Boutinot Les Côteaux Côtes du Rhône Villages 2015
Boutinot’s 2015 Les Côteaux Côtes du Rhône Villages is a cuvée of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah assembled from cru parcels in Sablet, Séguret, and Cairanne. The nose ripples with baritone, atramentous aromas of black cherry, blackberry, black olives, saddle leather, pain grille, savory herbs, and lilacs. Medium-bodied on the palate with well-integrated tannins—menthol, Tellicherry […]
Jean-Luc Colombo Côtes du Rhône Les Abeilles de Colombo Rouge 2016
A juicy blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 10% Mouvèdre, Jean-Luc Colombo’s 2016 Rouge “Les Abeilles” is laden in red fruit—a bushel basket of black cherries, macerated strawberries, and rhubarb are followed by lighter notes of underbrush, vanilla, dusty earth, and anise. On the palate, nimble acidity lends brightness and freshness to this softly […]
Ferraton Pere & Fils Samorëns Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2017
A blend of 60% White Grenache and 40% Clairette, think of the Côtes du Rhône Samorëns Blanc 2017 as value in your glass—pale lemon yellow and bone dry, this classic Rhône blend offers up a convivial bouquet of bruised pear and yellow apple, lily of the valley, and a dusting of chalky minerality. In the […]
Ferraton Pere & Fils Côtes du Rhône Samorëns Blanc 2016
A winsome blend of 60% White Grenache and 40% Clairette grown in clay lime soils, the 2016 Ferraton Pere & Fils Côtes du Rhône Samorëns Blanc has a subtle nose of pear and dried yellow apple, followed by a lilting top note of jasmine. It’s soft on entry, with flavors that match the nose, save […]
Yves Cheron Les Dentelles Côtes du Rhône 2015
I wanted to find a little more concentration of fruit at the core of this otherwise easy-drinking blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah from Yves Cheron. The 2015 ‘Les Dentelles’ sports a classic Southern Rhône profile of plums and blackberries couched in garrigue, warm spice, and dried violet. It’s bright on the palate, not […]
Clos du Joncuas Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret Domaine de la Garancière 2015
From organically farmed old-vine Grenache, with a smidge of Carignan and Cinsault. The 2015 Domaine la Garancière Seguret radiates black fruit on the nose—a bit deceptive because the true red-fruited character of Grenache comes through on the palate. Layered flavors of raspberry turnover, roasted strawberries, and a suggestion of black blackstrap molasses dissolves into chewy […]
Ferraton Pere & Fils Côtes du Rhône Samorëns Rosè 2016
Like the perfect accessory, Ferraton Pere & Fils’ 2016 Samorëns Rosé matches my reading glasses. I sit here in my studio, pondering this Provencal pink, I am reminded of how much I love these wines despite a long, chilly spring in the Willamette Valley. It’s a wine that manages to be energetic and delicate all […]
M. Chapoutier Belleruche Côtes du Rhône 2013
A wine I return to year after year, simply because it’s such a stellar value. Belleruche is one of Chapoutier’s entry-level labels, a tempting and fleshy blend of classic Rhône varietals: Grenache blanc, Roussanne, Viognier, Clairette, and Bourboulenc. It’s rife with pear and stone fruit with the merest twist of lemon peel, fennel and white […]
Clos Bellane Côtes du Rhône Villages Valréas Blanc 2015
A 50/50 blend of Marsanne and Viognier, the enchanting Clos Bellane Côtes du Rhône Villages Blanc hails from a higher altitude site, with vineyard blocks set on 410″ plateau opposite Mont Ventoux. Sunbeam yellow with lemon drop and d’Anjou pear leading into more diffuse aromas of dried laurel and slate. The attack is round and […]
Clos Bellane Les Échalas Côtes du Rhône Villages Valréas Blanc 2015
A 50/50 blend of Marsanne and Viognier, the enchanting Clos Bellane Côtes du Rhône Villages Blanc hails from a higher altitude site, with vineyard blocks set on 410″ plateau opposite Mont Ventoux. Sunbeam yellow with lemon drop and d’Anjou pear leading into more diffuse aromas of dried laurel and slate. The attack is round and […]