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Cotes du Rhone
Cotes du Rhone is a catch-all appellation for red, white and rosé wine made along the Rhône river from Saint-Cyr-sur-le-Rhône (near Lyon) to Avignon, which the valley follows to the sunny coast of Provence.
171 villages can label their wine under the umbrella appellation for 30,000 hectares of vines spread across the departments of Ardèche, Bouches du Rhône, Drôme, Gard, Loire, and Vaucluse - The area is the second largest French AOC after Languedoc.
A unique set of over 20 native grape varieties, including the acclaimed Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Viognier, allow winemakers to make astounding blended wines with Rhône’s unique personality. The weather in the arid, sun-drenched valley comes through in every glass of Cotes du Rhone wine as flavour intensity and depth.
The Cotes du Rhone appellation is also the first step in a long road to more prestigious quality tiers. Excelling communes can be upgraded to Cotes du Rhone Villages level and eventually add their name to the appellation. They can then finally aspire to get their own AOC and join the ranks of appellations as renowned as Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes de Venise and the most recent, Cairanne.
Production
The Cotes du Rhone appellation covers the entire Northern and Southern Rhône Valleys, although it’s almost only used in the south or Rhône Méridional from Montélimar to Avignon. The narrower northern Rhône is dominated by already established AOCs as well-known as Hermitage and the Côte-Rôtie.
Cotes du Rhone wines are always a product of blending grapes; the producers in the region have mastered the art of blending varietals that make the most out of every grape. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre are the most prevalent red grapes, with Grenache making the most of the blend, at least 40% by law. This is the famous GSM blend known and imitated worldwide.
Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, and Viognier must make the most of any white blended wine, and neither the white nor the red wine see any extended ageing. Large foudres or more modern stainless-steel or concrete tanks are preferred for Cotes du Rhone wines (new oak barrels are also rarely used). The Cotes du Rhone allows for red, white and rosé wines, with predominately 84% red, and only 10% reserved for rosé and 6% for white - In all, that’s three million hectolitres of wine produced every year by over 5,000 grape growers and wineries.
Grape Varieties and Blends
The warm weather and ancient history going back to pre-Roman times play a role in Rhône’s winemaking style. Still, it is ultimately the grape varieties that give the wine its vibrant and bold personality.
There are twelve white grapes grown within the Cotes du Rhone AOP: Bourbulenc, Clairette, Maccabeo, Marsanne, Picardan, Roussanne, Vermentino (Rolle), Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Muscat Blanc, Picpoul Blanc and Ugni Blanc.
There are also fifteen authorised red varieties: Grenache Gris, Grenache Noir, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan, Cinsault, Counoise, and the rarer Terret, Vaccarese, Clairette Gris, Red Muscat, Calitor, Marselan and Muscardin.
Some producers might champion more straightforward blends using just a few varieties, but others make the effort of using as many varietals as possible in their blending vats. Some grapes bring colour to the wine, others are structural, and some add unique scents to the blend.
Buy Cotes du Rhone AOC Wines from Hourlier Wines
Cotes de Rhone wines are top-rated in France and abroad, with the UK purchasing around 16% of the entire region’s exports. It’s thanks to tight relationships between ourselves and wine producers such as Domaine Chamfort and Domaine des Amadieu that we can bring you a wide variety of Côtes du Rhône wines from diverse villages and surrounding AOCs. Here’s a taste of what you can expect -
Cotes du Rhone: Domaine Chamfort Les Camassots
The historical Domaine Chamfort, under the new ownership of Vasco and Sonia, has seen an exponential increase in quality with wine in the Côte du Rhône level and neighbouring Vacqueyras, Sablet and Rasteau. This garnet-hued wine is a blend of 50% Grenache Noir, 40% Syrah, and 10% Cinsault. The wine displays lovely scents of black cherries, dried fruit, garrigue and earthy undertones over a polished palate with character and noticeable alcoholic warmth. Les Camassots is produced from 15-year-old vines and aged 12 to 18 months in concrete tanks for a picture-perfect rendition of the Rhône Valley. Enjoy with grilled meat, game, lamb and roasts.
Cotes du Rhone Villages: Domaine des Amadieu Red
Domaine Des Amadieu is a family-owned operation under the command of passionate Monsieur Houser. Small productions and a careful selection of pristine grapes from old vines in Côtes du Rhône Villages and Cairanne result in textural wine of immense fruit purity. The Domaine’s Côtes du Rhône Villages, a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Carignan, shows cranberries, dates and hints of chocolate over a rustic palate of round tannins and a balanced acidity extending into the aftertaste. Enjoy with hearty stews, casseroles, hard cheese, roasted poultry and grilled meat.
FAQ
Where does Cotes du Rhone AOC wine originate?
Any producer within the Northern and Southern Rhone Valleys in South-eastern France can label their wine as Côte du Rhône. The area surrounding the ancient Rhône River is known for its varied soil and sun-drenching warm climate that ripens grapes to perfection.
What does Cotes du Rhone AOC wine taste like?
Producers at Cotes de Gascogne can make rosé, white and red wine. The white wine is the most impressive for the fresh Atlantic winds that cool down the vineyards. Expect the rosé to be light and fruity, the white wine to be utterly refreshing, and the red wine to be bold and robust.
Which food groups pair well with Cotes de Rhone AOC wine?
Most of the Cotes du Rhone is red, and it’s a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and others. Expect bold fruit flavours, elevated alcohol, rusticity and a pastoral charm unique to Southern France.
