Insider Special Report: Rhône Valley

From the Wine Spectator Insider - Marvin R. Shanken Editor and Publisher

This week’s Wine Spectator Insider spotlights the wines of France’s Rhône Valley from the tremendous 2005 vintage. These are James Molesworth’s most recent tasting notes for wines which were not released in time to be included in his annual Rhône Valley tasting report, which appears in the Nov. 30 issue of Wine Spectator, on newsstands now.

“2005 is a great vintage, like ’89,” said Michel Tardieu of Tardieu-Laurent about the current release. He notes that both were drought-influenced years that were warm early, but cooled down later in the growing season, which led to very rich tannins and excellent acidity. That structure—ripe, authoritative and well-embedded in the vintage’s ripe fruit—is the hallmark of 2005, a superb vintage up and down the Rhône Valley...

There are also some additional 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Papes here, including Domaine Vacheron-Pouizin... And as always, you’ll find the best of this week’s wines, including three classic-rated red Châteauneufs, among the Hot Wines (below).

Domaine Vacheron-Pouizin

• Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Caillou Cuvée Unique 2005

  94 points | 1,000 cases made | Red

  Very dark and juicy, with currant paste, fig, briar and cassis bush notes pushed by a deep, loamy undertow. Finishes with raspberry ganache, graphite and sweet spice hints, while also showing great cut. Drink now through 2030.—J.M.

• Côtes du Rhône Les Clos du Caillou Réserve 2005

  91 points | 550 cases made | Red

  Super silky and alluring, with lush boysenberry and blueberry fruit riding along creamy textured tannins through a long spice and fruitcake filled finish. Hypermodern, and totally delicious. Drink now through 2009.—J.M.

• Côtes du Rhône Le Clos du Caillou Cuvée Unique Vieilles Vignes 2005

  90 points | 2,165 cases made | Red

  Dark and winey, with aromas and flavors of warm raspberry and fig sauce, fruitcake, licorice and sweet spice. Juicy finish stretches out nicely. Drink now.—J.M.

• Côtes du Rhône Clos du Caillou Les Quartz 2005

  91 points | 1,000 cases made | Red

  Big, modern styled wine, packed with fig, currant preserve and raspberry ganache flavors, along with a dark toast and mocha-filled finish. But then the finish is cream, pure and filled with minerality. Impressively rendered. Drink now through 2009.—J.M.

• **Hot Wines: The following wines are the most exciting discoveries from our editors’ most recent tastings, published exclusively in Wine Spectator Insider. They are high-scoring, low-production wines from around the world that may be difficult to find, but are worth seeking out.

• Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Clos du Caillou Réserve 2005**

  97 points | 550 cases made | Red

  Gloriously pure, with a massive core of boysenberry and blueberry fruit that glides effortlessly over seamless but dense tannins. Plenty of additional charcoal, fruitcake, mocha and fig paste notes chime in on the back end, extending the lengthy, well-structured finish. Really stunning. Best from 2009 through 2032. From France.—J.M.

• Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Caillou Les Quartz 2005**

  95 points | 1,000 cases made | Red

  This delivers mouthfilling mocha, blackberry confiture, fig paste and licorice flavors, with loamy tannins and lots of bittersweet cocoa and coffee on the finish. Despite its heft, this is polished and driven, showing the strength of this great vintage. Best from 2009 through 2032. From France.—J.M.