clarity of flavor. But very satisfying.

James Suckling (98)

A more floral and perfumed wine than the 2015 Renaissance. Violets add interest to plenty peppery red plums and wild red berries. Darker berries, graphite and stony notes, too. So much here. The palate arrives in silky ribbon-like mode, it has a very long core of blackberries, licorice and spiced plum flavors. Superior definition in the tannin department. A taut finish. Drink from 2025.

James Suckling (98)

A more floral and perfumed wine than the 2015 Renaissance. Violets add interest to plenty peppery red plums and wild red berries. Darker berries, graphite and stony notes, too. So much here. The palate arrives in silky ribbon-like mode, it has a very long core of blackberries, licorice and spiced plum flavors. Superior definition in the tannin department. A taut finish. Drink from 2025.

Vinous (95)

Dark, youthful purple. Powerful, smoke- and mineral-accented aromas of ripe dark berries, licorice, olive and a hint of incense on the deeply perfumed nose. Juicy and sharply delineated in the mouth, offering concentrated, spice-laced blackberry, bitter cherry and fruitcake flavors that take on a smoky aspect as the wine opens up. In an ample but lively style, finishing juicy and extremely long, with building tannins adding framework and youthful grip.

Vinous (96-97)

Spice- and mineral- accented dark berry, smoky bacon and floral pastille scents show excellent delineation and pick up deeper licorice and olive paste notes with air. Sappy and expansive in the mouth, offering juicy boysenberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors that show outstanding depth and are lifted by a potent mineral flourish. Powerful yet lively in character, delivering solid finishing thrust and closing with noteworthy tenacity and youthfully chewy tannins that build steadily.

Vinous (97-98)

Glass-staining ruby. Intensely perfumed dark berry preserve, violet oil, olive, cured meat and woodsmoke scents show fine definition and vibrant spice- and mineral-driven lift. Offers palate-staining, spice-laced blackberry, bitter cherry, fruitcake and violet pastille flavors that deepen and open up steadily through the midpalate, while maintaining energy. The strikingly long, penetrating finish features youthfully chewy tannins, a sweet touch of cola and lingering floral and exotic spice qualities. All whole clusters and no new oak, as usual.

Vinous (97-98)

Glass-staining ruby. Intensely perfumed dark berry preserve, violet oil, olive, cured meat and woodsmoke scents show fine definition and vibrant spice- and mineral-driven lift. Offers palate-staining, spice-laced blackberry, bitter cherry, fruitcake and violet pastille flavors that deepen and open up steadily through the midpalate, while maintaining energy. The strikingly long, penetrating finish features youthfully chewy tannins, a sweet touch of cola and lingering floral and exotic spice qualities. All whole clusters and no new oak, as usual.

Vinous (94)

Opaque ruby. Intensely perfumed aromas of dark berry liqueur, succulent flowers, olive paste and baking spices show very good clarity and mineral lift. Juicy blackberry, kirsch, chewing tobacco and floral pastille flavors display sharp definition and take on a smoky aspect with air. The long, energetic finish features building tannins and resonating spice, smoke and mineral nuances.

Vinous (95-96)

Dark violet. Offers dark berry preserves, fruitcake, smoky minerals, olive and pungent flower notes on the highly perfumed nose. Stains the palate with sappy black and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors; black pepper and mineral accents add lift and back-end cut. Quite deep but energetic as well, finishing on a building tannic note and with impressive, dark fruit-dominated persistence.

Vinous (94)

Dark magenta. Intense dark fruit and floral scents, along with hints of olive paste, smoked meat and exotic spices. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering bitter cherry and cassis flavors that are underscored by a vein of juicy acidity. Rich and broad but energetic as well, showing bright clarity and a lingering floral nuance on the long, youthfully tannic finish.

Experience the unparalleled allure of Banneret Chateauneuf Pape 2020, a dazzling specimen of celebrated winemaking heritage. Emanating from the esteemed terroirs of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France, this venerated vintage embodies the meticulous craftsmanship of Jean-Claude Vidal. The Banneret Estate, with a legacy dating back to the 15th century, bespeaks the relentless pursuit for excellence in viniculture. Known for utilizing all 13 permitted grape varieties, its wines achieve exceptional complexity and depth.

The Banneret Chateauneuf Pape 2020 unfolds enchanting layers of black fruit, spices, and soft tannins. Grown in galets roules-covered vineyards, the grapes evoke mineral-led resilience, reflected in the wine's robust character. Hand-harvested and aged in concrete tanks, the wine retains genuine expression of its origin. Displaying incredible ageing potential, this Grenache-dominated blend is the epitome of class and sophistication. A true testament to unique winemaking traditions, the Banneret Chateauneuf Pape 2020 makes a resplendent addition to any cellar.

The Bastide Saint Dominique Chateauneud du Pape Hesperides 2012 is an extraordinary embodiment of the finesse witnessed in fine wine craft. Produced with precision in the revered Chateauneuf-du-Pape region of southern Rhône, Bastide Saint Dominique masters the art of winemaking with a blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah grapes. The resultant wine is matured for a span of 18 months in French oak barrels, endowing it with a characteristically robust structure and a delightfully rich flavour profile.

The Hesperides 2012, a product of the notably steady 2012 vintage reflects deep, powerful notes of ripe black fruits, balanced with undercurrents of spice and earth. It owes its lingering finish and impressive complexity to the meticulous care taken by Bastide Saint Dominique. This offering is a testament to Bastide's heritage as one of Rhône's premium winemakers, upholding an unfaltering commitment to quality. The Bastide Saint Dominique Chateauneud du Pape Hesperides 2012 is an experiential delight for lovers of fine wine.

Wine Spectator (96)

One of the more endowed 2009s, this is packed with dark smoldering cocoa, mesquite, tobacco and roasted fig notes, all inlaid with pure cassis and plum preserves fruit flavors. Long and authoritative on the finish, with singed vanilla bean and tar notes adding length and dimension. Best from 2015 through 2026. 4,000 cases imported. -JM

Wine Advocate (96)

What I think might end up being the best Beaucastel since the 1990 or 2001, the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape offers a full-bodied, decadent style to go with awesome black and blue fruits, garrigue, licorice, crushed flowers and violets. The purity here is truly something, and it has fabulous mid-palate concentration, building tannin and massive texture. Given all of the fruit and texture here, it will no doubt drink well in its youth, but it should still be alive and kicking after two decades as well.

Wine Advocate (93)

The 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape is a beautiful wine in the vintage, and Marc compares it to the 2012. I’m not sure I agree, but there’s no denying the quality in this 2014. Sporting a deep ruby color and terrific notes of blackberries, ground herbs, pepper and Provençal spice, it shows the more forward, charming nature of the vintage and is medium to full-bodied, pure and balanced. Drink it anytime over the coming decade.

Wine Advocate (93)

The 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape is a beautiful wine in the vintage, and Marc compares it to the 2012. I’m not sure I agree, but there’s no denying the quality in this 2014. Sporting a deep ruby color and terrific notes of blackberries, ground herbs, pepper and Provençal spice, it shows the more forward, charming nature of the vintage and is medium to full-bodied, pure and balanced. Drink it anytime over the coming decade.

Wine Spectator (97)

A stunner from the get-go, with waves of thoroughly seductive boysenberry, plum, blueberry and raspberry reduction forming the core, while roasted apple wood, rooibos tea, bergamot, and anise notes flash throughout. This has plenty of bass, with a Turkish coffee accent and a hint of alder driving underneath. Everything moves in lockstep through the seriously long finish. Best from 2020 through 2045. 12,500 cases made.

James Suckling (99)

This is a stunning Beaucastel. A classic! Has a superb array of fruit, ranging from red, through to blue, darker purple and black. Nuances of dark, stony minerals, spices, wild flowers and herbs. So fleshy. This has impeccable balance, super-silky tannins and an extraordinarily long finish. This has decades ahead of it. Drink or hold.

Jeb Dunnuck (95-97)

Moving to the two Châteauneuf-du-Pape releases and 35% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, 8% Syrah, 12% Counoise, the rest other permitted varieties (Marc calls this a Mourvèdre vintage), the 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape sports an inky purple color as well as a textbook Mourvèdre nose of black, black fruits, smoked meats, crushed rocks, charcoal, and pepper. It's deep and full-bodied, with beautiful purity and building structure. Production is down 40%, but this brilliant wine is certainly in the same league as the 2016.

Jeb Dunnuck (95-97)

Moving to the two Châteauneuf-du-Pape releases and 35% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, 8% Syrah, 12% Counoise, the rest other permitted varieties (Marc calls this a Mourvèdre vintage), the 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape sports an inky purple color as well as a textbook Mourvèdre nose of black, black fruits, smoked meats, crushed rocks, charcoal, and pepper. It's deep and full-bodied, with beautiful purity and building structure. Production is down 40%, but this brilliant wine is certainly in the same league as the 2016.

Wine Advocate (95-97)

Another in a string of top vintages, Beaucastel's 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape was produced from Grenache yields of only eight hectoliters per hectare (normal is about 28 hectoliters per hectare, according to Marc Perrin). The final blend I was shown is almost candied in its fruity intensity of raspberries and cherries, yet it has a potent underpinning of more savory elements, like tapenade, grilled meat and dried spices. Full-bodied, with fine, silky tannins, this shows tremendous length, reverberating with hints of crushed stone on the finish.

Jancis Robinson (18)

Cask sample, tasted at the domaine. What a stunning nose! Piercingly fresh and expressive notes of violet, garrigue and black-olive tapenade. Defined tannins support the fresh zesty mid palate and is all beautifully encased in a toasty cape of dark fruit.