91/100 Jeb Dunnuck "The 2017 Lirac is only 40% to 50% Grenache, instead of the usual 65% (the remainder is Syrah). It offers up spicy, dark-fruited flavors of cola and plum, framed by soft tannins. It's medium to full-bodied, with a long, velvety finish that hints at licorice."

The ‘Petit Ours’ Côtes-du-Rhône, meaning ‘little bear’, is 100% Syrah sourced from vineyards planted on clay and gravel soils surrounding the village of Visan, next to Vinsobres. The vineyards are north-facing and are all farmed organically and worked using biodynamic methods, in keeping with Matthieu’s philosophy. The wine has a very expressive nose with layers of blackberry and black cherry fruit. The palate has smooth and well-integrated tannins with juicy black fruit and a touch of black pepper on the finish.

The vineyards for the ‘Petit Ours’ Blanc are planted around the village of Autichamps in Northern Drôme at an altitude of 420 metres, bringing freshness to the finished wine. The soils here are a mixture of clay, silt and sand above hard limestone mother rock. The vines are farmed organically and biodynamically. A very expressive bouquet of stone fruits and white flowers, which carry through to the palate. This wine has a good intensity of fruit flavours with notes of white peach and pear and a fresh acidity due to the early harvest.

Chateau Fargueirol is on great form and offers traditional Chateauneuf du Pape at a superb price. Ripe and garriguey nose with impressive concnetration but a nice easy going texture and ripe tannins that means it can be enjoyed young or after 3-10 years of cellaring.

The Duclaux brothers farm 14 hectares in the southern end of Côte Rôtie and the northern end of Condrieu. These are wines, as Benjamin explains, that are softer and silkier than those from other parts of Côte Rôtie.

Superb Cornas from the brothers becoming known as masters of the region. The 2018 Cornas Premices comes from the brothers' young vines, but it is a concentrated, stony example in its own right. Dark in hue, it offers up scents of red plums and crushed stone, plus subtle herb and floral shadings. Medium to full-bodied, with a silky texture and a refreshing hit of licorice on the lengthy finish, it's approachable now, yet should drink well for at least 5-6 years.

Excellent producers Eric and Joel come from an old mixed farming family who went into making their own wine commercially in the late 1980s. They still grow apricots. The brothers have plenty of drive, and are making fruit-filled wines that can be enjoyed from an early stage.

This 65ha estate in Lirac is managed by Ann Paly and her brother Christian, whose family have owned the domaine since the 17th century. They make Lirac and Tavel as well as this great value Cotes du Rhone made from mainly Grenache and Syrah on clay and limestone soils. Dark fruits and more savoury elements appear on the nose while the palate is fresh, darkly fruity with a spicy, liquorice finish. Excellent value.

This 65ha estate in Lirac is managed by Ann Paly and her brother Christian, whose family have owned the domaine since the 17th century. They make excellent Lirac as well as Tavel and a great value Cotes du Rhone made from mainly Grenache and Syrah on clay and limestone soils. Dark fruits and more savoury elements appear on the nose while the palate is fresh, darkly fruity with a spicy, liquorice finish. Excellent value.

Jancisroboinson.com 17+/20 (2016 vintage) "Bold black fruit and large-grained, furry tannin on the palate giving texture and weight. Liquorice and leather finish"

Superb Cornas from the brothers becoming known as masters of the region. The Durands' top cuvée, the 2017 Cornas Confidence comes from mature vines on the family's most granitic sites. Aged in 30% new oak, it combines notes of crushed stone, resiny herbs, almond paste, raspberries, blueberries and cassis into a harmonious whirl of intense flavor. Full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's also richly tannic, picking up hints of mocha on the lengthy finish.

Parker "The superstar of Rasteau… drop-dead delicious red wines." Tiny yields, 100% hand picked. This is a beautiful, perfect expression of plump juicy warming Grenache.

Exceptional library stock release of this jewel from the best vintage for many years (the vintage rated 98/100 by Parker).

Nice nose with notes of red fruit and Morello cherries. Very fresh, with soft tannins, it offers a nice balance and great complexity in the mouth and a long finish.

Jean-Louis Chave is on fire with his whites these days - gloriously decadent. Tiny allocations, a must-try

Made from a majority of Grenache, this most impressive wine is powerful and truly mouth watering. Red fruit notes with a long palate and lingering mature tannins. An absolute must for Rhone wine experts, from a true flagship wine grower.

Chateau Fargueirol is on great form and offers traditional Chateauneuf du Pape at a superb price. Ripe and garriguey nose with impressive concnetration but a nice easy going texture and ripe tannins that means it can be enjoyed young or after 3-10 years of cellaring.

Bright, primary fruit with some decent ripe tannins for structure and some crisp acidity. Stylistically like a Chateauneuf du Pape. Extremely consistent and well made.

Pretty floral nose with apricot expressing the majority Viognier in the blend. Elegant and soft palate with more apricot fruit.

"A blend of Merlot, Syrah, and Marselan (a crossing of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache originally intended for widespread planting in the Languedoc, now becoming the possible signature grape of China and even permitted in Bordeaux Supérieur wines as of 2019). Vivid red colour. Moderate aromatics. Light, chewy, and approachable."

Plump, round, joyful expression of Grenache.. Black cherries dominate, but there is enough herbal complexity to suggest garrigue, and hints of espresso add depth to the finish. Medium to full-bodied, it should be enjoyed over the next few years, while it remains juicy and fresh. This is a terrific bargain from a modest, family-run and organically farmed estate.

Vinsobres is the most northern appellation of the Southern Rhône. The Perrin family owns around 80 hectares here. The vineyards grow at altitudes of 200 – 450 metres, in terraces, with the Prealps on one side and Mont Ventoux on the other. The soils are stony and sandy marl on the slopes, and stony quaternary alluviums on the terraces. A very particular microclimate protects the village and the vines planted which are planted in amphitheatre formation. Summers are hot and dry, with the local Mistral and Pontias winds bringing cooler air at night. Dense purple colour. Richly aromatic: black fruits, stewed plums, even some prune. Complex floral aromas too. A little reduced and herbal - high Syrah content? Full bodied and spicy with a tight, savoury palate and a robust tannin structure. Some juicy red plum on the finish, and a little richness from oak. Long. The patient buyer will be rewarded in another 7-10 years.

Blackberry, liquorice, pepper, blueberry, leather and oak. very impressed by this wine, dark berries, full body and nice integrated oak.

From 14 hectares in the south west of the old village. The soils are stony, with clay and sand underneath. This wine is typically fleshy when young but develops beautiful aromas of blackcurrant, garrigue and liquorice with a few years age.

Grenache dominant wine produced on very clay rich soils with stones from the Ouvèze river. "Beautiful dark and shiny color. The nose is very expressive, pure and aromatic with great mineral notes. The palate presents a structure of great finesse, elegant with ripe fruit. The tannins are rich, noble and silky." Famille Perrin

Hal and I thought this an absolute classic Coudoulet showing really good value for money. Deep ruby, with a complex nose of violet, cranberry, black fruit, and cocoa. This wine is instantly pretty in the glass. Full bodied with excellent acidty and a firm backbone of ripe tannin. Layers of flavour appear and recede: chocolate, plums, pâte de fruits, then mint, then black cherry, then seville orange. Impressive and rather moreish. Delightful now but should evolve nicely over the next decade.

The Dentelles de Montmirail (from the Latin mons mirabilis, ‘extraordinary mountain’) is a small, jagged mountain chain that forms a natural amphitheatre around the sandstone village of Gigondas and its surrounding vineyards. Roman legionaries chose this beautiful, protected site to plant their grapevines. Located mid-slope at 300-400 metres above sea level, the Famille Perrin vineyard is amongst the most historical vineyards in Gigondas. It benefits from a flow of cold air which blows through the valley situated to the west of the village. The vines grow on limestone, calcareous marl and sandy soils, giving the Grenache immense finesse and elegance with unique aromas. Some old plots of Grenache planted on sand have pre-phylloxera vines. Deep ruby but not as saturated as the Vinsobres. Attractive notes of black cherry, liquorice, balsamic, pine and black pepper spice. Subtle oak. An intense and tightly wound palate displays hedgerow fruits, slightly bitter chocolate tannin and chalky minerality. Then it unwinds to express more jammy fruit, fruitcake spices, dried fruits, and a charming acidity to a long finish. Very supple. An earlier drinking style, but still with the potential to age gracefully.

Domaine du Clos des Tourelles is located below the village of Gigondas. This historic 3 hectare vineyard of very old Grenache on limestone soils with a marly-sandy matrix is the last Clos still existing in Gigondas. Leading the wines of Gigondas to new heights, Dom. de Clos des Tourelles is made in tiny quantities in a boutique winery in the centre of the village. Ruby red in colour. A meaty nose at first, then cassis, dusty cocoa, and floral potpourri. The oak is well held. The palate is quite tight at first, with fresh acidity, slightly sour cherry flavours, and a herbal backbone. Then all becomes warm and fruity, with dusty tannin, and a long savoury finish. Layered and complex.

A glass-staining black-ruby colour, totally opaque. Expressive nose with cedar, charcoal, balsamic, black cherry and oil. Sumptuous palate, kicking off with powerful Mourvèdre texture, then relaxing to explode with more primary fruit flavours, kirsch and cassis liqueurs. This is a savoury and serious wine with very well held and totally integrated tannins, present throughout but not overpresent. Heady, very long, fine and moreish. It feels complete and inviting but built for the long term too. An impressive trick.

Viognier (1984-85) from 1.1 hectare on Côte Châtillon at Condrieu, raised 50-60% 22 hl large oak barrel and 40-50% steel vat, malo completed. "fine yellow robe; the nose is very elegant, composed of peach, aniseed, white plum, has an excellent floating style, grace. This is top tack! It has much suavity of texture, with very assured persistence, is refined and gliding throughout. It’s real good Châtillon, bang on the money as it should be. It bears neat iron touches, has a pear-buttery flavour, and butter-floral late moments, a dab of petrol also. Much refinement here." Jonathan Livingstone-Learmonth

100% Gamay (mid-1980s) from galet stone on red-brown clay soils at 350 metres at Givors, 50-100% destemmed, 15-16 day vinification, a little pumping over, then cap punching, aged 1-6 year 228-litre casks 12 months, unfined. A real charmer. Wine to enjoy with friends. Dark red, purple tints; has a strawberry jam aroma. This has a good, firm attack, holds dark red, mulberry fruit with life in it, and a late saline note. There’s crunch in the tannins (this is 50% whole bunch) and it’s very drinkable, shows a touch of late power, is good for la table. Its length sustains on red fruit, raspberry, is good and upbeat.

Syrah (33% 1940, 1945, 33% 1997-1999, 33% 2005-2013) from 0.72 hectare on gore, decomposed red granite, N-E facing, late ripening slope on Coteau de Blanchard, rented vineyard (from the late Gérard Villano & family) taken over Jun 2012, 50-90% destemmed, 2-3 day cool maceration at 10-12°C, 2-3 week vinification, cap punchings, a little pumping over, aged 1-6 year 228-litre casks 12 months, unfined, unfiltered. There’s very elegant fruit as the palate opens, real good cut and notably aromatic precision. This has a pure quality, a rather sultry note in the fruit. It’s good now, but will keep doing well until 2027-28.

A new cuvee debuting in 2019 form the Le Mollard leu-dit which is elegant, refined and with Burgundian in style. Very fine wine indeed. For those that love lifted Syrah with real class and elegance. Bravo Xavier!

"Robust and fruity. Hot, but sumptuous. Though there is some dried fruit (prune, etc.) identifiable, it is not overpoweringly so. If anything this adds complexity. The acidity gives the wine beautiful poise."

Laure Dubois runs this excellent estate with her husband Romain and started conversion to organic farming in 2019. The wines they produce are consistently good and elegant, mainly from the Lirac appellation, north West of Chateauneuf-du-Pape but also this Cotes du Rhone from just outside. The 2019 is the second year in a row that the wine has won a coveted Coup de Coeur top award in the Guide Hachette, the 'bible' of French wine. Charming, 'irresistible' and ready to drink it also offers outstanding value for money.

Romain runs a tiny 1.5 hectare estate in Gard, in the southern Rhône region. Since his first vintage in 2018 he has slowly acquired more land, meaning there is more wine available for us. Romain spent 7 years working with winemaker Eric Pfifferling at Domaine de L’Anglore, prior to that assisted Matthieu Vallée at Château Yvonne. Romain works, mostly, with Carignan, Grenache and Syrah, and vinifies in old wood using little to no sulphur. His wines are about drinkability and he is really showing mastery of carbonic maceration. Incredible and extremely limited wines, from a rising star in the South of France. Pousse Cailloux is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Ugni Blanc. All whole bunch and with the linear character we see through all Romain’s wines.

Romain runs a tiny 1.5 hectare estate in Gard, in the southern Rhône region. Since his first vintage in 2018 he has slowly acquired more land, meaning there is more wine available for us. Romain spent 7 years working with winemaker Eric Pfifferling at Domaine de L’Anglore, prior to that assisted Matthieu Vallée at Château Yvonne. Romain works, mostly, with Carignan, Grenache and Syrah, and vinifies in old wood using little to no sulphur. His wines are about drinkability and he is really showing mastery of carbonic maceration. Incredible and extremely limited wines, from a rising star in the South of France. Tavel is a blend of Grenache and Syrah. Carbonic maceration, direct press and aged in muid and barrique.

Superb deep-purple colour. The powerful and complex nose develops notes of 'Garrigue', cocoa and black fruit. Its rich and smooth mouth offers aromas of blackberry and violet with a slightly minty finish and great length.

This 65ha estate in Lirac is managed by Ann Paly and her brother Christian, whose family have owned the domaine since the 17th century. They make Lirac and Tavel as well as this great value Cotes du Rhone made from mainly Grenache and Syrah on clay and limestone soils. Dark fruits and more savoury elements appear on the nose while the palate is fresh, darkly fruity with a spicy, liquorice finish. Excellent value.

Excellent producers Eric and Joel come from an old mixed farming family who went into making their own wine commercially in the late 1980s. They still grow apricots. The brothers have plenty of drive, and are making fruit-filled wines that can be enjoyed from an early stage.