“The 2019 Gigondas Les Reinages is terrific, with ripe cherry and redcurrant-like fruit as well as peppery garrigue and some resinous, foresty nuances. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, ripe, concentrated Gigondas with beautiful fruit, ripe yet building tannins, and a great finish.”

“I was absolutely blown away by the 2020 Hermitage Domaine Des Tourettes Blanc, a rich, powerful expression of Marsanne (there's 10% Roussanne as well) from the L'Ermite, le Sabot, and La Tourette lieux-dits, brought up in a mix of new and used barrels. Revealing a vivid gold hue, it just about jumps out of the glass with its exotic nose of honeyed quince, acacia flowers, buttered pears, chalky minerality, spice, and licorice. The purity is off the charts, and it has full-bodied richness, a deep, plush, opulent mouthfeel, perfect balance, and a great, great finish. It's the finest vintage of this cuvée to date, and readers who love the richer, powerful style of Hermitage should do their best to snatch bottles up. I suspect the acidity is moderate, but it holds onto a riveting sense of freshness and has this liqueur of rock-like sensation on the finish, and it will stand toe to toe with anything out there. I would enjoy bottles over the coming 4-6 years or so and then, at that point, do my best to hold off until 2032 or after. Predicting drink windows for great Hermitage Blanc can be tricky, but this is worth buying multiple bottles and drinking in its youth, then taking a chance with a few in the cellar. There are roughly 400 cases made in each vintage.”

“A terrific value in Northern Rhône Syrah, the 2020 Crozes-Hermitage Les Launes offers a juicy, medium-bodied, vibrant style as well as both red and blue fruits, notes of peppery herbs, violets, and bacon fat-like nuances on the nose. It's a beautiful Syrah to enjoy over the coming decade.”

“Ripe red and black fruits, smoked meat, bacon fat, and assorted spicy notes all emerge from the 2019 Cornas Chante Perdrix, a ripe, medium-bodied, accessible Cornas offering ripe tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and the sunny, ripe style of the vintage. It's drinking nicely today but should easily evolve for 10-12 years, and probably keep for longer as well.”

“There are two Condrieu from this great estate. Starting with the 2019 Condrieu La Galopine, it's slightly lighter gold-hued and has a textbook nose of ripe white peach, honeyed apricots, green almonds, and flowers. It shows more richness and depth on the palate, with some classic Condrieu oomph as well as medium to full-bodied richness, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. It's drinking nicely today and is ideal for enjoying over the coming 2-4 years or so. As with almost all great Condrieu, it's going to shine on the dinner table.”