Winemaker Notes
Aromas of raspberry, baking spices and licorice. Juicy, textured, and mouth-coating, with flavors of black cherry and hints of chocolate powder.
Pair with grilled pork sausages with herbs, roasted lamb or ribs with smoky chipotle glaze.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Spice, loamy soil, dried red fruits, and plenty of dried floral notes all emerge from the 2016 Côtes du Rhône Les Quartz, which shows more and more minerality with time in the glass. It's elegant and seamless on the palate, with building tannin, and is a terrific introduction into the wines of this estate.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Exceeding my prebottling expectations, the 2016 Cotes du Rhone Les Quartz is a terrific effort that puts many Châteauneufs to shame. Aromas of crushed stone and raspberries mark the nose of this 85-15 Grenache-Syrah blend. It's full-bodied and rich, with hints of chocolaty ripeness balanced by citrus zest on the lengthy finish.
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James Suckling
An array of red berries, as well as blood-orange, chocolate, pepper and spicy-wood notes. The palate is packed with dark-fruit flavors, ripe tannins dropping a grainy texture throughout.
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Wine Spectator
Ripe, forward and open-knit, with tasty cherry and plum compote flavors. Dashes of anise and singed apple wood on the finish give this some grip.
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.