I drink a lot of different wines, from different countries and regions, but I collect only a few, and the wines of Chateauneuf du Pape in France’s Southern Rhone Valley are a favorite. Paul Autard is one of the premier winemakers in the Rhone region in part because, unlike many of France’s winemakers, he’s using modern techniques like new oak aging. Still, his wines end up staying true to tradition with fruit focused favors that made the region famous.

Outside of Bordeaux, Chateauneuf du Pape is arguably France’s most prestigious wine regions and that fact isn’t lost on the importers and wholesalers, which is to say, these wines aren’t cheap. Anything rated 90 points or above starts at $30 and goes all the way past the $500 mark. So when a potential 94 point CdP from a highly collectible label comes along for under $40, I pay attention.

Though Autard’s techniques are modern, his wines are classic CdP.  Oak only subtly influences the overall flavor which is dark and brooding, likely due to the 50% Syrah component – a higher percentage than most wines of this region.  Still the Grenache brightness, which focuses through the lengthy finish, adds lift to this age-worthy wine.

If you enjoy the wines of Southern Rhone, I would highly recommend this one.  Paul Autard’s wines are proven classics and at a price that’s nearly $5 lower than the next lowest price in the country (according to Wine Searcher), the deal is literally unbeatable!

Buy Here: 2009 Domaine Paul Autard Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee La Cote Ronde $39.95

Robert Parker 93 points

“Autard’s quasi-modern-styled offering is the dense plum/purple-colored 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee La Cote Ronde, a blend of equal parts Grenache and Syrah from relatively old vines (60 plus years) that sees some new oak barrels. However, the 2009 shows only subtle evidence of vanillin and toast. It is a seductive, full-bodied, opulent effort displaying notes of caramelized red and black fruits, herbs, licorice and a hint of ink. This full-bodied, rich 2009 is ideal for drinking over the next 12+ years.

The 2010s all reveal deeper colors, higher acids, and more focus and precision.”

Wine Spectator 93 points

“This is beautifully rendered, with sleek, polished layers of black- berry, cassis and boysenberry fruit inlaid with toasty spice and sweet anise notes. The long, ganache-coated finish glides along despite its heft, with a great roasted mesquite note that lingers on and on. Drink now through 2013.”

The wines of Southern Rhone’s Chateauneuf du Pape region are possibly the purest expression of fruit the wine world has to offer.  Mostly uninfluenced by oak, these wines are all about the soil in which they are grown and the vines that produce the grapes.

This wine, by world-renowned Domaine Pierre Usseglio, is defined by the finish, something oak barrels can’t produce.  A blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault, it’s fantastically long with strong tannins that will likely integrate over the next few years to create a wine of spectacular balance and finesse.  This is a 2009 and, as such, is showing a little of its youth.  But after three hours of air, the wine started to blossom with the initially thin mid-palate filling out nicely and the nose blooming into a superb combination of strawberry and earth aromas. 2009 has been touted as a great year in Southern Rhone, and based on this wine I have no reason to doubt that statement.

The more wine I drink, the more I’m starting to believe that Rhone varietals, especially Grenache, are the best grapes in the world.  Spain, the U.S., Australia and of course France, excel at Rhone style wines and their versatility and value are, in my opinion, unmatched.  Rhone varietal wines can range from light to incredibly dense and work well with or without oak.  Most importantly, these wines are great with food.  My cellar is getting more and more of these wines every day.

Buy Here: 2009 Pierre Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf-du-Pape $41.95

Robert Parker 90-92 points

“The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape (80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre and 5% Cinsault) is another top-notch effort. The wine is aged in tank (60%), foudre (30%) and 1- to 4-year-old small barrels (10%). Sweet raspberry, black currant, and cherry fruit intermixed with licorice, lavender and tobacco leaf jump from the glass of this perfumed 2009. With outstanding ripeness, a plush, evolved mouthfeel and sweet tannins, this beauty is already complex and delicious. It should age well for 7-8 years.

One of my favorite stops on my trips to the southern Rhone is at Domaine Pierre Usseglio where brothers Jean-Pierre and Thierry Usseglio have accomplished special things. A new state-of-the-art tasting room has been added, somewhat unusual in Chateauneuf du Pape where little has changed in the three decades I have been tasting there. However, the small, discrete Usseglio tasting room would never be compared with tasting rooms that exist in Bordeaux and California.”

International Wine Cellar 89 points

“Ruby-red. Subdued aromas of blackberry, cherry and licorice accented by white pepper. Sweet and round on entry, displaying dark fruit flavors given definition by firm acidity and complicated by slowly emerging suggestions of bitter cherry and candied anise. The firmly tannic finish features enticing floral lift and echoes the licorice note. Showing a serious side right now.”

On a rainy Sunday evening last weekend, I  enjoyed this Chateauneuf-du-Pape from what Robert Parker called the “the greatest vintage I’ve ever tasted in southern Rhone”.  Accolades like that, combined with the fact that these wines were released going on 2 years ago, means 2007′s are almost impossible to find – especially the good values.  Chateauneuf-du-Pape reds usually start at over $30 and 90+ ratings drive the price up from there.

This wine pours a slightly translucent brickish red that’s signature CdP.  A bright cherry nose leads into focused dark berries and a perfect acid balance in the mouth.  But it’s the lingering 30 second finish that defines and sets apart this incredible value.

This and most Chateauneuf-du-Pape are perfect examples of how great wine can be made without oak influence.  Good Cabernet Sauvignon can’t be made without the oxidation that oak aging provides.  But oak isn’t necessary for many southern Rhone wines, which are aged in neutral oak barrels and/or concrete vats.  This technique really shows off the quality of the fruit, especially with old vine Grenache and Syrah.

For the money, this is absolutely the best 2007 CdP I’ve had.  The only problem with this wine: the name is so long I couldn’t fit it in the title of this post…

Buy up on this one because when it’s gone it’s gone!  That’s the beauty and the curse of wine.  Each vintage only happens once.

Buy Here:  Skalli Chateauneuf-du-Pape Maison Bouachon La Tiare du Pape $27.95

International Wine Cellar 90 points

“(60% grenache, 30% syrah, 7% mourvedre and the rest counoise, terret noir, muscardin and vaccarese) Vivid ruby. Pungent aromas of dark berries, cherry and garrigue, with hints of smoke and licorice. Bitter cherry and blackcurrant flavors are lifted by juicy acidity and pick up dusty tannins with air. Finishes focused, spicy and impressively persistent, with echoes of smoke and dark fruits. This will be better with a few more years of bottle age.”

Everyone has a bottle that really turned them on to wine.  For me it was a Nickel & Nickel Syrah that was ordered at a business dinner right after I graduated from college.  Now that I’m way past the point of being turned on to wine, I’ve found that certain bottles turn me on to regions or styles of wine.  Since that first special bottle, I’ve started to love Priorat after drinking a Mas Doix Salanques, Chardonnay after first trying Cakebread and so on.

I’ve always liked Rhone wines, especially Chateauneuf du Pape, but I never “got it” until last week (by “getting it” I mean that I would seek out these wines to collect).  I was on vacation in Charleston, SC (you could probably tell by my total lack of posts) where we had a veritable wine extravaganza.  While dining at our favorite restaurant, Samos Taverna, our wine guy, Adam, brought out some off menu choices for us as he always does.  We ended up going with a fantastic blend of native grapes from Portugal, a Napa Cabernet and a bottle of 2006 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape.  While I expected the highly rated Napa Cabernet to be my favorite, the Beaucastel was the clear winner and to make it taste even better, Adam sold it to us at an ungodly low price.

The 2006 Beaucastel isn’t available anymore but the 2007, which is supposed to be even better (RP96 vs. RP95) is available.  It’s not cheap at $89.95 but as usual, LA Wine Co. has the lowest price in the country.  If you love CdP as I now do, pick some up before the historic 2007 vintage is gone.

2007 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape $89.95

Robert Parker 96 points

“Beaucastel’s 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape has turned out even better out of bottle than I predicted. An inky/ruby/purple color is followed by a glorious nose of blue and black fruits, truffles, pen ink, licorice, and meat juices as well as glorious levels of acidity and sweet tannin, buttressing the fruit’s fabulous freshness and vibrancy. This full-bodied effort still displays considerable tannin, no doubt because of the relatively high Mourvedre content. It should resolve its tannins in 2-4 years, and last for 25 or more.

One of the great estates of the Rhone Valley, Chateau Beaucastel has been run by several generations of the Perrin family, beginning with the late Jacques Perrin (who died in 1978), then the brothers Jean-Pierre and Francois, and now their sons Thomas, Marc, Pierre, and Mathieu. Beaucastel has nearly 200 acres in vine in Chateauneuf du Pape, and they have branched out with an impressive operation under the Perrin et Fils label, purchasing grapes and acquiring land (in Vinsobres and Gigondas, for example). Their goal is to become the most recognized name for high quality wines in the southern Rhone. As shrewd consumers know, one of the best values in under $10 a bottle wine is La Vieille Ferme. The Perrin et Fils cuvees include wines made from purchased grapes as well as their new acquisitions in Vinsobres, Gigondas (25 acres), and the Cotes du Rhone village of Cairanne (35 acres). The Perrins enjoyed tremendous success with their 2008 red wines, largely because yields ranged between 18 hectoliters per hectare for Beaucastel, to only 20 hectoliters per hectare for Coudoulet. The mildew that affected everyone was the culprit. The entire family acknowledged there was an extraordinary triage and culling out of the grapes at the sorting tables.”

Memorial Day weekend started early for us today (okay really early), with an awesome Chateauneuf-du-Pape.  Much has been said about second wines on these pages. Telegramme is the second wine from Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe- one of the most famous wineries from the Chateauneuf-du-Pape (CdP) appellation of the southern Rhone Valley.  The top wine, “La Crau”, was rated 96 points by Robert Parker in this 2007 vintage.  2007, by the way, has been widely reviewed as one of the best southern Rhone vintages of all time.

Telegramme pours a slightly translucent ruby with an ever-so-slight brick tinge.  The nose hints of good things to come with fantastic red raspberry and dessert scents that remind me of warm apple pie with cinnamon and a hint of smoke.  The fruit theme continues as the wine tastes exceptionally smooth, with tart cherry flavors and a mineral finish, making it clear that this wine came from a top vineyard.

Speaking of vineyards, this wine is made from the same grapes as Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe’s $70 example- just the “young” vines.  Young in this case average 25 years old, which by new world standards is almost ancient.

If you are looking for an elegant, classic, well made CdP, buy this before the 2007 vintage is gone.  I’ve found something else to enjoy about this wine with every sip and, to me, that’s the true definition of a great wine.

P.S. LA Wine Co has the lowest price in the country.  Again…

Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe “Telegramme”- $29.95

90 points- WA, IWC and WS

“A fresh, pure, silky style, with red currant, licorice and shiso leaf notes gliding over the long, supple, minerally finish. Textbook for the vintage, with the fruit and minerality stretching out at the end. Drink now through 2017. 4,000 cases made.” (WS)

“The outstanding 2007 Telegramme Chateauneuf du Pape (15.8% alcohol) offers notes of kirsch liqueur, spring flowers, and framboise, medium to full body, good acidity, a beautiful texture, and a luscious, heady finish. It is best drunk over the next 5-6 years.” (WA)

“Deep red. Captivating aromas of black raspberry, wild rose, Asian spices and smoked meat. Brighter red fruits on the palate, with notes of cola and candied flowers gaining strength with air. Showing more depth, richness and warmth than last year. Finishes with very good grip and an echo of smoke.” (IWC)