1 | Wine | Red Rhone Blend, 2010 | Page 4

"Firm, dense and chewy, displaying concentrated beef and dark plum flavors. Mineral and spice fill the pure finish, which features cocoa notes."

"Another blockbuster is the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Origines...exhibits an opaque purple color as well as a sweet bouquet of blackberries, espresso roast, ink and graphite. While clearly a modern-styled Chateauneuf du Pape, it retains plenty of the region's typicity and authenticity. It should drink well for 15+ years." -Robert Parker

"Intense, smoke- and spice-accented aromas of dark berries and cherry, along with powerful licorice and floral qualities. Broad, deeply pitched blackberry and cherry compote flavors stain the palate, showing surprising vivacity. Finishes with slow-mounting tannins and impressive persistence, leaving a licorice note behind."

"The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape is both a strong effort and a terrific value. Its dark ruby/purple color is followed by lots of loamy soil, underbrush, forest floor, kirsch, licorice and roasted meat characteristics. Full-bodied and layered, the wine builds incrementally in the mouth exhibiting considerable purity, length and texture. It should drink nicely for 10-15 years." -Robert Parker

"In this vintage, the 2010 Esprit de Beaucastel is decidedly huge. An exciting array of dark red fruit, black cherries, incense and tar come together beautifully. At first large-scaled and sweeping in personality, the wine finds more refined registers on the finish, where floral notes add a measure of lift and finesse. Today, the 2010 is a baby, though."

"Tell-tale notes of berry fruit, spice and kirsch. This straightforward, medium ruby-hued, seductive red should drink well for another 1-2 years."

"Medium-deep garnet in color, it offers aromas of spice cake, warm raspberries and kirsch with a hint of white pepper. Medium-full bodied in the mouth, it has soft tannins, medium-high acid and a medium-long finish."