Rhone Valley

Felicien Henri Desire Diffonty founded Chateau Sixtine in 1900 in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation of the Rhone Valley with just 2 hectares of vines. The Diffonty family played a significant role in the winemaking history of the region, with Felicien and his son Marius Diffonty helping establish the Syndicat de Chateauneuf-du-Pape in 1924.

Jammy blackberry, stone, earth, Provencal herbs, black raspberry jam and spice aromas are all over the place. This voluptuous, full bodied wine finishes with a big mouthful of sweet, jammy berries and kirsch. This is worth buying by the case!

Florent and David Viale own nearly 17 hectares in the northern Rhône, where they produce both red and white Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage. They used to sell the wine from their three plots in Hermitage to Guigal, and their red Crozes-Hermitage to Ogier and to Burgundy, but from 1991 they bottled their own. In the cellar, the Viales prefer oak not to dominate the purity of the fruit. They use large oak tonneaux, where the wines take on terrific finesse ...

Grapes are hand-picked, with double sorting at the vine, followed by a third sorting at the winery. Gentle crushing and selective destemming, followed by 25-40 days' traditional fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless-steel and wooden vats. Pneumatic pressing, then systematic malolactic fermentation.

Domaine Stéphane Ogier is a producer in the northern Rhône appellation of Côte Rôtie. It is especially well known for varietal Syrah from several highly regarded appellations in the region, but also making small amounts of Viognier from Condrieu and red and white Vin de Pays wine. The Ogier family has farmed the Rhône Valley for generations, including tending vineyards. The domaine was formed by Michel Ogier who had been growing grapes in the village...

The Domaine Michelas St Jemms is first and foremost a family story which started more than 50 years ago by Robert and Yvette Michelas in the commune of Mercurol. The future of this 123 acres estate, one of the few independent estates deployed on four Rhone appellations (Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, St. Joseph, Cornas)

Domaine Rostaing, often called René Rostaing after its founder, is a leading wine estate in the Côte-Rôtie region of the Northern Rhône, and particularly known for its Syrah-based wines.

Domaine Rostaing, often called René Rostaing after its founder, is a leading wine estate in the Côte-Rôtie region of the Northern Rhône, and particularly known for its Syrah-based wines. The first Rostaing wine was produced in 1971 when the estate covered a mere 1.5 hectares (3.7 acres) split between the Côte Blonde and La Landonne subregions of the Côte Rôtie. This slowly grew as Rostaing purchased additional plots and the took over his uncle's and ...

The bouquet is bold, on beef stock, iron, dense black berries, has a poised, integral sweetness, airs of raspberry liqueur, oak smoke. It’s a solid start. The palate has the theme of mineral well placed through it, a lot of mountain of matter, thickening towards the finish. It holds sparkling and dense fruits – cassis, soaked cherries. It is vibrant and very full; there is real flair off its sun-dialled deck. It has great juice; it’s a treat to taste th...

Producer in Cotes du Rhone.

Maison M. Chapoutier is one of the most recognizable and sizeable producers in the Rhone Valley. It is known for its wines from both the north and south of the valley, but in particular for its red and white Hermitage wines, made from Syrah and a blend of Marsanne and Roussanne, respectively.

One of Chapoutier's Flagship Wines from Saint Joseph

In France’s Northern Rhone Valley, there are few names as revered as Graillot. It was in 1985 that the now legendary Alain Graillot, who after working with the venerable Jacques Seysses at Domaine Dujac, came back to his home in Crozes-Hermitage to start his own domaine. With each passing year his devotion to the art of making hauntingly delicious Syrah from his organically farmed, stone-laden vineyards, has been rewarded with an ever growing and highly...

Tardieu-Laurent is a French negociant enterprise known for the consistently high quality of its wines, which come from the Rhone Valley and from other parts of southern France. It was set up in 1994 by Dominque Laurent and Michel Tardieu, though is now run solely by the latter.

Cherry colour with burgundy reflections. Complex nose, aromas of ripe raspberries, as well as cedar and smoky notes from the oak barrel. Powerful palate, round, structured and persistent finish.

This vineyard is situated at the foot of the Hermitage Hill. It is a glacial alluvial deposit terrace with shingles and clay so more sedimentary soils bring power and rich aromas.

Paul Avril Clos des Papes is a wine producer in the Rhône Valley, making one of the most sought-after wines in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC. The estate is made up of 24 small plots throughout the appellation totalling 32 hectares (79 acres). All of the 13 permitted grape varieties are grown in these vineyards, although Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah are the most important in terms of production. Picking is spread out to ensure maximum quality, and gree...

Clos du Mont-Olivet is located in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France and has been producing red and white wines from the region since 1932. The estate is owned by the Sabon family and is managed by third-generation family members Celine, David and Thierry Sabon. The estate covers 21 hectares (51 acres) of vineyard land around the southern Rhône, and bottles wines from three appellations: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône, and Vin de France. The terroir at...

Delas Frères is an estate based in the northern Rhône Valley, particularly known for its Syrah-based wines from the Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie and Crozes-Hermitages appellations. The Delas family have been involved in the production of wine in the Rhône Valley since 1835, taking the current name in 1924. The wines have been received well throughout the 20th century, and in 1977, joined forces with Champagne Deutz. In 1993, both were acquired by the Rouzau...

Delas Frères is an estate based in the northern Rhône Valley, particularly known for its Syrah-based wines from the Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie and Crozes-Hermitages appellations. The Delas family have been involved in the production of wine in the Rhône Valley since 1835, taking the current name in 1924. The wines have been received well throughout the 20th century, and in 1977, joined forces with Champagne Deutz. In 1993, both were acquired by the Rouzau...

While the greatness of 2016 goes unquestioned here, Owner and winemaker Daniel Brunier called 2017, "At minimum, a very, very good vintage. We were surprised it's so fresh and balanced." Yields were down by about 50% from the previous year. The emphasis here is on elegance and complexity. "Grenache is fantastic when it's not fruity. It's easy to do extraction and big wines. It takes humbleness to do less, a confidence in the land," Brunier said. More co...

Domaine de Cristia is a wine estate located in Courthézon, in the eastern reaches of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The vineyards are dominated by Grenache, alongside Syrah and Mourvèdre, as well as white grape varieties like Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Roussanne and Bourboulenc. This portfolio of grape varieties is the foundation for the estate's two wine labels: Domaine de Cristia and Cristia Collection. Etienne Grangeon founded the estate in the 1950s with j...

Domaine de la Charbonnière is a family-owned wine estate situated just northeast of the town of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, particularly known for its Grenache-based red wines from that appellation. Current owners, the Maret family, trace their association with the property back to 1912, when Eugene Maret bought the estate as a gift for his wife.

A silky, perfumed style, with mulled raspberry and cherry fruit laced with shiso leaf, sandalwood and iron notes, followed by a long, graceful finish that has good latent grip. This seems rather restrained for now, but has the balance to age nicely, with the fruit really echoing through the finish, which bodes well for cellaring. Best served with a myriad of different seafood dishes, shellfish, crab, lobster, sushi, sashimi, chicken, pork and veal, as w...