Winemaker Notes
Les Garrigues comes from a 2.5-hectare plot with a section of 80-year-old Grenache vines located in the village of Courthézon and just outside the boundary of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The soils here are a fine, pebbly, red clay covered galets and planted with gnarled, mistral-blown vines. In terms of terroir, these vines express themselves more like Châteauneuf than a Côtes-du-Rhône. Hence Les Garrigues is made in a similar fashion as the estates Châteauneufs – 25% whole cluster fermentation in oak vats, a 21-day maceration with daily, manual pigeage followed by aging in a single foudre.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
I love the 2018 Côtes Du Rhône Les Garrigues. It just screams Grenache with its beautiful, spicy red fruits, peppery garrigue, and floral aromas and flavors. Hitting the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, no hard edges, and a seamless texture, it displays the more charming, supple style of the vintage nicely, yet brings plenty of fruit and length. It’s ideal for drinking over the coming 7-8 years.
Grenache thrives in any warm, Mediterranean climate where ample sunlight allows its clusters to achieve full phenolic ripeness. While Grenache's birthplace is Spain (there called Garnacha), today it is more recognized as the key player in the red blends of the Southern Rhône, namely Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône and its villages. Somm Secret—The Italian island of Sardinia produces bold, rustic, single varietal Grenache (there called Cannonau). California, Washington and Australia have achieved found success with Grenache, both flying solo and in blends.
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.