Winemaker Notes
Red fruit (cherry), mild tannins, medium body. It's generous and silky on the palate, with good concentration and a smooth finish with lots of tannins. Remi Pouizin's certified organic farm in Visan, as well as other chosen growers, produce this delicate and fruit-forward Côtes du Rhône. It adds Cinsault and Carignan to the typical Grenache and Syrah blend, and a mild extraction in the cellar yields vibrant, spice-tinged red fruit with soft tannins. Clovis is a subtle and fruity Côtes du Rhône expression. The extraction is quite delicate, resulting in silky tannins and a fresh expression of red fruits and spice.
Blend: 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Cinsault, 10% Carignan.
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.