Winemaker Notes
Aged all in concrete, the Côtes du Rhône Mistral offers up a pretty, perfumed bouquet of sweet berry fruit, crushed flowers and hints of herbs that flows to a medium-bodied, elegant and seamless Cotes du Rhone that has loads of character.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Freshly opened, this youthful Cotes du Rhone is brimming with ripe cherry fruit, then with a little aeration in the glass the aromas expand to include a slew of red berry fruit and spices. On the medium- to full-bodied palate, the balance of restrained ripeness and healthy dry tannins is spot-on. Long, polished finish with plenty of energy.
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.