Winemaker Notes
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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James Suckling
Handy depth of dark, stony minerals and ripe, dark berries with a wealth of plush tannins. Dark plums and rich, chocolate liqueur to close. Impressive.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A perennial overachiever, the 2016 Cotes du Rhone les Deux Albions continues that run. Garrigue notes accent blueberry fruit in this full-bodied, plush wine. Loaded with hints of cherries and stone fruit, it's a cornucopia of ripe fruit waiting to be slurped down, velvety and long on the finish.
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Wine Spectator
A solid, slightly gutsy version that sports dark cherry, plum and cassis flavors inlaid liberally with violet, pepper and bramble notes. Reveals a flash of licorice root on the finish. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A year in, year out great value, the 2016 Côtes du Rhône Les Deux Albion boasts loads of dark, peppery, chocolate-laced fruits as well as a full-bodied, layered mouthfeel. It’s a big, rich, satisfying Côtes du Rhône to drink over the coming 3-4 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.