Here are my comments and what I sent to my friend.

Gigual, Chave, and Chapoutier are 3 names that are high in quality at almost all levels.  If you can get these names go for them.  They usually have good ratings and their lower to mid level stuff are great values.

I would try and get the bigger names(Guigal, Chap., etc) for CDR plus the ones mentioned by my friend.  Also check out Janasse, Jaboulet, Tardieu Laurent.

For CDP I would see if you can get Beaucastel, Clos des Papes, Pegau, Vieux Donjon, Clos st. Jean, Marcoux.  For values, Cristia, Milliere,  Beaurenard, Fortia Cuvee Baron.

For St. Joseph and Crozes Hermitage definitely get Chave, Chapoutier, and Guigal.  Great performers year in and year out.ÂSt. Cosme is also solid.

For Cornas and Hermitage(exp regions)  there are not too many options.  Delas is a good value in hermitage, along with Bernard Chave.  Chave and Guigal are the expensive ones here.  Chapoutier is also up there.  My favorite Cornas is Clape.

Cote Roite is an area where I have limited experience.

I also included some help from someone from another site.  Here is what he wrote.

Guigal anything for name, though in more than a few regions they do a lot of tie ins for the expensive wines. Even the basic CdR is usually very drinkable, and decent price points on the basic CdP and Crozes. Not my favorite producer, but a well known name, especially after getting the WS WOTY a couple years back.

Andezon CdR. Very low price point, and it ages well. Had the '98 about two years ago and aged VERY well, but also drinks well early. Usually found on sale around here in the $10-13 area. Mordoree Lirac for CdR and even rose.

Graillot Crozes. Yann Chave Crozes, La Rouvre and the basic Hermitage all have very good price points, and is becoming a value favorite in those regions. Especially the La Rouvre for value. Not a name producer, but nice price points.

Tardieu Laurent for northern regions, but one must be extremely oak tolerant when young.

Should I expect you have a good handle on regular CdP? Names like Pegau, Janasse Chaupin and VV, etc. And Beaucastel for name. Not sure how high priced to go in Recos, the Mordoree RdB exceeds $100 and then some. Chave if he can get it, but way too expensive for me.

All the Rhones have risen significantly the last few years, so I would have to check current pricing. In '04, I bought only Pegau and Janasse Chaupin. Nothing at all in '05, except some CdR (the Andezon stood out).

 

Parker loves Chapoutier, and they cover the gamut of price points. Not sure how WS feels about them. I run hot and cold on them, but if he is looking to limit labels or concentrate purchasing on as few distributors as possible...

Long time Parker favs with high ratings: Beaucastel, Pegau, Janasse, Clos des Papes (I am out at current pricing, but also has the WS WOTY going for it, so good brand recognition). IN the northernRhone, add Delas Freres as a good value and good RP ratings, at least in good vintages (the north is very vintage dependent). In Cote Rotie, Jamet is a personal fav with high ratings, add Ogier as another consistent, highly rated producer (I have not had much, hard to find around here). Same ratings, consistency, and lack of experience with Jasmin and Rostaing.

In Crozes, add to the below the Gilles Robin Crozes-Hermitage Cuvée Albéric Bouvet. I have heartily enjoyed both the 01 and 03 versions, but have never tried with with age. It is a producer I intend to keep trying and buying.

In CdR, correct the name to d'Andezon, not Andezon. In the Cotes de Ventoux, Chateau Pesquie, esp. Les Terrasses, is a perennial RP low priced favorite, and a damn good value in my book. In CdR, Gardine is a perennial fav of WS (the regular bottling, Generations does not seem to sell for the price difference). Bottles are a pain in the ass though, so be cautious. Another very good producer in my mind is Patrick Lesec. Always around 89-92s, very good value, never had a bad wine from them. They bottle from various areas in theRhone, I think they are a negotiant. St.-Cosme and Chateau St.-Cosme (they use both names) range from CdR on up inc. Gigondas at very good values. Pierre Usseglio at the higher price ranges, esp. the Mon Aieul, are favorites of mine and just about all reviewers.

CdR names would include Vieux Telegraph and Le Viuex Donjon (in the Pegau and Beaucastel style, long agers but don't show well young). Cuvee Vatican, esp. the REserve Sixtine, are always highly rated but one needs an extreme oak tolerance so not my favorite style. Never tasted anything more than 6-8 years old though, so maybe I am not a good barometer of their wines.

Domaine des Rémizières is a huge RP favorite. I have always been way turned off by the excessive oak. Domaine Jean-Louis Chave St. Joseph Offerus is a fairly consistent producer there, but the wines need some age (5-8 years, unusual for a low priced offering) since they don't show well young. Otherwise, I ahve very little experience with St. Joseph. In Cornas, most wines are extremely backward and uncivilized. Maybe just an acquired taste that I never acquired, but even at 10 years from vintage they have been backward brutes. I have not had one I cared for, but just my opinion.