Winemaker Notes
Stephane Ogier Cotes du Rhone Le Temps est Venu is aged 10 months in concrete tanks and shows supple tannins and berry fruits on the palate.
Blend: 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This has a very attractive and quite complex nose already, offering a bed of dark berries, sweet earth, roasted meat and redder fruit, too. Rich fruit on the palate; summer berries abound and the structure is solid.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Sourced just like the 2016 and 2018 versions, the 2017 Côtes du Rhône le Temps Est Venu is approximately 60-40 Grenache and Syrah; two-thirds comes from Plan de Dieu and one-third Visan. Showing lovely red-fruit notes of strawberries and cherries, it’s medium to fullbodied, with supple tannins and a bright, juicy finish.
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.