Winemaker Notes
The wine is fleshy, ripe and finishes with impressive forest floor sweetness, rounded out by peppery tannins. Think crème de cassis, cherries, and a lovely note of licorice on the palate, mixed with pepper and Asian spices.
Pair with charcuterie and cheese, a gourmet pizza or something a little different like Peking duck pancakes.
Blend: 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah
Vegan-Friendly
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
This is an exuberant, full-bodied Côtes du Rhône, with warm black plum and melted black licorice spiked with juniper and black pepper. Offers juicy deliciousness, with no rough edges, on an open-knit frame. There's a burst of freshness and herbs on the bright finish. Grenache and Syrah.
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.