Winemaker Notes
Syrah requires a warm climate to fully ripen but enough moderating effect to produce intense, aromatic wines that are not overwhelmed by sweetness and alcohol. This Syrah grows in ideal terroirs of the southern Rhône and shows the varietal’s typical spicy notes of sandalwood, violets, and black pepper.
Syrah, with its deep flavors and firm tannins, is a natural match for grilled or smoked meat and dishes featuring herbs, roasted mushrooms, and onions. Seared venison or beef with black pepper and thyme or a Moroccan tagine of pigeon or chicken are complimented by the spicy characteristic of Syrah.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Rocking stuff, the 2024 Côtes du Rhône offers peppery red and black fruits, spice, and beautiful minerality. It's medium-bodied, fresh, focused, and balanced, with the pure, focused, graceful style of the vintage.
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Vinous
A single-variety Syrah, the perfumed 2024 Côtes-du-Rhône unwinds with intense white pepper, ripe black cherry and wild herbs. Spicy and refined, the medium-bodied 2024 bundles notable varietal purity and clocks out with drive on the savory aftertaste. What a lovely Côtes-du-Rhône this is.
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Wine Spectator
Dark, inky and nicely unadorned, with violet and fresh blackberry flavors showing real purity and freshness. Ripe and weighty, offering velvety tannins that guide the chalky, smooth finish, flecked with fleur de sel, garrigue and licorice root. Solid and vibrant. Drink now through 2028.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Typically thought of as a baby Chateâuneuf-du-Pape, the term Côtes du Rhône actually doesn’t merely apply to the flatter outskirts of the major southern Rhône appellations, it also includes the fringes of well-respected northern Rhône appellations. White wines can be produced under the appellation name, but very little is actually made.
The region offers some of the best values in France and even some first-rate and age-worthy reds. Red wine varieties include most of the Chateâuneuf-du-Pape varieties like Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Counoise, as well as Carignan. White grapes grown include Grenache blanc, Roussanne and Viognier, among others.