See
Rhône 2008 coverage – a guide for a brief introduction and links to related articles, including the first tranche of
tasting notes A–L and the final tranche of
Chave, Clos des Papes, Guigal and Rayas. The wines are listed alphabetically by producer (sur)name, white wines before reds (although in future we will probably publish reds and whites in separate articles to make things clearer).
PATRICE MAGNI
Heavy-looking mid straw. Honeyed and interesting on the nose and very definitely Châteauneuf rather than anything else. Not massively rich but true and well balanced. Neat. (JR)
Drink
2010
–
2012
Mid crimson. Light, meaty, savoury nose. Zesty but not concentrated. Lots of acidity. (JR)
Drink
2011
–
2013
MARCOUX
Lightly blossomy though with a beery tinge too. Tight, lively fruit all scrunched up on the palate. Refreshing rather than opulent but not bad. (JR)
Drink
2010
–
2012
Very dark crimson – quite lustrous. Sweet and concentrated with some black cherry savour. A bit astringent and introvert on the finish. Not really complete, just a bit of a flirt on the nose. (JR)
Drink
2012
–
2015
MAS DE BOISLAUZON
Clean, very light mineral nose with some obvious weight behind it. Bone dry with a hint of quinine – and quite a bit of alcohol! Very slightly too much for comfort. No great persistence. (JR)
Drink
2009
–
2011
Sweet, light nose. Thick, dense tannins are the dominant impression because there isn’t really a great deal of fruit here. Tart finish. Jagged. (JR)
Drink
2012
–
2015
MAS DES RESTANQUES
In bottle.
Dull, mid red. This sample is a little tired. Worrying that this is already bottled. Some gas and freshness on the palate but it’s not really Gigondas. Much lighter than many a Côtes du Rhône. Very marked acidity with an acrid finish. (JR)
Drink
2011
–
2012
DOMAINE MATHIEU
Relatively simple and straightforward. A hint of lime and some fresh fruit. (JR)
Drink
2009
–
2011
Mid purplish crimson. Light, fresh, rather greenish fruit. Juicy but not Châteauneuf. (JR)
Drink
2011
–
2014
DOMAINE DE LA MAVETTE
Unusually sweet and opulent on the nose. Plus the merest hint of green. Sweet start to the palate but pretty light and fresh. No faults but a bit impoverished when compared with the norm. (JR)
Drink
2010
–
2013
VIGNOBLES MAYARD
Much deeper gold than most. A little bit of sourness and oak on the nose. Rather beery and then acetic on the finish. (JR)
Drink
2010
Mid cherry red. A hint of slightly old wood? Fizzy ripe fruit that is very sweet and flattering. It cuts off just a little suddenly on the finish but it is lively for relatively early drinking. (JR)
Drink
2011
–
2016
Mid cherry red. Very sweet and candified on the nose. Lots of juicy, sweet fruit and very transparent. Good clarity and freshness but not that much density. Extremely dry tannins on the finish. (JR)
Drink
2012
–
2016
GABRIEL MEFFRE
Rather industrial grey/crimson. Simple and rather austere fruit flavours with lots of chewiness. Lack of flesh and even a hint of acridity. Fades very fast. (JR)
Drink
2011
–
2012
Muscular, animal and interesting, attention-grabbing. Fair attempt at ripeness and fruitiness but the finish is pretty austere. More flesh please! Though it’s clean enough, and should have some potential to age. (JR)
Drink
2011
–
2014
Very dark crimson right out to the rim – much darker than most. Strong floral scent. Not particularly funky – very urban really – but there is life there. Not especially expressive at present but perhaps it will gain grace..? Some greenness. Lots of acidity. (JR)
Drink
2013
–
2017
DOMAINE LA MEREUILLE
Something a bit rustic on the nose here. Very dull on the palate. Yes this is wet. Yes this has a bit of alcohol in it. But does it taste of wine...? (JR)
Drink
2011
Healthy crimson. Oxidised sample. Shame as there may be quite a bit of character here but it’s a bit amorphous. And it fades very fast indeed. (JR)
Drink
2011
–
2014
LA MILLIÈRE
Very pale with lots of alcohol. Heady, ‘fat’ nose then tight on the finish and really very little fruit or flavour in the middle. Just a hit of damp straw on the end. (JR)
Drink
2010
Darker and deeper than most. Almost overripe notes on the nose! Then very loose and formless on the palate with a great big hole where the fruit concentration should be. Astringent finish. (JR)
Drink
2012
–
2015
LA MONARDIÈRE
Deep healthy crimson. Light bodied and aromatic on the nose. Rather flirtatious and very lively. Lots of wild flavours. Much more going on here than in many Vacqueyras 2008. Liquorice and wild flowers. Still a little dry on the end but better than average. (JR)
Drink
2012
–
2014
60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre.
Riper and more intense fruit on the nose than Les Deux Monardes and more flesh on the palate but still lively and fresh. Tight and gently firm, if that makes sense. More mineral than flesh on the finish. Dry and lingering. (JH)
Drink
2012
–
2016
MONPERTUIS
Quite a hot nose. Sweeter than most and a little bit heavy and formless. Still a bit of carbon dioxide dissolved in this. (JR)
Drink
2010
–
2011
Also own Ch Valcombe but it’s for sale.
Very gamey and thick and dramatic – lots of density and real personality. Bravo! This is Châteauneuf. Smoother tannins than most but exceptional integrity. But savoury pepper on the finish too. Long. Quite a standout. (JR)
Drink
2012
–
2018
CHÂTEAU MONT-REDON
Water white. A little leesy on the nose. Very clean and well balanced and well made, though it almost could come from anywhere. Certainly very superior in terms of wine-making competence. (JR)
Drink
2009
–
2011
Bright purplish crimson. Fresh, vigorous nose. Lots of fruit though not that much structure. Easy, frank and fruity. No complexity though. Slightly pinched finish. (JR)
Drink
2011
–
2014
CHÂTEAU MONT THABOR
Bright crimson. Low-key nose. Lots of fruit intensity – berry fruit. Fine tannins. One of the more youthful Châteauneufs. Vigorous. (JR)
Drink
2013
–
2018
MONTEILLET
Owner and winemaker Stéphane Montez, whose name appears on new label.
Creamy, fine phenolic grip. Quite dense compared with many in this vintage but light on the finish. Pure and fresh. Rich orange and apricot nose. (JH)
Drink
2010
–
2012
MONTIRIUS...
