Rhône Valley Wine

Winemaker Description

Deep and dark red. Shiny. Aromas of fresh fruits with red berries and spices. Full, round and racy. Rounded and smooth tannins. A full-bodied, rich and intensely aromatic wine. Full with a long finish and plenty of elegance and finesse due to the well balanced tannins and fruit.

Pair with cold meats, meat, game bird and cheese.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Jeb Dunnuck writes | Leading off the 2020s, the 2020 Côtes Du Rhône is up-front, ripe, and textured, with pretty, medium-bodied aromas and flavors of cherries, flowers, and peppery herbs. It has a soft, elegant mouthfeel and is undeniably delicious.

Joe Czerwinski writes |  Significantly impacted by its elevated Syrah content, Guigal's 2020 Cotes du Rhone boasts expressive aromas of blackberries and blueberries, backed by ample black cherries. It's full-bodied yet supple and fluid, easy to drink and enjoy, with enough black olive and earth notes to ground it and keep it from being a simple fruit bomb.  Drinking 2024 0 2030.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 90 Points 

Stuart Pigott writes |  An impressive Cotes-du-Rhone with stacks of blackberry and black raspberry fruit wrapped around a core of moderately dry tannins on the bold palate. Long self-confidently dry finish. A cuvee of 50% syrah, 45% grenache and 5% mourvedre. Drink now. James Suckling 90 Points 

Tina Gellie, Anne Krebieh MW, Michaela Morris write |  Modern, lifted and a bit heady, but attractive and evocative. Black cherry inkiness segues into a dense palate where all the fruit is crammed into a structured body with drying tannins. Herbs and stones hemmed in by a firm grip. A good all rounder. Nominated by Thierry Meyer.  Drinking 2024 - 2030.  - Decanter 90 Points 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Winemaker Description 

Seductive translucent pale-yellow color with delicate green reflections. This wine opens up with a very expressive nose with beautiful aromas combining floral and mineral notes. Well balanced and dense, the palate has a powerful attack and reveals superb aromas of lemon, bergamot and hawthorn before ending with a long finish. 

Producer Description 

Pretty limpid-purple color, with violet undertones. The nose reveals a seductive aromatic bouquet with notes of red fruit such as blackcurrants and blueberries mixed with notes of leather and violet. The palate is full of freshness and well balanced with aromas of very ripe fruit, pepper and elderberries with very soft tannins giving this wine great drinkability.

Winemaker Description 

La Vieille Ferme Rosé 2023 is a fresh and lively wine that captures the essence of a classic Provence-style rosé. On the nose, it greets with a fragrant bouquet of red berries, including wild strawberries and raspberries, alongside delicate notes of white peach, citrus zest, and a hint of rose petals.

The palate is light and crisp, offering flavors of ripe red fruits, juicy watermelon, and a touch of pink grapefruit, all balanced by a refreshing acidity. A subtle minerality adds depth and complexity, leading to a clean, dry finish that is both refreshing and satisfying. This 2023 vintage is the perfect companion for warm-weather sipping, embodying the bright, easygoing character that makes rosé such a beloved choice for casual enjoyment.

Expert Reviews (2022 Vintage) 

Jeb Dunnuck writes 92 Points | Based on equal parts Syrah and Grenache brought up in used oak, the 2022 Côtes du Rhône Mon Coeur is a little gem of a wine offering loads of sweet kirsch and darker berry fruits as well as some peppery Provençal herb and spice-driven aromas and flavors. It's medium to full-bodied, has wonderful purity, and a great finish. It's perfect for drinking over the coming 4-6 years.  Drinking 2024 to 2030.

Kristen Bieler of the Wine Spectator writes 90 Points | Lush and generous, with a lot of intensity and a floral lift to the notes of raspberry coulis and crushed cherry, this turns firm and structured on the palate, with grippy tannins and iron minerality driving the long finish. A hedonist's red, with a lot of warmth, weight and power. Syrah and Grenache. Drink now through 2028. 

Winemaker Description

Beautiful intense and deep red color with purple reflections. This wine opens up with a powerful, very expressive empyreumatic nose with toasted notes, undergrowth and mushrooms such as truffles subtly mixed with aromas of kirsch. On the palate, it shows elegance with fine tannins that balance the opulent notes of very ripe black fruit and typical Syrah spices with a superb long finish. Serve with beef, lamb and poultry.

Expert Reviews

Natalie Earl of Decanter writes 92 Points |  A Côtes du Rhône that is packed full of bright plump fruit, blueberries, sweet sticky cherries, this has a really turbo-charged fruit profile. Tasty and sweet-fruited, it's fairly rich but still fresh enough for more than one glass. A medium tannic structure lends support to this tasty, loveable wine.  Drinking 2024 to 2027.  - Decanter 92

James Suckling writes 91 Points | Refined on the nose with cherries, blueberries, herbs and warm spices. Medium body with very fine tannins. Textural and velvety with poise and vitality. Flavorful finish with a peppery lift. Drink now. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | Mostly Viognier (55%) but with other permitted white varieties, the 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Blanc has a medium-bodied, vibrant, pure style to go with lovely peach and tangerine-like aromas and flavors. Drink this outstanding, classy white over the coming 2-3 years. I never cease to be amazed at the quality of the Côtes du Rhône white from this team, especially given the quantities produced.

Winemaker Description 

Yellow gold, clear and brilliant. Freshness on the nose marked by the distinctive aromas of Viognier; white flowers, apricot, acacia and white peach. On the palate it is fruity with plenty of richness and body. A well-rounded wine with elegance, strength and balance.

Winemaker Notes 

The new release of our custom Côtes du Rhône is just in, and it’s a good one! This cuvée dates back to the ’80s, when Kermit found an inexpensive source of delicious everyday Côtes du Rhône, and it has been among our best-sellers every year since its inception. We make our blend from a large selection of different wines: a dozen or more tanks are often presented, and countless combinations are tested over the course of several grueling hours in the cellar. At the end, it often comes down to adjusting a half-percentage of this or a smidge of that. Every drop counts!

The 2022 vintage of this wine is very Rhôney—it tastes exactly how Côtes du Rhône should taste. It’s as if the hot summer concentrated the herbal essences of the region’s wild vegetation—la garrigue—giving it a lovely savory note to contrast with its chewy, ripe, mouth-filling fruit. You might also find a stony impression suggestive of the Rhône’s famous riverbed stones, which cover the vineyards.There is enough tannin for it to shine with roasted lamb, should you opt for a regional pairing, but not too much that you can’t gulp it just for the sake of gulping. The finish is surprisingly long and full of perfume.

Our final blend this year features Syrah and Grenache, with a touch of Mourvèdre and other local grapes. We ask for it unfiltered, because we think the extra aroma and flavor is well worth a little bit of sediment.

Winemaker Description

Deep color. Very expressive and complex nose with red fruits aromas. The mouth is rich with fines tannins and well-structured with cherry, plum and chocolate aromas. The finish is lightly spicy. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

Jeb Dunnuck writes 88-90 Points | The 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Reserve checks in as 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah that's mostly from the limestone soils in Lirac. Blackberries, ripe cherries, peppery herbs, and floral notes all show, and it's medium-bodied, has a balanced, elegant mouthfeel, fine tannins, and a great finish. Readers looking for an impeccably made, high-quality Côtes Du Rhône to drink over the coming 5-6 years or more should grab some.  - Jeb Dunnuck 

Joe Czerwiński of the Wine Advocate writes | The tank-aged 2022 Cotes du Rhone Reserve Mont Redon is mostly from the Gard, with other components from Valreas and Tulette. Blended just before my summer visit last year, it's 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah, with energetic aromas of black olives, black berries and black cherries. Medium to full-bodied in the mouth, it's round, soft and easy to drink. Enjoy it over the next few years. 

Matt Walls of Decanter writes |   Good depth of colour, really quite dark in the glass. Savoury mulberry, blackberry aromas, good sense of freshness. A very classic expression of Côtes du Rhône with good concentration and structure – no hurry to drink this. The tannins are just a little gruff perhaps, but you wouldn't notice with some hearty food. The word Réserve on the label means the wine is made from bought grapes (possibly supplemented by estate fruit). 

2Winemaker Description

An intense wine with blackcurrant and raspberry notes complemented by notes of white pepper. Powerful and fruity on the palate with lovely roasted notes, and silky, delicate tannins. Winemaker Description.

Expert Reviews 

90 Points James Suckling | Plenty of crunchy red berries and cherries on the nose with dark cherries, dried thyme and peppercorns. Medium body with firm tannins. Juicy fruit at the center with structure and a vibrant core of peppercorns to the finish. (2022). 

89 Points Jeb Dunnuck | Black raspberries, juicy cherries, peppery garrigue, and violet notes all emerge from Chapoutier's 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Belleruche, a medium-bodied, fleshy, balanced, straight-up delicious. (2022). 

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Description

Cherry mixed with raspberries put together in a medium to full-bodied well made Cotes-du-Rhone. A sweet touch of licorice enhance the beautiful palate. A mouth-filling wine in a pure Rhône style.

Winemaker Description

Certified organic by Ecocert, Perrin Nature is not only an organic Côtes-du-Rhône but also a great wine. Using our experience in organic farming at Beaucastel (one of the first big estates to turn to organic farming 40 years ago), this wine is a beautiful expression of fruit with delicate and soft tannins.

Tasting Beautiful clear and shiny ruby-red color. This wine opens up with a very expressive nose with notes of black fruit and undergrowth highlighted by a beautiful freshness with notes of eucalyptus. Generous and balanced, the palate extends these beautiful aromas supported by an elegant tannic structure, before offering a long finish with delicate notes of aniseed.

Food pairings Roast venison with porcini mushrooms and mocha gravy, dark chocolate mousse and chili.

Winemaker Description

It is a delicious and supple wine, synonymous with sharing and conviviality, adapting perfectly to meat dishes in sauces or more simply grilled. Its aromas make it a Châteauneuf-du-Pape accessible to many tasters, from beginners to the most experienced. 

Expert Review

Nicolas Greinacher writes:  Ripe red fruits, dried herbs and a pinch of white pepper introduce the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It is pale, ruby-colored, medium to full-bodied and concentrated. Inviting and round, this 2021 red is neatly balanced by refreshing acidity and closes with a bright finish.  Drinking 2024 - 2033. - Vinous 90

Winemaker Description

Les Deux Albions is one of the outstanding wines of Louis Barruol’s collection and highlights the exceptional value that can still be found in the Côtes-du-Rhône category. The wine combines depth, structure, and finesse with aromas and flavors of roasted game, mesquite, and olive, crushed plum, and black currants.

Expert Ratings

James Suckling 92 points "Textured, layered and focused. It expresses notes of dark berries, roasted meat, warm spices, bay leaves and some dried thyme. Medium-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Plenty of energy, focus and structure. More compact toward the finish."

Wine Spectator 91 points "This seductive red offers a lot to like, with ripe red fruit and toasted aniseed notes showing an invigorating layer of white and black pepper through the harmonious, medium- to full-bodied frame. Hints of black tea and iron shavings add energy. Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Clairette."

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

Kristen Bieler of the Wine Spectator writes 92 Points | This offers real aromatic beauty, with incense, violets and red currant flavors melded with a layer of finely crushed graphite. Chalk-fine tannins guide the medium-length finish, adding nice chewiness. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Drink now through 2032. 

Stuart Pigott of JamesSuckling.com writes 93 Points | This generous and well-structured 2021 Chateauneuf has excellent raspberry and strawberry aromas for the challenging vintage, plus notes of floral aromas. Surprisingly fine tannins, too. Still very youthful and in need of a bit of time in bottle to reach ideal harmony, but the freshness at the finish is already delightful. A cuvee 75% grenache, 10% syrah, 10% mourvedre and 5% cinsault that were co-fermented, then matured in foudre. Drinkable now, but best from 2024. 

Jeb Dunnuck writes 92 Points |  The 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape is a solid effort in the vintage. A normal blend of mostly Grenache with 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, with a splash of Cinsault, it has a beautiful perfume of ripe cherries, fresh strawberries, sappy green flowers, and peppery garrigue. This carries to a medium-bodied, layered, elegant Châteauneuf with fine tannins, a beautiful overall sense of balance, and outstanding length. It shows the fresh, pretty, nuanced style of the vintage and is a beautiful wine to enjoy over the coming decade. It's in the same ballpark as the 2008.  Drinking 2023 to 2033.

Nicolas Greinacher of Vinous writes 91 Points | Checking in at 14.83% alcohol, the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a refined and predominately red-fruited beauty. Licorice and herbaceous components add more dimension. Framed by gentle tannins and more medium- than full-bodied, the 2021 ends with a bright finish.  Drinking 2025 to 2036.

Matt Walls of Decanter writes 93 Points | A smoky style that’s a touch herbal and meaty. Towards full-bodied, with good weight and texture. Quite a saline expression, ending on crisp raspberry acidity and quite strict tannins. Will always be a lean style, but should make interesting old bones.  Drinking 2025 to 2034.  -

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Winemaker Description 

The old vines of Domaine Grand Romane are located on the highest part of the family vineyard, 400 m above sea level. Facing northwest, these hillsides dominated by upper Cretaceous sandstone limestone and sandy marl, offer power and concentration. 

On the nose there are aromas of black fruit (blackcurrant and black cherry) and red fruits (raspberry and redcurrant) stewed with a hint of vanilla which meet savory notes of thyme, laurel and black olives on the palate. Powerful tannins fill the mouth with notes of spicy licorice and pepper for a long and satisfying finish. An astonishing balance of complexity, power and elegance. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

91 Points Wine Spectator | This seduces with a nose of honeysuckle blossoms, green pineapple and star fruit, with creamed honey and chamomile in the background. Offers green herb accents and pink grapefruit acidity that rein in the open-knit palate, keeping this light on its feet. Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne. 

Winemaker Description 

Clay soils formed from the decomposition of the limestone mother rock and on soils of a sandy texture.

Easily the best wine for pairing with Lobster but also delicious with other seafood, puff-pastries, white meats, or goat cheeses. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Ratings

Matt Walls, Cat Lomax, Tanguy Martin of Decanter writes 91 Points | Open, expressive and lively. The palate is laced with savoury herbaceousness, green tea and apricot. Plump, ripe and lush on the finish.  Drinking 2023 - 2025.

Josh Raynolds of Vinous writes 91 Points | Deep violet color. Lush, spice- and smoke-tinged dark berries and a floral nuance on the fragrant nose. Juicy and seamless in the mouth, offering appealingly sweet blueberry and cherry flavors and hints of candied licorice and smoky bacon. The blue fruit note resonates on a long, smooth finish, where subtle tannins add final grip.  Drinking 2025 - 2033.

Winemaker Description

One of the most coveted brands in the Rhône Valley, Maison Ferraton offers us this fabulous cuvée at entry-level prices! At the blind tasting, among many others of its Denomination of Origin, this wine surprised all our experts with its irresistible value for money! 

Its tannins and fruitiness make it a cuvée to be discovered immediately!

The domain is mentioned in the Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France 2021 (RVF) and rated 3 stars in the Guide Bettane et Desseauve 2021.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

Critic Notes

Alistair Cooper MW of Jancis Robinson writes 16.5 Points | Tasted blind. Pure strawberry fruit on the nose, rosemary and thyme. Sweet and supple mid palate with a lovely savoury meaty note behind. Excellent energy drives this wine, juicy, fresh and really appealing!   Drinking 2024 to 2030.

Matt Walls of Decanter writes 91 Points | Fine and pretty, precise red berry fruits. Brisk, balanced, and drinkable. Enjoyable zingy acidity. Small but perfectly formed for a 2021 Gigondas. Mostly destemmed, natural yeasts, no acidification.  Drinking 2023 to 2028.

Nicolas Greinacher of VInous writes 91 Points | The 2021 Gigondas Cuvée Tradition 1871 checks in at a moderate 13.7% alcohol. Cropped at 26hL/Ha, it offers shy red fruit aromatics but really comes alive on the palate. Solid flavor concentration flawlessly matches the energizing acidity, all tucked into a corset of gently sculpted tannins. The finish of this 2021 red is distinctively elegant. This spent one year in a combination of concrete tanks and foudres.  Drinking 2024 to 2031. 

Winemaker Description

All the grapes are hand-harvested, from severely-pruned, low-yielding vines. The red Crozes-Hermitage grapes are not destemmed, i.e. 100% whole-cluster. They are loaded into lined concrete vats, and temperatures are brought down to 18°C for a 2 to 5 day pre-fermentation maceration. Once vinifications (indigenous yeast) get going, temperatures rise to 30°C, and cuvaison lasts 15 to 21 days. Aged for one year - 80% of them in one to 3 year old oak barrels, the remaining 20% in vat. They are given a light filtration but no fining before bottling.

Expert Ratings 

James Suckling 94 Points |  A very pure and floral nose with cherries, violets and plums as well. Medium body with velvety tannins and bright acidity. Such a succulent core of redcurrants and violets with minerality and a transparent character to the focused finish. Drink or hold. (2021). 

Wine Spectator 90 Points | Shows appealing sanguine, meaty character, with a core of steeped plum and a firming spine of iron. Well-defined, with chalky tannins, dried herbs, lavender and toasted apple wood. Drink now through 2030. 2,500 cases made, 500 cases imported. (2021). 

Expert Review

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | A magnificent red color with deep purple accents. From the 1st nose, it reveals its finesse and elegance. Notes of blackberries, blackcurrant and black cherries ripped under the sun of Vaucluse. Seductive, rich attack with delicate and integrated tannins. Its aromatic finale starts with spicy notes of nutmeg and clove, then develops a subtle perfume of violets and liquorice. (2019).

Winemaker Description 

The Côtes-du-Rhône Reserve is more serious effort than the regular Côtes-du-Rhône bottling that showcases the estate’s ability to marry richness with finesse. Moderately tannic and endowed with a beautiful structure, this Côtes-du-Rhône develops greedy notes of fresh fruit (crushed strawberry, blackberry) on their crunchiness, supported by a hint of licorice.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  Leading off the reds and mostly Grenache, with small amounts of Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignan, and Cinsault, the 2020 Côtes du Rhône has outstanding aromatics of darker berry fruits, violets, and peppery herbs. It’s balanced, has silky tannins, and is going to represent a great value.  Jeb Dunnuck 90

Joe Czerwiński writes:  A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault, the 2020 Cotes du Rhone features slightly floral, rose-like scents, plus hints of garrigue and black cherries. Medium to full-bodied, it's silky and approachable, a charming, fruit-forward wine to drink over the next 5 years or so.  Drinking 2021 to 2026.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 

James Suckling writes:  The floral side of the grenache grape gives this generous but very nicely balanced Cotes-du-Rhone a lot of charm, and when it leaps onto your palate it steadily gains in depth, thanks to the gentle tannins that build nicely. Wet-earth and warm terra-cotta notes add interest at the polished finish. Drink now.  - James Suckling 91

Kristen Bieler writes:  Ripe and rich, with up-front blackberry and warm plum paste interwoven with singed alder, cured meat and a spicy kick of anise and pepper to close things out. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2025.  - Wine Spectator 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 91 Points | Candied cherries, sweet cranberries and a touch of stewed herbs. Lightly chewy in terms of tannins, with a fluid center palate and a medium-length finish. A bit overripe, but approachable. A good, simple Chateauneuf that shows early appeal.

Winemaker Description

It is a delicious and supple wine, synonymous with sharing and conviviality, adapting perfectly to meat dishes in sauces or more simply grilled. Its aromas make it a Châteauneuf-du-Pape accessible to many tasters, from beginners to the most experienced.

This wine displays a deep red hue with ruby tints and notes of sun-ripened black fruit on the nose. The palate offers a velvety texture and spicy notes underpinned by ripe black fruit, blackcurrants and black cherries.

A more modern take on the traditional Côtes du Rhône style, this wine combines structure, freshness and smooth tannins. It has a seductively elegant, intense and long-lingering finish.

Winemaker Description 

The nose reveals scents of garrigue and licorice, the palate is on raspberries and cherries with its lingering and peppery finish. 

Winemaker Description

Dark ruby red in color, this well-balanced, airy, and elegant wine offers vibrant notes of raspberries, black currant, ripe cherries, bay leaves, and pepper with fine and silky tannins.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 92 Points | A round and fruity red with plenty of cherries, wild berries, dried herbs and baking spices. Medium body with fine tannins. Velvety with a caressing texture and a flavorful, juicy finish. 

Our Professional Review

We first drank this Cote-du-Rhone at one of our favorite local restaurants Manny’s Bistro where I am addicted to the Magret de Canard (duck breast) and Dorothy loves the mussels Marinieres and Provencal. This medium bodied Rhone is fruit forward without being overwhelmed by the fruit, balanced acidity allows it to work with both the duck and the mussels and more it just is quaffable, happily we stroll home (-:

Critic Notes

Kristen Bieler writes: Delivers an inviting cascade of brambly berry flavors, which merge with chalky mineral accents and zippy acidic drive. A great everyday red for its refreshing profile and accessible mix of savory garrigue accents and bright fruit. Grenache and Syrah. Drink now. Wine Spectator

Winemaker Description

This Côtes du Rhône is full of fresh, juicy red fruit and a refreshing floral note. Its smoothness, freshness and delicate characteristics offer immediate pleasure.

Expert Ratings

Wine Advocate 93 Points | Marked by ripe cherries and hints of complex garrigue notes on the nose, it's full-bodied but also really elegant, with fine-grained, silky tannins, ample concentration and a long, surprisingly crisp finish. Barrel Sample: 93-95. 

Decanter 96 Points | Full, generous and broad. Acids are bright and vibrant, and there's a fine but dense weft of tannins through the wine. Great energy and salinity this year, this is particularly fine and balanced, with plenty of concentration and a long finish. All from La Crau and fermented in tronconic wood barrels. Élevage in foudre. Oldest Grenache bunches aren't destemmed.

James Suckling 96 Points | Such a deep and meaty nose with a slew of wild-herb, savory and subtle balsamic notes. Then comes the expansive and very concentrated palate, which reveals so many spicy nuances as it rolls over the palate, the stunning fine tannins pushing the finish out even further. A grenache-based blend from 60-year-old vines. Barrel Sample: 96-97

Winemaker Description

On the palate, it reveals a fresh attack followed by an ample, structured, long-lasting finish. The wine unfurls in successive stages and ends with top-quality tannins produced by whole cluster fermentation. It features aromas and flavors of smoked ham, violet, graphite, graphite, and licorice.

Expert Review

Winemaker Descripton

A blend of certified organic 55% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre. Complex aromas of red and black berries, revealing an elegant wine, deep with silky tannins. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

93 Points James Suckling | A well-crafted, aromatic and textural red.  It shows notes of dark berries, game, wild herbs, grilled meat and baking spices with some cloves.  Medium-bodied with fin tannings.  Layered and highly textural.  Spicy and well composed.

89 Points Wine Advocate | In a lighter year, the 2021 Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Maclura is a juicy, fresh, fun blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% each Cinsault and Mourvèdre. Notes of struck match and black olive lend a savory cast to the black cherry fruit, so it's not a simple, one-note wonder but a medium to full-bodied wine of reasonable complexity.

Producer Description 

Born under an Osage orange tree, the Cuvée Maclura Côtes du Rhône calls for the greediness of the fruit revealing a blend of spices with delicate tannins. Designed with respect for the traditions of the south, this cuvée is like our grandmothers’ cuisine : generous and full of life.