This summer, we have been doing more exploring of French wines, in particular those from Beaujolais and the Rhone Valley. Here are our notes and scores.

Beaujolais Wines

Among our favorite wines for frequent enjoyment are those from Beaujolais, especially the Crus that come from the best communes. The 2017 vintage is exceptional, close in quality to 2015 (the 2016 vintage is good, but not stellar).

2017 Domaine des Rosiers Moulin-a-Vent ($19.99 - wine.com) - Distributed by Georges Duboeuf, this offers a ruby color and sultry aromas of strawberries, raspberries, black currants, roses, sweet tobacco, orange peel and incense. The flavors are generous, yet deep, with notes of licorice, cocoa, French roast and granitic minerals. The back picks up macerated berries, framboise, toffee and burnt toast, followed by a smooth tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2017 La Soeur Cadette Chénas ($26.99 - wine.com) - This is one of our favorites and I ordered more. It displays a deep purplish ruby color and enticing aromas of raspberry, cherry, sweet currants, wild roses, sweet pea flowers, violets and whiffs of incense. The flavors are charming yet vigorous, with notes of red licorice, cocoa powder, black tea, and granitic minerals. The back picks up framboise and cassis liqueurs and toffee, followed by a soft tannin finish that is lifted by bright fruit acids. 18.5+/20 points.

2017 Domaine Chignard Fleurie, "Les Moriers" ($26.99 - wine.com) - Chignard is another of our favorite producers. This vintage shows a brick red color and attractive aromas of wild strawberries, raspberries and red currants, with scents of red roses, summer flowers and whiffs of wood smoke. The medium bodied flavors are deliciously supple and ample, yet focused, with notes of red licorice, cocoa, medium roast coffee and limestone minerals. On the back, the wine invigorates with sensations of pressed berries, fraise and framboise liqueurs and a bit of toast, followed by a ripe moderate tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points

For more 2017 Beaujolais, see the Review Blog of 14 May.

South Rhone Valley Wines

The following wines come from Châteauneuf du Pape and the nearby communes of Vacqueyras and Gigondas. In this region, the Grenache grape is predominant, along with some Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Syrah.

2016 Bosquet des Papes Châteauneuf du Pape ($39.99 - wine.com) - This wine displays a deep ruby-crimson color and seductive aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry, currant, mulberry, lavender, brambles, white pepper and oriental incense. On the palate, the flavors are thick and savory, marked by licorice, creme de cacao, French roast and cobblestone minerals. The saturation continues on the back with sensations of macerated berries, roasted nuts, fraise and cassis liqueurs and kidskin, followed by a rich, long spiced (nutmeg, clove) ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points.

2015 Bosquet des Papes Châteauneuf du Pape, Vieilles Vignes, "Chante le Merle" ($74.99 - Esquin) - Deep ruby colored, this wine possesses an intoxicating nose of wild fruits - fraises de bois, framboise, cassis - with scents of crushed roses, pipe tobacco, garrigue, grilled meats, olive tapenade and smoldering oriental incense. The flavors are thick, almost massive, yet velvety, infused with black licorice, extra dark cocoa, French roast and mas cobblestone minerals. The saturation continues on the back with macerated berries, grilled nuts, kidskin and charcoal. The alcohol registers at 15.3% but is tempered by vivid fruit acids on the lengthy, grainy ripe tannin finish. As a superb example of old vine CdP, this gets 19.5/20 points.

2016 Clos de L'Oratoire des Papes Châteauneuf du Pape ($49.99 - wine.com) - Composed of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 5% each of Mourvède and Cinsault, this wine exhibits a semi opaque ruby color and an intoxicating nose of wild strawberries, raspberries, black currants, tobacco, brambles, lavender, violets, pepper and spiced incense. The flavors are fabulously rich and concentrated, with layers of red fruits that are infused with licorice, cocoa, French roast and mas minerals. On the back, the wine turns chewy textured, with sensations of macerated berries, roasted nuts, mocha and charcoal, followed by a lengthy ripe tannin finish. 19+/20 points.

2015 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf du Pape ($35 - Last Bottle) - Brick red colored, this emits rich, smoky aromas of raspberries, pomegranates, red currants, crushed roses, tobacco, lavender, violets and incense. The flavors are lavish yet forceful, with red fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cocoa powder, French roast and mas minerals. On the back, the wine is simultaneously velvety and muscular, with macerated berries, roasted nuts, framboise and cassis liqueurs and dried pomegranate sees, followed by a lingering ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points.

2015 Domaine de la Charbonnière Vacqueyras ($29.99 - Esquin) - This wine presents a ruby color and a rich, smoky nose of raspberries, currants, mulberry, rosebuds, tobacco, brambles, lavender and incense. The flavors are ample, yet focused, with notes of licorice, cocoa, French roast and granitic minerals. The wine thickens a bit on the back with pressed berries, roasted nuts, framboise and cassis liqueurs and charcoal, and then turns fleshy and savory on the satisfying finish. 18.5/20 points.

2015 Domaine de Charbonnière Châteauneuf du Pape ($38.99 - Esquin) - Brick red colored, this wine emits rich aromas of raspberry, pomegranate, currants, crushed roses, mulberry, garrigue and spiced incense. The flavors are thick an lavish, loaded with licorice, cocoa, roasted coffee beans and mas earth. On the back, the wine turns chewy textured, with sensations of roasted berries and nuts, mocha, framboise and cassis liqueurs and burnt charcoal followed by a warm (15% alcohol) but not hot lingering finish. 19/20 points.

2016 Alain Jaume Gigondas, "Terrasses de Montmirial" ($34.99 - wine.com) - Semi opaque ruby colored, this possesses a rich, smoky nose of wild raspberries, black currants, crushed roses, sweet tobacco, lavender and spiced incense. The flavors mirror the aromatics with thick, lavish dark fruits that are infused with licorice, dark cocoa, French roast and Montmirial granitic minerals. The intensity continues on the back with  sensations of macerated fruits, roasted nuts, framboise and cassis liqueurs, and touches of leather and burnt charcoal, followed by a lasting ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points.

2016 Les Pallières Gigondas, "Terrasse du Diable" ($36.99 - wine.com) - Composed of 90% Grenache with 5% each of Mourvèdre and Clairette, this offers a deep ruby color and an intoxicating nose of blackberry, black currant, plum, black roses, mulberry, garrigue and spiced incense. The flavors are robust yet lavish, bathed in dark fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cacao, French roast and minerals. The saturation continues on the back with macerated berries, grilled nuts and meats and pulverized charcoal, followed by a lengthy ripe tannin finish. 19/20 points.

Most Châteauneuf du Pape wine is red, but a small amount of white wine is produced. Here is an outstanding example.

2016 Vignobles Brunel Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc, "Les Cailloux" ($51.99 - wine.com) - Composed of Roussanne and Grenache Blanc, this exhibits a brilliant gold color and rich aromas of pear, apricot, papaya, orange peel, pear tree blossoms, honeysuckle, lemon verbena and white incense. The flavors are full bodied for a white, with thick, juicy white and yellow fruits that are infused with apricot stone, pear and grape skins and distinct cobblestone minerals. The intensity continues on the back with poire William and Grand Marnier liqueurs, and touches of hazelnut and crème francie, followed by a lingering, persistently minerally finish. 19+/20 points.