Winemaker Notes
The power of a Provençal terroir with scents of garrigue, combined with the finesse of old Grenache allows this cuvée to develop aromas of red fruit (strawberry) and black fruit (blackberry).
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The dense, full-bodied 2019 Cotes du Rhone Les Garrigues manages to be that without ever seeming heavy, overdone or chocolaty. Vibrant purple raspberries mark the nose and palate, lingering elegantly on the finish and picking up hints of wild thyme and bay leaf. I'd rather drink this than some underachieving producer's Châteauneuf, and it should be uncommonly long-lived for a Côtes du Rhône. Best after 2023
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Jeb Dunnuck
Loads of kirsch liqueur, ground pepper, garrigue, and some obvious earthy minerality emerge from the 2019 Côtes du Rhône Les Garrigues, a wine that pushes on the ripeness level while staying balanced, seamless, and weightless. This opulent, hedonistic Grenache is going to keep for 8-10 years.
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James Suckling
Very dense black-plum bouquet with touches of bitter chocolate, raisin and licorice. For 15.5% alcohol this remains surprisingly cool and restrained on the palate, also thanks to the solid tannin base that gives it a certain grip. Even the finish is quite dry right to the end.
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.