Winemaker Notes
Kirsch, blackberries, flowers, and spice all emerge from this quintessential Grenache that’s medium to full-bodied and has a round, sexy mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Côtes du Rhône don’t get much better.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
All Grenache from very old vines just north of Châteauneuf du Pape, the 2020 Côtes du Rhône Les Garrigues will surpass any number of Châteauneuf du Pape out there, and it’s well worth the extra effort to track down. Kirsch, blackberries, flowers, and spice all emerge from this quintessential Grenache that’s medium to full-bodied and has a round, sexy mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Côtes du Rhône don’t get much better.
Barrel Sample: 92-94 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From a parcel of old-vine Grenache north of Courthezon, the 2020 Cotes du Rhone Les Garrigues does indeed offer up lovely garrigue-like aromas of lavender, thyme and bay leaf, plus blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. Full-bodied, silky and elegant, with a long finish, it's a super Côtes du Rhône.
Barrel Sample: 91-93 -
Wine Spectator
Enticing, this lush red shows impressive integration to the ripe cherry, mocha-dusted plum and warm earth flavors, all wrapped around a pillar of graphite. Reveals grilled herbs, which bring savory dimension to the heady close. A well-crafted version of a seductive style. Drink now through 2027.
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.