Product Line
Rhone valley
Northern Rhone
The Rhone Valley is kept in check by a sweeping Mistral wind that is tunnelled from the north of Rhone to the open and flatter southern Rhone. The Rhone river runs through the valley dividing the schist and granite soils.
The Northern Rhone is a difficult place to grow grapes, the slopes are steep to work and costly. Most of the wines grown are premium styles and its production is tiny when compared to Southern Rhone. Syrah hits new heights here in the form of spicy delights.
Red or White? Mainly red with a small amount of white made. And there is a blend where red and white is co-fermented together in Cote Rotie. Syrah with a splash of viognier - a rarity!
Grapes
White: Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne
Red: Syrah
Styles
This is spicy syrah land - black olives, smoked meats, cooking spices and heady florals are common tasting descriptors. And the tannins can be firm and fine in youth, becoming slender with age. The whites are richer and fleshy, viognier is the queen of hedonism.
Favourite Producers
Guigal, Coursodon, Pierre Gonon, JL Chave, Bernard Faurie, Balthazar, Stephane Ogier
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Southern Rhone
Grenache reigns supreme in the south, although it is commonly blended with Mourvedre and syrah. Planted throughout the region, Grenache loves the warmth and sunny exposition made available to it in southern Rhone. Look out for the galette pebbles found in Chateauneuf du Pape - these heat up during the day and the extra warmth overnight continues to ripen the grapes on the old bush vines.
From rosé to affordable weekday pizza wines (Cotes du Rhone blends) through to ageable beauties like Chateauneuf du Pape, Grenache is a chameleon of grapes centred around vibrant red fruits and slippery tannins.
Red or white? Red and a little rose. There's also a small amount of a fortified white called Muscat de Beaume de Venise
Grapes
White: Muscat a Petits Grains
Red: Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah
Styles
Cotes du Rhone are the cheerful wines you want to reach for mid-week. Their fleshy and fruit nature make them deliciously enjoyable and they won't burn a hole in your pocket. The pinnacle of Grenache is reached in Chateauneuf du Pape wines. These have built-in structure and can age gracefully for many years. Look out for Village or Cru wines such as Vinsobres, Vaquerays, Gigondas as these are a happy medium between the bookend styles.
Favourite Producers
Font du Courtedune, Rayas, Beaucastel, Chateau de Fonsalette, Marcoux, Mont Redon
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Ogier Le Temps Est Venu Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2022Always a lovely wine and the 2022 has an extra level of freshness and crunchy snap. A blend of grenache blanc, roussanne and a good dollop of viognier. Stone fruits, some quartz mineral notes that thread through the mid palate and sprinkle white pepper to finish. Some slippery textural elements provide length and its cut nicely by a streak crunch acid.2022Marsanne, RoussaneFrance467$34.00 As low as $30.60 -
Coursodon Vin de France Etincelle Blanc 2022A viognier dominant wine supported by Marsanne from a high altitude vineyard at the to of Mauves on the border of the appellation. This medium-bodied white Rhone is a delight, because it is brimming with fresh stone fruit aromas. …the balance of ripeness and spring-like freshness is spot on. A cuvee of roussanne and viognier grown on granite soils at high altitude. Vinified only in stainless steel. Drink now. STUART PIGGOT
2022Roussane, ViognierFrance467$65.00 As low as $58.50 -
Ogier Le Temps Est Venu Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2023Ripe peach, apricot, honeyed white flowers, and some mineral notes all define the 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Temps Est Venu Blanc, a medium-bodied, round, fleshy, nicely textured, balanced white that will have lots of flexibility on the dinner table.2023Marsanne, RoussaneFrance467$37.00 As low as $33.30 -
Domaine du Tunnel St Peray Roussanne 2023More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2023RoussaneFrance467$120.00 As low as $108.00 -
Domaine du Tunnel St Peray Cuvee Prestige 2023More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2023RoussaneFrance467$125.00 As low as $112.50 -
Coursodon Vin de France Etincelle Blanc 2021A blend of 70% Viognier, 30% Roussanne from high-altitude single site at the top of the village of Mauves and at the edge of the Saint-Joseph appellation. Decomposed granite (like Hermitage) that is sand-like in texture. All fermented in stainless steel.2019Roussane, ViognierFrance467$65.00 As low as $58.50