2017

France, Southern Rhône: The Elegant and Lively 2015s and Heavenly 2016s


Halos de Jupiter is the personal label of oenologist Philippe Cambie and are made with the idea to show the different style of Grenache from different terroirs.

2015 Halos de Jupiter Châteauneuf-du-Pape Adrastée   95 pts
Lastly, the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Adrastée is one of the gems in the vintage. Made from 100% Grenache that was completely destemmed and brought up all in larger barrels, it has classic Grenache notes of kirsch, blackberries, crushed rocks and dried garrigue. Tight, full-bodied and backward on the palate, with plenty of tannins, it has a terrific core of sweet fruit and a great finish. It should be at its best from 2020-2032.

2015 Halos de Jupiter Châteauneuf-du-Pape    93 pts 
The 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape comes mostly from the Cabrieres lieu-dit located in the central/northern part of the appellation and pebbly soils. Harvested very late (which I think is a good thing in 2015), it offers a complex, nuanced bouquet of rose garden, lavender, and exotic flowers, with a terrific core of plum and blueberry fruit. With medium to full-bodied richness, building tannin, a great mid-palate and no shortage of length, it’s going to benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and drink nicely for a decade.

2015 Halos de Jupiter Gigondas        92 pts
The 2015 Gigondas (mostly Grenache, fermented with 100% whole clusters) comes primarily from the Haut Garrigue lieux-dit and is a medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated Gigondas that shows more depth and richness than most in the vintage. Flowers, black cherries, grounded herbs, peppery garrigue and even a hint of rose petal emerge from this rock-solid Gigondas that’s going to keep for a decade.

2015 Halos de Jupiter Vacqueyras       91+ pts       
Another wine that saw plenty of whole cluster inclusion, the 2015 Vacqueyras is backward and tight, and is going to need 2-3 years of cellaring. Blackberries, blueberries, violets, and lots of pepper emerge from this full-bodied Vacqueyras which has ample fruit and texture, as well as plenty of length. It should be at its best from 2020-2030.

2016 Halos de Jupiter Châteauneuf-du-Pape Adrastée         (94-97 pts)    
Even better, the 100% Grenache 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Adrastée comes from vines planted in 1904 (all from the La Crau lieu-dit) and was aged in demi-muids. A big, rich, masculine beauty that packs serious amounts of extract and depth, it offers classic Grenache aromatics of ripe black cherries, blackberries, ground herbs, earth and dried earth/soil notes. Despite all the fruit and texture, there’s plenty of underlying tannic, density and fat, and it’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring.

2016 Halos de Jupiter Châteauneuf-du-Pape      (92-95 pts) 
Leading off the two Châteauneuf du Papes, the base 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape comes from a mix of clay and sandy soils in the Cabrieres and Bédines lieux-dits. It offers a ripe, layered, even sexy, style as well as terrific notes of black (and some blue) fruits, violets, lavender and hints of peppery. It has more depth and richness than any other vintage of this cuvée at this young age to date.

2016 Halos de Jupiter Gigondas      (91-93+ pts)
Not yet bottled, the 2016 Gigondas is a classic Grenache from this incredible terroir. Graphite, crushed rocks, pepper, and liquid violet nuances all give way to a full-bodied, ripe, concentrated red that has notably tannic grip, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish.

2016 Halos de Jupiter Vacqueyras     (91-93 pts)
More ripe, sexy, and undeniably hedonistic, the 2016 Vacqueyras knocks it out of the park with its ripe blueberry, violet, and peppery bouquet. This gives way to a voluptuous 2016 that has sweet tannin, a broad, expansive texture, and a big finish. It’s big fruit bomb that has real class.

 2016 Halos de Jupiter Côtes du Rhône        91 pts
The 2016 Côtes du Rhône is more elegant, as well as structured. Notes of dried thyme, saddle leather, peppery garrigue and both black and blue fruits, it’s medium to full-bodied, concentrated and nicely focused on the palate. It will keep for 4-6 years.

2016 Halos de Jupiter Costières de Nîmes      91 pts
Starting with the 2016 Costières de Nîmes, this is a smoking little gem that’s well worth your time and money. Offering lots of blue fruits, pepper, wild strawberries and garrigue aromas and flavors, it’s ripe, expansive and broad on the palate, with moderate acidity and a great texture. Drink it anytime over the coming 3-4 years.

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