Domaine de la Janasse Cotes du Rhone Villages Terre D'Argile

92 Points - Jeb Dunnuck    Bottled in March of this year, the 2016 Côtes du Rhône villages Terre D'Argile sports a deep purple color as well as a fresh, elegant, classy style in its cassis, crushed violets, spice, and mineral. It's full-bodied, has beautiful purity, fine tannins, and a pure, clean, straight style. It's going to age gracefully as well. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better run estate than that of Domaine de Janasse, which has been in the Sabon family since 1967. Today it’s the brother and sister pair of Christophe and Isabelle Sabon at the helm, and they continue to produce a bevy of sensational Côtes du Rhônes and Châteauneuf du Papes from their vines in the northeastern region of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and around the village of Courthézon. While they’ve pulled back on the pedal-to-the-metal style of the early and mid-2000s, their wines today offer more purity, precision, and elegance while still possessing ample hedonistic fireworks. In short, these are brilliant wines that readers need to snatch up. 

92 Points - James Suckling    Some poached strawberries, raspberries, dark fruit, garrigue herbs and iodine-like savoriness. The super-pure acidity and tannins are intertwined around ripe, fleshy blackberries. Coal smoke through the minerally finish. Drink or hold. 

92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate    The 2016 Cotes du Rhone Villages Terre d'Argile is an equal-parts blend of Carignan, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. It's a full-bodied, silky-textured wine with bright acids that can rival many Châteauneuf-du-Papes. Dusty, earthy notes and dried spices accent cherry-berry fruit and then pick up classy hints of licorice on the lingering finish.