2 | Wine | France, 86 to 90

"Well made, reasonably priced and delicious. The nose offers plenty of crisp blackcurrant, raspberry leaf and mint aromas that are well defined and have a Pauillac-like personality. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp black smoky fruit. This is very harmonious and focused with a clinical, crisp, focused, balsamic finish. Bravo – this is a great wine."
Reviewed by: Neal Martin - 90 pts

"Alluring, with a polished structure that lets the smoldering bay leaf, anise, steeped plum and warm paving stone notes play out. Shows latent grip and solid depth."

"A major sleeper of the vintage, this blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is another “best ever” performance. Notes of tobacco leaf, hot rocks, sweet kirsch and black currants are impressively displayed in this medium to full-bodied, velvety textured, very seductive style of wine. Drink it over the next decade." -Robert Parker

"Abundant amounts of red and black fruits intermixed with hints of tobacco leaf, earthy soil, pepper and spice. This supple-textured, delicious red is exactly what one expects of a very good Cotes du Rhone."-Robert Parker

"Dense but fresh, with a saturated core of blackberry pâte de fruit, anise and plum sauce that races along with vibrant spice and graphite notes. The long finish shows cut and drive, with enough grip to cellar short term."

"Balanced, with a rich, toasty character, bright acidity and subtle notes of lemon curd, cream, quince paste and fleur de sel. Ends with a firm, minerally finish."

"This dark ruby/purple-tinged sleeper of the vintage offers a sweet bouquet of black currants, underbrush, licorice and berry fruit. Medium to full-bodied with excellent depth, good acidity and an endearing roundness, it can be enjoyed now and over the next 8-10 years."-Robert Parker

"Lightly toasty, with a lively bead and flavors of poached pear, dried apricot, brioche and honey. Displays chalkiness without being too angular, and culminates in a lasting, apple-tinged finish."

"The 2010 Cotes du Rhone Reserve is outstanding. Dense purple, with notes of roasted meats, black raspberries, blackberries, licorice and lavender, this wine is just terrific. Medium to full-bodied, rich and certainly far deeper and more concentrated than one has any reason to expect from a wine that sells for $15 (the taste is more like one for $35 to $50), this is a winner that will drink well for 4-5 years."

"The 2010 Chablis Cuvee Massale is another striking wine graced with exquisite finesse and crystalline transparency. The old-vines Cuvee Massale is from a 4 hectare parcel planted with vines that are nearly 50 years old. It is very promising in this vintage."

"Tasted from tank, into which it had been assembled just two weeks beforehand, the Morin 2011 Sancerre Vieilles Vignes – which will as usual be a cuvee solely for the U.S. market, and bottled unfiltered – brims with bright lime and grapefruit; apple and honeydew melon, offering a lovely balance between lees-enrichment and refreshing vivacity. There is a chalky sense of mineral impingement to the vibrantly zesty, invigorating, yet persistently succulent finish of this buoyant (incidentally, 12.7% alcohol) Sancerre that should drink well for the next 3-4 years if not beyond."