Domaine Stéphane Ogier

Deeply coloured but fairly subtle in aroma, with raspberry, fresh blackberry and a touch of graphite or coal dust. Light- to medium-bodied, with fairly marked acidity and very fine, gently grippy tannins. The fruit is ripe, but quite discrete, with the acidity being more prominent. Fine, tapered finish. Very much the northern extreme of Saint-Joseph in style, in a fresh vintage like 2016, so don't expect rich, deep fruits. Refreshing and drinkable, authentic and poised.


Château des Tours

Slightly cloudy ruby. Sandalwood, cedar, red cherry and strawberry. Touch of raspberry and raspberry leaf. Full-bodied, but only just, with lovely Provençale herbs and bright acidity on the finish. Not long, touch of pepper on the finish. The Rayas winemaking touch is clearly there. Touch of fine tannin, but not much. Lovely harmonious, fairly well-balanced style, with some complexity of expression.


Domaine des Tours

Still deep in colour, though turning towards a foxy colour. Plum and strawberry, a touch of sweet decay. Touch of tobacco, a little wet bonfire and date. There's a definite sweetness to the strawberry fruit, some sweet alcohol, a touch of liquorice on the finish. Remarkably good acidity, and still very drinkable, good fruit. Not the most complex or harmonious, it doesn't blow you away, but my god it's fascinating for a 15-year-old IGP Merlot from the Rhône.

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Domaine des Tours

Remarkably pale, not far off a rosé. Pure red cherry fragrance, English strawberry, sage. Light- to medium-bodied, good acidity, dry finish, very dry in fact, savoury and slightly herbal. Gentle sucrosité to the fruit, not terribly intense, quite short, but at least authentic and true to the region and producer. Basic stuff, but enough interest to make it worthwhile.


Château des Tours

Very pale colour. Pure English strawberry and sage. Medium- to full-bodied, vibrant pinpoint acidity. Very herbal in style: rosemary, thyme. Dry finish, herbal and resinous, very savoury, not long. Very drinkable, with a slight mineral seam.


Le Vieux Donjon

Lovely harmonious nose, detailed berry fruits and an underlying dry herbal element. Medium to full body, bright acidity and agreeably dense, but finely fibrous tannins. Mineral edge brings balance and length. Very well balanced, almost unassuming in a way, but deeply authentic, savoury and - crucially - a highly drinkable style of Chateauneuf that will age with interest.


St Jean du Barroux

Lavender, plum, damson, all lifted by a jot of VA. Full-bodied, mouthcoating fruit and fine, but muscular, tannins. Very long indeed. The finish is gently warming but the fruit is very fresh, and it's nonetheless delicious.


Marrenon

3rd vintage of this cuvée, 15-year-old vines on gravelly soils, 95% Syrah, 5% Grenache. High-toned style, fresh and detailed, liquorice and blackberry. Medium-bodied, with incisive acidity and tight tannins. Detailed, good sense of tension, concentrated and spicy.


Tanners

Made by the Gonnet family of Font de Michelle in Châteauneuf. Appealing bright raspberry fruits, some herbal detail. Medium-bodied, juicy Grenache fruit with good acidity. Lively and well balanced Côtes-du-Rhône with good typicity. Gentle wet-clay tannins on the finish. Juicy and easy to drink.


Domaine Georges Vernay

Dense purple. Lifted, fresh, spicy aromas, blackberry fruits shot through with violet. Light- to medium-bodied, deliciously concentrated fruits but very light in style, very drinkable and fresh. Essentially it’s an extremely vibrant, bright and drinkable expression of Joven Rhône Syrah that’s hard to get enough of. No rotundone to speak of in this vintage. Doesn’t quite have the detail and high-toned freshness of the 2016, but it has more depth of fruit and concentration, despite the lack of pepperiness.