Yahoo Lifestyle The 7 Best Rhône Valley Red Wines to Drink Now
The Rhône Valley is one of France’s—and the world’s—finest winemaking regions, but it is often overshadowed by Burgundy and Bordeaux. Its hot sunny days and rocky soils that retain heat at night offer an ideal climate for growing concentrated, intensely flavored grapes. In general, the northern Rhône is known for its bold Syrah based wines while the southern Rhône is better known for its Grenache based wines. The Greeks and Romans planted grapevines on the Rhone River’s steep slopes but the modern era of winemaking in the area only dates to the 18th century. Wine barrels were marked with the initials CDR for Côte du Rhône as early as 1737 and eventually the initials came to include the plural form of Côtes du Rhône as well.
Whether you are a Grenache lover or a Syrah fan, you can expect full-bodied wines with flavors of plum, black cherry, black currant, and black raspberry with hints of spice such as black pepper and anise. In addition, you’ll find strong tannins and bold acidity. These wines are built to age for decades, but they’re also delicious when drunk young. Here are the seven best Rhône Valley red wines to buy right now.
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Chateau de Saint Cosme 2022 Le Poste Gigondas Rhone France
Saint Cosme is one of the oldest winegrowing estates in the region and sits atop an ancient Roman villa. The earliest record of the estate was written by Jean de Chalon, Prince of Orange and dates back to 1416. It includes a description stating the “land was for the planting of vines on the Saint Cosme slopes.” The estate changed hands in 1570 when the Barruol family built the chateau which stands today. The chateau’s Le Poste Gigondas has aromas of black plum, black currant, and a touch of powdered cocoa that transfer seamlessly to the palate with flavors of tobacco leaf, anise, saddle leather, and ripe black fruits.
Domaine du Grand Montmirail 2017 Le Coteau de Mon Rêve Gigondas Rhone France
Yves Cheron learned winemaking in Gevrey-Chambertain under the tutelage of his grandfather Paul Misset and also studied oenology in Beaune. He currently produces wine in Gigondas and credits his Burgundian experience with his prowess in making fine Rhône bottles. With vines planted in the some of the same plots the Romans used in the 2nd century, he grows Grenache, Syrah, and their frequent blending partner Mourvedre. His Le Coteau de Mon Rêve is garnet colored in the glass with aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, and red plum. Flavors of cassis, tobacco leaf, and ripe red fruits are supported by a soft tannic structure.
Domaine Santa Duc 2020 Les Hautes Garrigues Gigondas Rhone France
The Domaine Santa Duc vineyards are planted in the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirial mountains and are composed of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Cinsault. Benjamin Gras makes excellent wines using a combination of minimal intervention, biodynamic principles, whole cluster vinification, and wild yeast fermentation. He also chooses to bottle his wines un-filtered. His Les Hautes Garrigues is garnet colored with aromas of red plum, black cassis, and a touch of warm earth. It is juicy and full bodied in the mid palate with flavors of black cherry, dried plum, and a touch of lifted eucalyptus in the finish.
Domaine de la Janasse 2020 Cuvée Chaupin Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rhone France
Aimé Sabon was raised taking care of his father’s vines and harvesting grapes that were sold to a local wine cooperative but in 1976 he built his own winery and named it after the town his family came from. He started out with 37 acres and grew his holdings over time. His son Christophe currently farms 222 acres, and his granddaughter Isabelle is the winemaker. Domaine de la Janasse 2020 is garnet-ruby colored with aromas of violet petals, black raspberry, and dried Mediterranean herbs. It offers full mouthfeel, velvety tannins and flavors of cassis, black currant, black tea, and red raspberry.
Bosquet des Papes 2019 Cuvée Chante Le Merle Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rhone France
Emmanuel Boiron planted the first vines on his newly acquired estate in 1860. His son Joseph-Victor worked with him for years and eventually the estate was turned over to his grandson Joseph and then to his great-grandson Maurice, who represented the fourth generation. The Boiron family is currently in their fifth generation of winemakers and today they farm 66 acres in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Joseph is responsible for creating the Chantemerle clos in 1936 and Maurice is credited with renaming the estate “Bosquet des Papes” in 1966. Cuvée Chante Le Merle 2019 is cherry red in the glass with aromas of blackberry, cassis, and new car leather. Extremely soft tannins support flavors of ripe black currant, black plum, and a touch of forest floor. Drink now or enjoy over the next two decades.
Chateau de Rouanne 2019 Les Cotes Vinsobres Rhone France
Now owned by Louis Barruol, Chateau de Rouanne is in the Vinsobres appellation in the most northern part of the Southern Rhône. Kept cool by a nighttime wind that originates in the Alps, it has lower temperatures than most of the southern Rhone appellations. The name Rouanne is derived from the name of the original Roman owner, “Rugius” and the estate consists of 177 acres, of which 62 acres are under vine. Louis Barruol’s 2019 has aromas of black cherry, cocoa powder, and freshly ground black pepper with flavors of saddle leather, forest floor, ripe raspberry, and cassis. Cashmere tannins and well-integrated acidity linger into a satisfying finish.
Domaine Combier 2021 Clos de Grives Crozes-Hermitage Rhone France
Camille Combier purchased seven acres of vines and 10 acres of apricot trees in 1936 and in 1960, his son Maurice and his wife Palette bought land in the neighboring town. Today Maurice and Palette’s son Laurent and his wife Ghislaine are the current stewards of the property and now manage 12 acres of vines and 37 acres of fruit trees. They use organic principles for both their vines and trees and create delicious Crozes-Hermitage wines. Their Clos de Grives 2021 is ruby garnet colored with aromas of black plum, cassis, and powdered cocoa. Flavors of ripe black fruits, black licorice, and tobacco leaf transfer seamlessly to the palate with a burst of bright acidity in the finish.
