Winemaker Notes
Serve with beef, lamb or poultry.
Blend: 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsault
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2015 Côtes Du Rhône Terrasses De L'Eridan checks in as a blend of 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre and the rest Cinsault. It offers plenty of red fruits, herbes de Provence, licorice, and baking spice to go with a rounded, sexy, lightly textured style on the palate. It has sweet tannin and is loaded with charm. Drink it over the coming couple of years.
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.