96
Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com
"I think the first vintage for the cuvée, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Terrasses comes from vines in the southwestern side of the appellation and all pebbly, rocky soils. Brought up in 400-liters barrels and with just 250 cases produced, it boasts a huge perfume of black cherries, raspberries, garrigue, and melted licorice that opens up with time in the glass. Not far off the style of the Les Petits Pieds d’Armand release yet with slightly more restraint and elegance, it’s another powerful, layered, full-bodied wine from this estate that delivers the goods!
Readers who love ripe, sexy, lusty Grenache driven wines will love the wines of Olivier Hillaire. They rarely pull any punches on the ripeness scale yet just ooze Provencal charm and character. Count me in as a big fan."
96 Wine Enthusiast
"A study of varietal Grenache sourced entirely from pebbly soils (as opposed to the safre of the producer's Les Petits Pieds d'Armand), this rich, muscular wine is packed with ripe, black cherry and cassis flavors. Matured 15 months in old barriques, it's framed by fine, integrated tannins and lingering hints of green olive and green peppercorn. A bit tightly wound in youth but should approach peak from 2022 and develop nicely well past 2030. -AL"
94 Joe Czerwinski - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"The 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Terrasses is a Grenache cuvée drawn from old vines grown on stony soils. Hints of garrigue bring a sense of freshness to the ripe black cherry flavors of this full-bodied, supple wine. It's velvety, with hints of chocolate on the finish, but remains lively, not raisined."
93 Josh Raynolds - Vinous Media
"Brilliant ruby. Intense red fruit preserve, floral pastille and incense qualities on the spice-inflected nose. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering Chambord, cherry and candied lavender flavors underscored by a vein of smoky minerality. Delivers a suave blend of richness and energy and finishes very long, smooth and gently tannic, with resonating red fruit and floral character."
