KYSELA PERE ET FILS, LTD.

"The 2022 Châteauneuf du Pape Le Miocene checks in as 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and the rest Mourvèdre, all destemmed, that was raised mostly in tank, with the Syrah and Mourvèdre in oak. It has a beautiful nose of ripe red and black fruits that give way to more licorice, black olive, peppery garrigue, and spices. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's balanced and has ripe, building tannins and a great finish. It's going to evolve gracefully for 10-12+ years."

- Jeb Dunnuck (Importer Highlight: Fran Kysela ; July 2024), 93 pts

"A seductive, well-crafted and precise organic red. It has notes of sweet cherries, red berries, wafers and pastry spices. Medium- to full-bodied with firm tannins. Generously fruity with a solid frame and a compact finish. From organically grown grapes. Try after 2026."

- James Suckling (April 8th 2024), 92 pts

"Rich and concentrated, but racy too, with blackberry and dark plum fruit revealing crushed graphite and a kick of menthol, which adds freshness. Long and svelte, with refined tannins that drive the simmering, smoky close, this complex red shows a lot of stuffing. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2032. - Kristen Bieler"

- Wine Spectator (October 2023), 94 pts

"A rather elegant Chateauneuf with plenty of red fruits and some floral notes, plus a touch of tomato ketchup. Very good fruit, but also a solid base of tannins on the medium- to full-bodied palate. The crisp acidity is well-integrated at the long, moderately dry finish. A cuvee of 70% grenache, 20% syrah and 10% mourvedre. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold."

- James Suckling (April 2023), 91 pts

"The entry level cuvée is the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Miocene, which is based on 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre. Its deeper ruby/purple color is followed by an impressive, medium-bodied, concentrated effort displaying classic darker cherry fruits as well as peppery garrigue and classic Provençal notes. It's balanced and well worth drinking over the coming decade."

- Jeb Dunnuck (November 2022), 90-92 pts

 

 

- Wine Enthusiast (December 2023, Best of Year issue), 94 pts

"Saturated ruby. Smoky, expansive cherry cola, cassis, succulent herb and floral qualities on the expansive nose. Broad and fleshy on entry, offering plush dark fruit, floral pastille and mocha flavors that become firmer and spicier as the wine opens up. The long, youthfully chewy finish strong echoes the cherry and floral notes and is firmed by steadily building tannins. - Josh Raynolds"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (October 2021), 92 pts

"Aromas of the blackest wild berries with delicate notes of hot dry earth and smoke. A beautifully crafted wine that is already very accessible, thanks to the silky tannins. Excellent interplay of licorice, bitter chocolate and berry sweetness at the long, straight finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold."

- James Suckling (March 2022), 92 pts

"Moving to the reds, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Miocene has lots of red and black fruits as well as a touch of iron in its sappy garrigue and peppery, Provençal aromas and flavors. This balanced, medium-bodied, straight-up classic Châteauneuf du Pape will be loved by the Southern Rhône wine drinkers out there. It will keep for 10-12 years. The blend is 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and the rest Mourvedre, destemmed and brought up mostly in concrete tanks (no new oak)."

- Jeb Dunnuck (November 2022), 92 pts

"Tasted as a tank sample, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Miocene looks promising, with lots of red berry fruit and hints of salted licorice. Full-bodied, silky and long, with a softly dusty finish, it should drink well soon after release and for a decade thereafter."

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (May 2022), 91-93 pts

"This shows smoldering intensity, with a core of steeped plum, blackberry and fig compote flavors that need some time to unwind. When they do, this has a backdrop of ganache, melted black licorice, tobacco and roasted alder notes for them to meld with. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Best from 2023 through 2036. -J.M."

- Wine Spectator (Insider weekly, November 2021), 94 pts

"Bright violet. Highly perfumed, spice-accented red and dark berry preserve, pipe tobacco, succulent herb and floral scents show sharp definition and a hint of smokiness. Smooth, broad and well-concentrated, offering sappy cherry, blueberry and blackberry flavors and a hint of candied lavender. The floral and spice notes recur on a long, smooth finish framed by velvety tannins. - Josh Raynolds"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (October 2021), 93 pts

"What can be thought of as the entry level cuvée from this estate, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Miocène reveals a healthy purple/ruby hue as well as beautiful blackberry and black raspberry fruits supported by ample peppery herbs, new leather, herbes de Provence, and assorted garrigue and spicy nuances. It's more forward and soft on the palate, yet it still has the classic structure and savoriness of the vintage and is going to age gracefully."

- Jeb Dunnuck (November 2021), 92 pts

"Moving to the Châteauneuf du Papes from barrel, the 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Miocène (70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre) reveals a dense purple hue as well as a great nose of black raspberries, jammy blackberries, toasted spices, licorice, and Provençal herbs. This fleshy, soft, yet nicely concentrated beauty has terrific ripeness yet stays lively and fresh. It’s a no brainer from this great estate."

- Jeb Dunnuck (October 2020), 91-93 pts

"Plump and juicy, with a forward core of red berry preserves and plum paste flavors, wrapped in red licorice and backed by whiffs of sandalwood and garrigue on the finish. Best from 2022 through 2034. —J.M."

- Wine Spectator's Insider (June 9th 2021), 93 pts

"Tangs of granite and firm, gripping tannins lend angularity to concentrated black cherry and plum in this wine. A blend of Grenache (70%), Syrah (20%) and Mourvédre (10%), it's weighty on the palate but sharply cut by zingy red-cassis acidity. At peak now through 2028, the wine should hold further still. - ANNA LEE C. IIJIMA

 - Wine Enthusiast (May 2021), 93 pts

 "A selection from Miocene-era sandstone soils in the northern end of the appellation, this is based on grenache vinified solely in stainless steel; the 30 percent of syrah and mourvèdre in the blend age in second- and third-use oak barrels. The result offers both an energetic pop of red-cherry flavor and a deeper, lasting complexity of earth and spice that holds the flavors long and adds succulence."

 - Wine & Spirits (October 2021), 93 pts

"Vivid ruby. Fragrant cherry and red berry scents pick up suggestions of licorice and lavender with aeration. Spicy, concentrated and smooth on the palate, offering appealingly sweet raspberry, cherry liqueur and floral pastille flavors and a hint of succulent herbs. Finishes sweet and quite long, with velvety tannins framing lingering cherry and floral notes.- Josh Raynolds"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (October 2021), 92 pts

"The 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Miocène can be thought of as the entry-level Châteauneuf from this estate and is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre brought up in a mix of tank and neutral, older barrels. Impressive notes of mulled black cherries, darker currants, chocolaty herbs, and pepper all emerge from the glass and this medium to full-bodied 2018 has a great mid-palate, ample depth and richness, and sweet tannins. It’s beautifully done and just about seamless on the palate, with the forward, already delicious style of the vintage front and center. enjoy bottles anytime over the coming decade."

- Jeb Dunnuck (October 2020), 92 pts

"The medium to full-bodied 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Miocene is supple and silky, with fruit-forward notes of raspberries and apricot. It should drink well young. - Joe Czerwinski"

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue 244, August 2019), 91-93 pts