The Rhône Valley is a spectacular place to visit, and the source of some really good wine values. The vineyards of the Rhône Valley are some of the world’s oldest, dating back more than 2,000 years, and there are extraordinary Roman ruins throughout the region. For example, pictured above is the Roman theater in Orange that dates from the first century and is the largest surviving theater outside of Rome. It continues to host popular summer music festivals – pretty impressive when the typical modern stadium rarely sees its 100th birthday.
Today we’ll focus on basic Côtes du Rhône reds – just the thing if you’re looking for an inexpensive red to go with something from the grill. The Rhône Valley cranks out a lot of wine – it’s France’s second largest wine producing region – and more than 80 percent of that is classified as the basic “Côtés du Rhône” regional appellation. The wines are mostly red, made predominantly from blends of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes, although some white and rosé is produced. These are medium- to full-bodied, ripe, fruity reds made to drink young and that pair well with simpler red meat dishes and stews, and even tomato-based pastas. Quality and style can vary considerably, but if you stick with top producers, such as those mentioned below, you’ll find quality and value.
- Côtes du Rhône is the entry level AOC classification. The grapes can be sourced from anywhere in the Rhône Valley, but are predominantly from the south. These are easy drinking, food friendly, and the least expensive of the Rhône Valley wines. Our Wine of the Week, discussed below, is from this appellation.
- Côtes du Rhône Villages, a step up in quality and price, can only be produced from grapes grown in 95 specified villages, all located in the southern Rhône. These wines will be more concentrated and complex than the basic Cotes du Rhône. Twenty-one of the most highly regarded villages can append their name to the label, such as Cotes du Rhône-Seguret. Wines from the named villages tend to convey more of a sense of place than the lesser wines. Some of the top named villages are Sablet, Séguret, Valréas and Visan. The best of the named villages can be "promoted" to Cru over time, as happened with Cairanne in 2015.
- There are also 17 “Crus” that are at the top of the quality ladder, such as Châteauneuf du Pape. These are discussed in the Wine Concepts Rhône Valley primer.
Our wine of the week is a 2017 Domaine de la Janasse Côtés du Rhône Reserve ($14). This wine is a blend of mostly Grenache and Syrah, with lesser amounts of Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault. It has pleasant aromas of red fruit and a hint of spice. It’s full-bodied, with firm but not unpleasant tannins, spice and some wood notes. This is a somewhat intense wine – great with food but not so much to sip by itself. (In addition to meats and pasta, it goes nicely with Munster, Brie or Blue Cheese). It has 14.5 percent alcohol, and while not unduly high it is noticeable. This is a good value for the price point. Below are some other good options you might consider:
- Domaine de la Janasse makes a good Châteauneuf du Pape (about $75), if you’re looking to step it up a notch.
- Other good Côtes du Rhône producers include: Famille Perrin (Coudelet de Beaucastel), Guigal, Jean-Louis Chave and Chapoutier. Typically, the best of the Côtes du Rhône are the lesser wines of top-rated producers.
Cheers!