2019

Jeb Dunnuck – 2019 Issue


Halos de Jupiter is the personal label of superstar oenologue, Philippe Cambie, and the focus is on Grenache from the different terroirs in the Southern Rhône. The 2017s showed brilliantly and are up with the finest wines to date from this label. The 2018 will be a step back, but are nevertheless beautiful, forward, charming wines that has loads of Provencal character.

2017 Halos de Jupiter Châteauneuf-du-Pape Adrastée          96 pts

The flagship from Cambie is the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Adrastée. It’s all Grenache (100% destemmed) from the La Crau lieu-dit that’s brought up in 1-year-old 600-liter Burgundy barrels. Full-bodied, deep, and opulent, with a super-rich yet seamless, sexy character, it offers a complex bouquet of kirsch, graphite, crushed rocks, and cured meats. It’s one of those wines that reminds you of walking through a street market in the south of France and is just loaded with character. It’s going to improve with short-term cellaring and have 10-15 years of overall longevity.

2017 Halos de Jupiter Châteauneuf-du-Pape          94 pts

The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape had just been bottled at the time of my tasting, which makes this showing even more remarkable. Deep purple-colored, with a brilliant perfume of kirsch and blackberry fruits as well as ample spice and garrigue, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. A blend of 88% Grenache and 12% Syrah that was all destemmed and aged in once- and twice-used oak, it can be drunk today with incredible pleasure or cellared for over a decade.

2017 Halos de Jupiter Gigondas          92+ pts

The 2017 Gigondas is another winner in the lineup. In 2017 it was not destemmed and is a blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre raised in older demi-muids. Deep purple-colored, with a terrific bouquet of blackberries, spice, incense, and cedarwood, it has classic Gigondas character, medium to full body, good acidity, and ripe tannins. It shows the more straight, focused style on the palate that’s common in the vintage and will be even better with another year or two in bottle.

2017 Halos de Jupiter Vacqueyras          92+ pts

I loved the 2017 Vacqueyras and this is always one of my favorites in the lineup from Cambie. Blackberries, violets, ground pepper, and spice all emerge from this beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, pretty Vacqueyras that just glides over the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. Based on 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah that spent a year in neutral demi-muids, drink this classic, balanced, pleasure-bent 2017 over the coming 7-8 years.

2017 Halos de Jupiter Côtes du Rhône          89 pts

Lots of blackberries, cherries, incense, and spice box characteristics emerge from the 2017 Côtes Du Rhône. Medium-bodied, it displays juicy acidity, fine tannins, and a layered, satisfying style. It will be better with another six months in bottle and keep for 4-5 years.

2018 Halos de Jupiter Châteauneuf-du-Pape Adrastée          92-94+ pts

Coming all from very old Grenache vines in the La Crau lieu-dit and brought up in demi-muids (all neutral), the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Adrastée sports a ruby/plum color as well as more black fruits, ground herbs, pepper, and earth. It’s rich, concentrated, has plenty of ripe tannins, and a great finish. I don’t see it matching the 2017, but it has more concentration and depth than most and is certainly a terrific wine.

2018 Halos de Jupiter Châteauneuf-du-Pape          92-94 pts

Mostly from the La Crau (there’s a smaller part from sandy soils), the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape offers rocking kirsch and spicy notes as well a medium to full-bodied, rounded, supple, sexy style on the palate. It offers more complex tapenade and cedar notes with time in the glass, has a beautiful texture, and will drink nicely right out of the gate.

2018 Halos de Jupiter Gigondas          91-93 pts

Brought up in a mix of barrels and vats, the 2018 Gigondas is a 90/10 split of Grenache and Mourvèdre that will be bottled next spring. It has a classic bouquet of black raspberries, sandalwood, ground pepper, and spice as well as a beautifully layered, elegant style on the palate yet still packs ample fruit.

2018 Halos de Jupiter Vacqueyras          89-91 pts

Not destemmed and brought up in 500-liter barrels, the 2018 Vacqueyras is a blend of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah. Its deep purple color is followed by powerful notes of black and blue fruits, ground pepper, and sappy garrigue. It’s rich and medium-bodied, with plenty of fruit and a great finish.

2018 Halos de Jupiter Côtes du Rhône          89-91 pts

Not yet bottled, the 2018 Côtes Du Rhône should match or exceed the 2017. It has a similar, medium-bodied, sweetly fruited style as well as notable purity of fruit and classic peppery herb and floral notes. It’s a winner.

2018 Halos de Jupiter Costières de Nîmes          89-91 pts

The 2018 Costières De Nîmes should be outstanding as well as a great value. Based on 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah, it has a ripe, rounded, classic Southern Rhône style as well as lots of pure, peppery fruit and spice. Drink it on release and over the following 4-5 years.

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