Rhone

(91-93) points The Wine Advocate-The superb, dense purple-colored 2007 Cornas Vieilles Vignes exhibits aromas of incense, blackberries, scorched earth, and roasted meats. This long, full-bodied, savage, but civilized offering possesses layers of concentration, superb purity, and a long, tannic finish. It should turn out to be one of the top wines of the vintage in this appellation. Moreover, it will last 15-20 years where well-stored. Robert Parker

93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Vivid ruby. Aromas of cherry and boysenberry are complemented by notes of lavender and violet and lifted by a spicy topnote. At once rich and energetic, with very good depth to its sappy black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors. An intense spicy quality builds with air and carries through a very long, seductively sweet finish."

92 points The Wine Advocate:Revealing the lightest ruby color, the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Sablons offers an exquisitely fragrant, ethereal nose of licorice, kirsch, sandy, loamy soil and spice box. The remarkable perfume and expansive texture are amazing given its surprisingly light ruby color, but that’s Grenache at its finest. Because of the forwardness of the vintage, I suspect this wine will drink well during its first decade of life. Robert Parker

92 points The Wine Spectator:Dark and structured, with a loamy edge to the black currant, tobacco and dark cocoa notes. The rich, mouthfilling finish needs some cellaring to loosen up a touch. Pretty serious for the appellation. Best from 2009 through 2012. 330 cases made.

96 points The Wine Advocate:The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc is an amazingly open-knit, full-bodied, honeyed white boasting tons of orange
marmalade, quince, white currant and creme brulee liqueur-like notes, stunning purity and richness, and a fabulous full-bodied, unctuously textured mouthfeel. Its richness is off the charts, and the wine offers a completely contrasting style with the more delineated, zesty 2010. I would opt for drinking the 2009 over the next 4-5 years. Robert Parker

Guillaume, with the help of his wife, Céline, farms thirty-two hectares of vines that are situated in the hills of the Montagne Noire (Black Mountain). Their stony vineyards resemble those of the famous Châteauneuf, comprised of sand and quartzite galets roulés (rounded stones). The climate and sun exposure produce grapes with tremendous concentration and power. The rosés of Château de Trinquevedel consistently enjoy aromas of ripe, red berries with notes of the ubiquitous spicy, garrigue. Kermit Lynch Importer

(92-95) points The Wine Advocate:I tasted through various foudres of the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape and it is unquestionably a top-flight wine for Clos des Papes that is seductive and forward by the standards of this estate. It reminded me of the precocious style of the 2003, and Avril told me the 2009 is less alcoholic than either the 2003 or 2007, and the pH is a normal 3.75. Yields were a very small 20 hectoliters per hectare, largely because of their selection process and the drought. Every foudre I tasted was beautifully pure displaying a deep ruby/plum color, sweet kirsch and black raspberry fruit, full body, decent acidity (they never acidify here) and sweet, velvety tannins. This should turn out to be a mid-90-point wine that will take a back seat to the 2007, possibly even to their monumental 2006, but will surpass what they did in 2008, 2005, 2004, 1999 and 1998. The 2009 is a beautiful success that should drink well for 15+ years. Robert Parker

90 points The Wine Advocate:The 2009 St.-Joseph Silice exhibits a dense ruby/purple color as well as wonderfully opulent plum, black raspberry and strawberry fruit intermixed with hints of licorice and forest floor. This pure, voluptuously textured, seductive beauty can be enjoyed over the next 7-8 years. Jerome Coursodon has hit a home run with all four of his St.-Joseph cuvees in 2009. Robert Parker

98 points The Wine Advocate:The magnificent 2009 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes boasts a black/purple color as well as a wonderful nose of creosote, incense, charcoal, blackberry jam, acacia flowers, white chocolate and a hint of espresso roast. Full-bodied and unctuously textured with low acidity and magnificent density, this 2009 can be drunk in 5-6 years or cellared for 30-50 years. Robert Parker