Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A sleeper selection is the beautiful 2009 Cotes du Rhone-Villages. It offers up loads of black cherry and raspberry fruit intertwined with notes of loamy soil, garrigue, licorice and spice box. A quintessential expression of southern Rhone winemaking, it is medium to full-bodied, lush and ideal for drinking over the next 2-3 years.
The brother and sister team of Daniel and Christine Chaussy has been on top of its game for many years. Their greatest wines to date, the 2007s, have been followed by brilliant performances in 2009 as well as the excellent Chateauneuf du Papes made in the challenging 2008 vintage.
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.