2018

LE MILLÉSIME… The 2016s from the Southern Rhône


2016 Halos de Jupiter Châteauneuf-du-Pape Adrastée    98 pts

The flagship is the 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Adrastée, which is always 100% Grenache sourced from the famed La Crau lieu-dit, from vines south of Vieux Télégraphe, brought up in once used Burgundy barrels. This beauty is the finest vintage to date and offers an extraordinary bouquet of black raspberries, incense, lavender, and a loamy soil/minerality that emerges with time in the glass. Full-bodied, rich and powerful, it stays lively and graceful on the palate, has building tannins, no hard edges, and a finish that just won’t quit. It’s a blockbuster to enjoy over the coming 10-15 years.

2016 Halos de Jupiter Châteauneuf-du-Pape    94 pts

The 2016 Châteauneuf-du-Pape comes from sandy parcels in the appellation and is 85% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 5% Mourvèdre brought up in once- and twice-used demi-muids. This is a ripe, rounded, opulent, and full-bodied Châteauneuf-du-Pape that’s very much in the house style. Deep, flamboyant notes of black raspberries, incense, toasted spices, and garrigue all emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with ample power and richness, yet always stays lively and elegant. Drink it any time over the coming 10-15 years.

2016 Halos de Jupiter Gigondas    94+ pts

The 2016 Gigondas (88% Grenache and 12% Mourvèdre) is more straight, focused, and structured compared to the Vacqueyras release. Terrific notes of black cherries, blackberries, graphite, and ground pepper all emerge from this classic expression of the appellation. It picks up more minerality and a touch of chocolate with time in the glass, has a layered, full-bodied style, and a great finish. It’s terrific today yet I think it will be even better with 2-4 years of bottle age and it should keep for upward of a decade.

2016 Halos de Jupiter Vacqueyras    93 pts

Brought up in a mix of 500-liter barrels and tank, the 2016 Vacqueyras (85% Grenache and 15% Syrah) boasts a rounded, sexy style as well as loads of ripe black fruits, licorice, and peppery garrigue. It’s a classic 2016 that’s incredibly satisfying, offering both intellectual and hedonistic pleasure. It’s already great today yet will keep in cool cellars for upward of a decade.

2017 Halos de Jupiter Châteauneuf-du-Pape Adrastée    95-97 pts

Deeply colored, the 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Adrastée is all Grenache from the pebbly soils just south of Vieux Télégraphe, on the La Crau plateau, and is aged in used Burgundy barrels. It’s a seriously pleasure-bent barrel sample and offers more minerality, black cherries, incense, and violet-like aromas and flavors. Deep, powerful, full-bodied, and yet sexy and seamless, with elegant tannins, it’s a rock star effort.

2017 Halos de Jupiter Châteauneuf-du-Pape    92-94 pts

From a single terroir on the Mont-Redon plateau, which is all rolled stones, the 2017 Châteauneuf-du-Pape (85% Grenache, 10% Syrah, and 5% Mourvèdre) is a gorgeous, layered, ripe, sexy wine that knocks it out of the park in the vintage. Full-bodied, sweetly fruited, opulent and sexy, it’s going to drink nicely right out of the gate yet keep for 10-15 years.

2017 Halos de Jupiter Gigondas    91-94 pts

I love the bouquet of the 2017 Gigondas (90/10 Grenache and Mourvèdre), which gives up tons of black cherries, graphite, crushed rocks, and beautiful spice. Deep, medium to full-bodied, pure and elegant, with building tannin, it’s a seamless, beautifully elegant, layered barrel sample.

2017 Halos de Jupiter Vacqueyras    91-93 pts

Brought up two-thirds in barrel and one-third in vat, the 2017 Vacqueyras (85% Grenache and 15% Syrah) has lots of blueberry blackberry fruits, notes of violets and pepper, medium to full body, good acidity, and a great finish.

2017 Halos de Jupiter Côtes du Rhône      89-91 pts

A blend of 80/20 Grenache and Syrah, the 2017 Côtes du Rhône gives up ample dark fruits, black cherries, licorice, and herbs. It’s medium to full-bodied, has good acidity, and a big, rich, opulent style.

2017 Halos de Jupiter Costières de Nîmes    90-92 pts

Leading off the 2017s, the 2017 Costières de Nîmes is an undeniably sexy wine that has a sweet nose of black raspberries, kirsch, garrigue, and spice. It’s medium to full-bodied, straight-up hedonistic and pleasure-bent, with sweet tannins and a great finish. Drink it over the coming 4-5 years.

  • Chemin des Canaux
  • 30132 Caissargues
  • France
  • Tel: 33 (0)4 66 38 44 30
  • Email:

To enter our website, you must be of legal drinking age in your country.