Winemaker Notes
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.
Uniquely dedicated to red wine production in a sea of rosé-producing regions, tiny Les Baux-de-Provence (325 hectares) is based geographically on an ancient hilltop village and viticulturally on natural farming methods. As a point of regional pride that most vignerons work their vines without artificial pesticides or fertilizers, this commitment shows itself in the high-quality, full-bodied, intriguing red blends, which make up two-thirds of the region’s production. Earthy and complex, Les Baux-do-Provence reds rival their celebrated Rhône Valley cousins. The blend takes advantage of Grenache’s jolly berry fruit, Syrah’s spicy cherry and the brooding plum of Mourvèdre. Rosé, the signature wine of Provence, is not forgotten, and the garrigue brings a lip-smacking savor to the bottles.