Wine By Nine

Red Wine by Ch. de Beaucastel from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France - Rhone. The 2005 Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape is a wine that probably needs 7-10 years of bottle age. Possibly the most backward and closed Beaucastel made since the 1995, the wine has very high tannins, seems totally closed aromatically, but in the mouth is a weighty wine exhibiting a dense ruby/purple color and tight aromatics consisting of new saddle leather, porcini, meat juices, licorice, tar, and black fruits. The wine is full-bodied, powerful, very tannic, and structured in a dramatically masculine, ageworthy style. This is one for the younger generation or those with considerable patience. I can't see it being close to drinkable before 2014 and lasting up to 30 or more years. Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate 94 Points Really dense and locked up now, this is packed with dark fig, currant and blackberry fruit shrouded by layers of tar, hot stone, bittersweet licorice and espresso. The long, dense finish has a great tug of iron buried within it. Best from 2011 through 2030. Wine Spectator 96 Points

Red Wine by Ch. de Beaucastel from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France - Rhone. The vineyard is a patchwork of all 13 permitted grape varieties, 70 hectares in all. The soil is the same porous, aerated blanket of Alpine diluvium (rounded stones) on a base of Miocene marine limestone that exists elsewhere on the estate. The vines are on average 50 years old and yields are never more than 30 hectolitres per hectare and often much less. It is a vibrant and healthy vineyard due to years of organic cultivation and close monitoring of the needs of each vine. The red wine of Beaucastel as with Coudoulet de Beaucastel is a structured, intense yet lean drink, thanks in part to the large percentage of Mourvedre - about 30% - in the final cuvee. Its austere tannic backbone and resistant to oxidation help Beaucastel age gracefully. One of the great successes of the vintage and certainly better than their 2003 is Beaucastel's 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape. Deep ruby/purple in color with loads of licorice, smoked game, black cherry and blackberry fruit, along with incense and truffle, the wine has fabulous richness, high tannin, medium to full body, and beautiful length, richness, and purity. This is a beauty and one of the vintage's finest wines. Give it 4-6 years of bottle age and drink it over the next 25+ years. It has the potential to be one of the longest-lived Chateauneuf du Papes of the vintage. Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate Ruby-red. Powerful red and dark berry aromas verge on liqueur-like but are enlivened by zesty mineral and anise accents. Lush, supple and sweet, with deep raspberry and cherry flavors, fine-grained tannins and complicating herb and smoked meat tones. Very smooth on the finish, which is sappy, deep in cherry flavor and impressively long. -International Wine Cellar

Red Wine by Ch. La Nerthe from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France - Rhone. Cuvee des Cadettes is a result of strict selections of the best Syrah, Grenache & Mourvedre Chateau La Nerthe has to offer combined with maturing in 100% small barrels. It is recognized as being among the finest bottlings of Chateauneuf-du-Pape.

Red Wine by Dom. de Beaurenard from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France - Rhone. Parcels of old vines 60-100 years in age, planted in soils of great character and complexity, provide the grapes for this wine. They are picked when fully mature and meticulously sorted by hand to further enhance concentration. These old parcels, in which different varieties are planted together, embody the symphony of 13 varieties, though Grenache predominates. The 2004 Boisrenard, their luxury cuvee, always shows some evidence of new oak barrique but doesn't lose its Chateauneuf du Pape soul. In most vintages it is a very long-lived wine, as the 1990 is just now hitting its stride. This is the more up-front style in 2004 with plenty of sexy, chocolatey pain grille notes interwoven with blackberry and cassis. It is layered, opulent, fleshy, and already very drinkable. Its medium to full body and lushness suggest drinking it over the next 8-10 years. Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate 90 Points

Red Wine by d'Arenberg from McLaren Vale, Australia. In its youth, d'Arenberg's The Ironstone Pressings has a deep, dark plum-purple color matched by just as intense black cherry, spice, plum, strawberry, a little liquorice and brooding blackcurrant aromas. Mulberry, ripe plum and fresh pepper dominate the rich full-bodied palate before a long, intense, rolling, dark cherry spice and gritty tannin finish. Eventually, the Grenache and Shiraz blossom as rich, sweet, violet-like scents, with spicy based aroma, before malty, sweet, dark chocolate flavors and crunchy, chewy textured black olive, spicy ginger and long fleshy textures. The Mourvedre adds dried herbs and iodine characters, which are very persistent, matched with slightly chalky tannins. The hallmark of vigorous, fine piquant tannin and acidity continue to reside with The Ironstone Pressings after some considerable time, as have previous vintages since the late 1950's.

1 cent shipping through June 15th. Details at wine.comRed Wine by St. Cosme from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France - Rhone. Barruol is a sharp guy who realizes that even though he was born, raised, and has his home vineyard in Gigondas, the greatest appellation of the southern Rhone is Chateauneuf du Pape... - Wine Advocate 90-92 Points

Red Wine by Bosquet des Papes from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France - Rhone. The surprisingly tannic, structured, medium to full-bodied 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape a la Gloire de Mon Grandpere seems to be somewhat atypical in that it will need several years of bottle age to reach drinkability. There's plenty of tannin here, but also gorgeous levels of sweet black cherry fruit intermixed with raspberry, balsam wood notes, and a pine forest scent. Grenache-dominated, as one might suspect, this wine should be at its best between 2009 and 2028. This superb estate never misses a beat with its wines, which are all reasonably drinkable at a young age, normally exhibit terrific Provencal typicity, and have uncommon aging potential. I still have some soft years like 1983 and 1985 in my cellar that are holding up beautifully. -The Wine Advocate 90-93

Red Wine by Chapoutier from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France - Rhone. Chateauneuf-du-Pape is known for its amazing soil of large rolled stones which laid on the bed of the Rhone river in ancient times. These stones hold the heat of the day's sun and warm the vines in the brisk evening air. La Bernardine is quite unique in that it is made up of only one to three grape varieties when 13 are allowed by AOC law. At such low yields, Michael Chapoutier produces a rich, flavorful wine with moderate tannins. Color: Rich red Aroma: Complex aromas of currant, plum, coffee, cinnamon, cherry and spice. Taste: Peppery flavors with nuances of sage, rosemary and red fruit.

Red Wine by Dom. de la Cote de l'Ange from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France - Rhone. Deep red. Rich, pungent, earthy aromas of dark berries, roasted coffee, cocoa powder and woodsmoke. Lush and concentrated, with intense flavors of dark berry compote, mocha, candied licorice and cracked pepper. At once sweet and structured, this boasts excellent palate coverage and finishes on a gently tannic, sweet cherry note. 90-92 points -IWC

Red Wine by Dom. de Beaurenard from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France - Rhone. 70% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, and 10% Cinsault and other AOC varieties. Lovely pure beam of red currant and red cherry fruit supported by hot stone and mineral notes. Hint of tobacco on the minerally finish. Should flesh out nicely in the near-term. Best from 2007 through 2017. -Wine Spectator

Red Wine by Ch. Mont Redon from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France - Rhone. This stylish wine shows robust flavors of dark cherry, crushed red berries and pepper with notes of chocolate and citrus peel on the nose, set in a ripe, integrated tannic structure and ending in a long, sweet finish.

Red Wine by Ch. La Nerthe from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France - Rhone. This red represents the elegant and refined side of Chateauneuf, offering complex spice notes and a mineral accent on the finish. Parcels of mixed varietals are vinified together in either ancient stone tanks, large wooden barrels or small barrels depending on the varietal content of each parcel. The blend is famous for its use of the 13 permitted grape varieties in the area, with Grenache usually playing a dominant role.