Winemaker Notes
Blend: Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvedre and Clairette co-fermented.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Impressive pepper and spice aromas with blackberry and almost tarry accents. The palate has a deep-set black fruit and licorice core. Exceptional depth and a smoky, alluring finish. A star of CdR.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 50% to 60% Grenache and the balance Syrah, the 2015 Cotes du Rhone les Deux Albions is, in the words of proprietor Louis Barruol, "A great success." I'd have to agree. Scents of fresh blueberries are immediately appealing, while the plump, medium to full-bodied palate ends in a light flurry of tannins. Give it another year in the cellar and drink it over the next 7-8 years.
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.