Winemaker Notes
The 2015 Ogier Artesis Cotes du Rhone Rouge is a deep ruby color with purple highlights. The nose is very expressive, dominated by spice and garrigue with ample fruit which is revealed after the first approach. THe palate is silky and full, with a permanent freshness, and silky tannins. A superb spicy red fruit finale.
Blend: 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
More black fruit-driven, with lots of black olive, tapenade, pepper and earth, the 2015 Côtes du Rhône Artesis is medium to full-bodied, nicely textured and concentrated on the palate. It’s a seriously good Côtes du Rhône that will evolve gracefully through at least 2023. The blend of the 2015 is 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre.
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine's understated nose offers delicate whiffs of nut and toast amidst restrained black cherry and plum scents. The full-bodied, fleshy palate offers ample black fruit flavors, accented by elegant hints of dried herbs and firm, fine-grained tannins that extend the finish.
Best Buy
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.