Winemaker Notes
The pleasure of Southern Rhone sunshine. Seductive nose of small red fruits, coriander and bay leaf. Meaty yet silky, with notes of licorice and spices, elegant tannins and a good aromatic persistence.
Great wine with grilled lamb or pork, seared ahi tuna, or young cheeses.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Offering an expressive gush of boysenberry and lilac, this extroverted version leads with fruit, backed up by wild herbs and a firming layer of graphite, with just a kiss of vanilla. Unadorned, with impressive fruit purity, this shows an energetic lift of acidity. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.
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.