Winemaker Notes
Orange zest and strawberry on the fabulously fragrant nose. Silky, focused raspberry and tangerine flavors show beautiful depth and energy, thanks to a spine of juicy acidity. Lingers gorgeously on the finish, leaving a subtle floral note behind.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2024 Cotes du Rhone Rosé Altitude opens with a spritz of fresh citrus—lime zest, blood orange and lemon oil—heightened by a lick of sweet, tropical fruit and a grippy, spice-laden palate. Compact yet lively, the Altitude has an extra measure of acidity compared to many of its Côtes du Rhône neighbors made in a similar style. Attractive.
Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.
An appellation full of some of the most delightful and particularly charming reds, Côtes du Rhône Villages includes the best villages of the greater Côtes du Rhône appellation. The possibility for an appellation promotion exists for every named village but each has to achieve and prove superior quality before an upgrade will be granted. The main ones today are Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes-de-Venise, Vinsobres, Rasteau and Cairanne.
The Gigondas appellation, while sometimes producing wines with a touch of rusticity, can often rival Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Its elevations are higher and soils richer in limestone. Vacqueyras reds are more concentrated than the more general Côtes du Rhône reds and must be at least one half comprised of Grenache by law. Beaumes de Venise also includes some excellent higher elevation spots for making snappy, fruity and spicy reds but historically the appellation’s esteem came from its fragrant, sweet and golden Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise.