Many wine regions have their own distinctive personalities. Napa drips with big, rich cabernet sauvignon. Burgundy seduces with its pinot noirs. Tuscan wines demand cuisine. And Rhone wines wrap you in a warm blanket. The Cotes du Rhone region is located in the southern part of France and is actually two distinct vinicultural areas; the Northern Rhone Valley and the Southern Rhone Valley. Wine production in the region began with the arrival of Roman settlers a few centuries B.C, making the Rhone Valley the first area in France to produce significant quantities of wine. The oldest vineyards, Cote Rotie and Hermitage, are located in the northern end of the Valley, where the hearty syrah grape grows on steep, sun-drenched slopes and accounts for the majority of the wine production from this area.
The southern half of the valley has a distinctive Mediterranean influence and is home to the famous Chateauneuf du Pape appellation where red wines are blended from a variety of grapes, including granache, mourvedre, cinsault and carignan, to name a few. In addition, aromatic white wine varietals, such as viognier, marsanne, roussanne, bourboulenc and grenache white are grown throughout the region.
The unique soil compositions found in the Valley is a result of ancient glaciers that deposited sediment and organic matter over thousands of years. The different soil combinations provide each grape varietal with its own specific characteristics. This diversity allows winemakers a veritable spice cabinet from which to create well-balanced, finely tuned wines.
The Cotes du Rhone region is home to 6,000 winemakers who are producing just about 38 million gallons of wine from the 85,000 acres of vineyards. Because of the volume, there are some terrific values that hail from this wonderful appellation. Retail prices are approximate.
A classic example of a white Rhone varietal blend is the 2010 Gonnet Cotes du Rhone Blanc ($12). According to the winemaker’s website, “The Gonnet family employs strict biodynamic and organic practices in their viticulture … absolutely no chemical fertilizers have been used.” And, no oak either. This wine has been vinified in “neutral” oak barrels, which allows the pure flavors of apricot, peach and orange peel to shine all the way through, from start to finish. QPR 8.5
The 2007 Santa Duc Vieilles Vignes ($13) is a blend of grenache, syrah and mourvedre that hails from four villages in the Northern Rhone Valley that neighbor the region of Gigondas and delivers a lot of wine for the money. The average vine age is more than 40-years-old and the mature fruit produces a wine full of ripe raspberry and black cherry flavors on a dense, medium-bodied frame. It has nice balance and a long spice-laden finish. QPR 7
The Vacqueyras appellation is located next door to Chateauneuf du Pape and is known for value-oriented hearty red blends. The 2009 Arnoux Pere & Fils ($18) is chocked full of fruit, including blueberry, black cherries and red currants. There is the slightest hint of cedar on the back end of the finish. QPR 6.5
One of the most prominent producers in the Northern Rhone region is the Chave family, and their 2007 Jean-Louis Chave Crozes-Hermitage ($20) is one of the best values in red Rhone wines. It features a distinctive bouquet of candied cherries and dark plum on the nose, leading to flavors of ripe cherry and blueberry on the tongue. Hints of tobacco and cedar buoy the medium-bodied finish. QPR 8
Of course, no review of Rhone wines would be complete without mentioning at least one from the Chateauneuf du Pape appellation, and the 2009 Pere Caboche Chateauneuf du Pape ($25) is a solid value worth considering. This multi-varietal blend is supple and rich, with scents of berry fruit and cedar on the nose. Luscious flavors of black cherry, tobacco and Asian spices glide over the tongue on their way to a smooth, smokey finish. QPR 8.5
Note: QPR is a rating system that compares the quality a wine delivers relative to the price. A QPR of 10 is considered an excellent value.
