Rhône
The Rhône Valley, located in southeastern France, is renowned for its exceptional fine wines. With its diverse terroir, rich history, and dedication to quality winemaking, the Rhône Valley offers a captivating selection of wines that embody the region's elegance, complexity, and distinctive character.
The Rhône Valley boasts its own iconic vineyards and wineries, including Château de Beaucastel, Domaine Guigal, and Chapoutier, which are celebrated for producing exceptional wines that showcase the region's unique terroir and winemaking expertise.
The Rhône Valley is renowned for its red wines, particularly in the northern part of the region. Syrah reigns as the dominant grape variety, producing intense and structured wines. Appellations such as Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, and Cornas are known for their robust and age-worthy reds, often displaying notes of black fruits, spice, and earthiness. Famous vineyards such as La Landonne, La Mouline, and Les Bessards are revered for their exceptional expressions of Syrah.
In the southern Rhône Valley, Grenache takes centre stage, contributing to the region's bold and fruit-forward red blends. The renowned appellation of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is famous for its rich and full-bodied red wines, often featuring a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Vineyards like Château de Beaucastel, Clos des Papes, and Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe produce remarkable wines that showcase the region's commitment to excellence.
The Rhône Valley is also celebrated for its white wines, particularly in the northern part of the region. Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne are the key grape varieties, producing aromatic and complex whites. Appellations like Condrieu and Hermitage produce exceptional white wines known for their floral aromas, stone fruit flavors, and vibrant acidity.
Rhône
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rhone | 1 | 91 (WA) | HK$1,775.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (91)I was less impressed with the 1996 Cote Rotie La Mordoree from bottle than I was from cask. Michel Chapoutier still believes it is one of the finest examples he has produced, but agrees that the high acidity has left everything in the wine compressed. It is certainly an outstanding offering, but it will require 5-7 years of patience. Made from microscopic yields of 15 hectoliters per hectare, it exhibits a saturated purple color, and a reticent but promising nose of toasty new oak, cassis, black olives, and smoked game. In the mouth, the wine is medium to full-bodied and dense, but the high acidity and compressed, tightly-knit style make it difficult to penetrate. The finish is long, but the wine is backward and unyielding. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900 |
|||||||||
|
Rhone | 1 | 99 (WA) | HK$4,530.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (99)It is no secret that I adore Chapoutier's luxury cuvee of white Hermitage called Cuvee L'Oree. Made from 90-year old vines and microscopic yields of 10-12 hectoliters per hectare, this wine flirts with perfection. It is a compelling white Hermitage. Made from 100% Marsanne, it is as rich and multidimensional as the fullest, most massive Montrachet money can buy. It is unctuously textured, yet extraordinarily and beautifully balanced. I suspect it will drink well early in life, and then shut down for a few years. It should last for 4-5 decades. The 1996 possesses some of the most amazing glycerin levels I have ever seen in a dry white wine. In short, this wine must be tasted to be believed. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900 |
|||||||||
|
Rhone | 1 | 90-91 (VN) | HK$3,385.00 | |||||
Vinous (90-91)Dark ruby-red. Kirsch, cassis, violet, smoke and spices on the sappy nose. Very bound-up in the mouth today, with strong acidity dominating. I don't currently get the sheer richness of Hermitage, but this is precise, very firmly structured and very young. Finishes with firm tannins and a note of vanillin oak. Should age slowly and well. |
|||||||||
|
Rhone | 1 | - | HK$5,930.00 | |||||
As a fine wine aficionado, the Fonsalette Cotes Du Rhone Syrah 1996 is indeed a celebration of exceptional viticulture and exquisite taste. Produced in the famed wine region of Cotes Du Rhone, Fonsalette estate's Syrah 1996 is lauded for its robust structure and distinct layers of complex flavours. This magnificent French wine exhibits a vibrant, deep red hue, presenting a nose full of ripe fruits. A taste reveals the skilful artistry behind its production, marrying plush intensity with a refined finish. The estate, owned by Emmanuel Reynaud, prides itself on its traditional methods used for this vintage. The fruit was harvested manually, fermented in concrete vats, then carefully aged in oak barrels. With a reputation that lives up to the Rhone Valley’s illustrious status, each sip of Fonsalette Cotes Du Rhone Syrah 1996 is a testament to its careful craftmanship and unhurried maturation process - a true masterpiece in a bottle. |
|||||||||
|
Rhone | 1 | 94 (WS) | HK$2,190.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (94)Much more expressive on the nose than the '97--and darker and thicker--adding to the evidence that '96 is a better vintage in the northern Rhône. Delivers a round, clean, pure mouthfeel of vibrant, focused red berry and blackberry flavors. Superb balance, as it walks a tightrope among the relatively high acidity, ripe tannins and delicious fruit. Worth cellaring.--La Chapelle vertical. Best from 2003 through 2015. -PM |
|||||||||
|
Rhone | 2 | 90+ (VN) | HK$15,045.00 | |||||
Vinous (90+)Good deep red. Deeper aromas of black cherry, raspberry, pepper and licorice. Broad-shouldered but very closed, showing less sweetness today than the '96 Pignan. Red fruit flavors complicated by notes of leather, licorice and herbs. Strong acid/tannin backbone for aging. But tough going today. |