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Cellar Favorite: 2000 Noël Verset Cornas
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Rhône & Beaujolais
, Jun 2025
A recent bottle of the 2000 Cornas was a pertinent reminder of how Noël Verset’s wines can bring such joy.
Cellar Favorite: 2015 Marcel Lapierre Morgon Cuvée Marcel Lapierre
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Rhône & Beaujolais
, Apr 2025
During my recent trip to Beaujolais, I was treated to a smattering of mature bottles that proved once again how exquisitely Gamay can age. None more so than this delectable ten-year-old Morgon popped open during my visit to one of Beaujolais’ most renowned producers, Marcel Lapierre.
Buy Some, Try Some: Beaujolais 2022-2024
featured, France: Rhône & Beaujolais
, Apr 2025
At a point when savvy wine consumers are seeking value for their money, there has never been a better time to get into Beaujolais. This report takes a look at new releases, mainly from the 2023 vintage, the best of which demonstrate the underestimated heights these wines can reach.
Focus on Vacqueyras: Latest Vintages and Top Producers
featured, France: Rhône & Beaujolais
, Oct 2024
Vacqueyras is bouncing back from a challenging 2021 with the stronger 2022 and 2023 vintages. The 2022s offer greater consistency, while the 2023s deliver juicy, fresh and approachable profiles. In this article, I highlight standout producers and provide an update on the commercial reality of these wines.
Gigondas: Triumphs, Challenges and New Beginnings
featured, France: Rhône & Beaujolais
, Oct 2024
The highly anticipated inaugural 2023 Gigondas Blanc category marks a significant milestone for the Southern Rhône appellation. Alongside these crisp whites, the bottled 2022 reds are gorgeous, while the unfinished 2023s, at this early stage, offer charming, juicy and approachable profiles.
Cellar Favorite: 1995 Domaine J.L. Chave L’Hermitage Blanc
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Rhône & Beaujolais
, Jul 2024
I don’t drink enough white Rhône wines. But when I do, it might as well be amongst the very best.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2022: Bring It On
featured, France: Rhône & Beaujolais
, Jun 2024
After getting a good glimpse at the 2022 vintage while visiting other Rhône appellations last year, I was eager to see how Châteauneuf-du-Pape performed in a growing season marked by heat, drought and hail. The short answer is that 2022 is a very good vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, clearly surpassing 2021 for the reds, though likely not at the same level as 2020. Overall consistency for reds in 2022 is higher than in 2021, and there are plenty of excellent wines cruising in an affordable price range.
Cellar Favorite: 1938 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Côte-Rôtie
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Rhône & Beaujolais
, Apr 2024
When someone whispers into your ear, particularly my ear, that you will never drink this bottle again, the aforementioned ear perks up. The 1938 Côte-Rôtie from Paul Jaboulet Aîné had lived its entire life in a cool dank cellar over in the West Country, so factor in perfect provenance. Though the bottle states Jaboulet on the label, it is more accurate to look at this as an amalgamation of all the growers in Côte-Rôtie at the time since hardly any bottled themselves.
But Seriously: Beaujolais 2021-2023
featured, France: Rhône & Beaujolais
, Apr 2024
Beaujolais is one of the most dynamic wine regions in France. This report looks at new releases that almost entirely represent outstanding value for money, growers on the rise and the sheer diversity that Beaujolais has to offer.
Cellar Favorite: 2014 M & C Lapierre Morgon Marcel Lapierre Cuvée MMXIV
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Rhône & Beaujolais
, Apr 2024
The 2014 Morgon Marcel Lapierre Cuvée MMXIV comes from 2.5 hectares planted in 1907-1910, just after phylloxera. The vines are located in the Le Douby climat, towards Fleurie, which the legendary Marcel Lapierre has intermittently bottled separately since 1999. Authorities refused the maiden vintage since it did not adhere to the typical Morgon style for reasons only known to them. To circumvent demotion into Vin de France, Marcel Lapierre’s son, the then teenage Mathieu, who is recounting this story in the sunny courtyard outside the winery in Villié-Morgon, suggested his father print the vintage in Roman numerals.