Winemaker Notes
Codename for the Allied invasion of Southern France, Operation Dragoon was launched August 15, 1944. During the next month, the French army liberated Toulon and Marseille while the American soldiers advanced National Route 7 with the help of the French Resistance to release the Rhone Valley. This four week campaign, combined with D-Day, was instrumental in the ending of the war. This blend of 70% Grenache, 30% Syrah is the homage to all those people who liberated the Rhone Valley, helping bring peace back to the world.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A collaboration between Kimberly Jones and Pierre Gaillard, the 2016 Côtes du Rhône Operation Dragoon is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah brought up in tank. Coming all from the Gard region of the southern Rhône, it offers lots of blackberry and black cherry fruits, violets, and peppery herbs in a charming, elegant, silky, pure style. It represents a terrific value.
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.