Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The pick of the Côte du Rhône lineup is the 2015 Cotes du Rhone La Reserve. A blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Mourvèdre aged in demi-muids, it shows hints of vanilla and baking spices to go along with red plums and black cherries. It's supple on the mid-palate and velvety on the finish, showing ample richness and length.
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Wine Spectator
Enticing, showing a hint of maturity as a twinge of mulling spices emerges from the core of raspberry and cherry pâte de fruit flavors. A light incense note weaves through the finish, which lingers seductively. Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2019. 510 cases made.
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.