Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A cool and elegant white Cote-du-Rhone with a very satisfying interplay of restrained creaminess and mineral freshness. Delicate aromas of wild flowers and lemon blossoms. Lovely freshness at the finish in spite of the quite soft acidity. A cuvee of marsanne, viognier, grenache blanc and a touch of roussanne, all from the Northern Rhone. Fermented and matured in a mix of stainless steel, 300-liter oak casks and amphoras.
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Wine Spectator
Broad, complex and richly styled, with a lush core of yellow plum and dried apricot allied to a spine of wet river stone minerality and salt. Shows concentration and weight, with a flattering touch of toasted brioche that’s well-integrated. Stays racy and bright through the long, floral finish. Delicious.
Full-bodied and flavorful, white Rhône blends originate from France’s Rhône Valley. Today these blends are also becoming popular in other regions. Typically some combination of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier form the basis of a white Rhône blend with varying degrees of flexibility depending on the exact appellation. Somm Secret—In the Northern Rhône, blends of Marsanne and Roussanne are common but the south retains more variety. Marsanne, Roussanne as well as Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul and Ugni Blanc are typical.
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.