Sleek, stone fruit, floral, lowish acid. There's minerality and a hit of herb, lending some complexity on the palate, but there just isn't enough acid here.
Some sharp aromas on the nose, picking up some melon and floral notes. On the palate, it's fleshy and rich with some grippiness on the palate and a little vanilla (I'm guessing both coming from the 70% new oak barrels). Round, oily, yellow-fruited with a hint of herbs to keep it interesting. I'm not a huge white Rhone fan because of the lack of acidity, but this is an ok example (though I wish it was livelier).This does not feel acid deficient.
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
I'll be honest: this is just too big, too monolithically fruit forward, with no sense of minerality or complexity to make this of interest for me. It's not undrinkable wine, but it is super boring. If you like ripe, lush, and round with lackluster acidity and structure, have at it.
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Plummy on the nose, with dark purple and blue fruit on the palate, but a hint of herbs and garrigue, a streak of minerality, and some nice grip from the tannins.
I am not normally a CdP fan, but I think the restrained nature of the vintage made this a little more pleasurable for me than would normally be the case in a more solar vintage. The alcohol seemed in check and the wine was nicely balanced.
This is a big boy. Aromatically complex, with red fruit and smoke on the palate, and subtle hints of stem, spice and herbs. Texturally, there are super silky tannins (bordering on velvety), caressing the mouth from start to finish. The one nit to pick here is that it could use more acidity, but it is still balanced and refreshing. But, good lord, is it ripe (though not in a flabby, gloopy way). Maybe not hedonistically ripe for civilians, but perhaps a touch too hedonistically ripe for the AFWE. Not damning with faint praise (I like this wine quite a bit), but just noting that you can tell this is from a solar vintage.
2020 Château de Montfaucon Lirac Vin de Mme la Comtesse de Montfaucon
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Lirac
Sleek, stone fruit, floral, lowish acid. There's minerality and a hit of herb, lending some complexity on the palate, but there just isn't enough acid here.
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2022 Domaine des Rémizières Hermitage Blanc Cuvée Émilie
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Some sharp aromas on the nose, picking up some melon and floral notes. On the palate, it's fleshy and rich with some grippiness on the palate and a little vanilla (I'm guessing both coming from the 70% new oak barrels). Round, oily, yellow-fruited with a hint of herbs to keep it interesting. I'm not a huge white Rhone fan because of the lack of acidity, but this is an ok example (though I wish it was livelier).This does not feel acid deficient.
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2016 Domaine du Gour de Chaulé Gigondas Cuvée Eugène
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas
This was a mouthful of tannins that has completely buried all of the fruit. Seems closed down very hard right now.
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2020 Domaine Durieu Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Lucile Avril
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
I'll be honest: this is just too big, too monolithically fruit forward, with no sense of minerality or complexity to make this of interest for me. It's not undrinkable wine, but it is super boring. If you like ripe, lush, and round with lackluster acidity and structure, have at it.
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2021 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Plummy on the nose, with dark purple and blue fruit on the palate, but a hint of herbs and garrigue, a streak of minerality, and some nice grip from the tannins.
I am not normally a CdP fan, but I think the restrained nature of the vintage made this a little more pleasurable for me than would normally be the case in a more solar vintage. The alcohol seemed in check and the wine was nicely balanced.
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2020 Domaine Jamet Côte-Rôtie
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
This is a big boy. Aromatically complex, with red fruit and smoke on the palate, and subtle hints of stem, spice and herbs. Texturally, there are super silky tannins (bordering on velvety), caressing the mouth from start to finish. The one nit to pick here is that it could use more acidity, but it is still balanced and refreshing. But, good lord, is it ripe (though not in a flabby, gloopy way). Maybe not hedonistically ripe for civilians, but perhaps a touch too hedonistically ripe for the AFWE. Not damning with faint praise (I like this wine quite a bit), but just noting that you can tell this is from a solar vintage.
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