THE RED WINES OF THE RHONE VALLEY.
My mind flies back to a London restaurant when a friend took the wine list, “Blimey”, he gasped as he scanned the prices. Check the Rhone Valley I suggested. A smile returned. Be it red or white, as the Rhone Valley is not as well-known as Bordeaux or Burgundy, they have far happier price tags.
The Rhone Valley vineyards follows the River Rhone as it flows from Lyon, through Avignon to the Mediterranean. And, it’s simple, they’re divided into the Northern Rhone and the Southern Rhone, the former extending between Lyon and Valence, the latter from Montelimar, past Avignon to the Mediterranean.
The steep granite slopes of the Northern Rhone suit the single red grape variety, Syrah, down to the ground.
As is often the case in France, the wines are named after the village and helpfully the village name is on the front label. Typically French, you’ll have to scan the back label to discover the grape varieties.
In the Northern Rhone, the villages of Cote Rotie and Hermitage carry big price tags but St. Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage and Cornas are happier hunting grounds. My friend ordered St. Joseph, “deep red colour with purple tinge, blackberry aromas and flavours with pepper, spice overtones”, he explained. The other guests just kept talking!
The warmer, flatter terrain of the Southern Rhone calls for different grape varieties so Grenache takes centre stage with Cinsault, Mourvedre and Syrah in the supporting roles. Cotes du Rhone and Cotes du Rhone Villages reds are generally sourced from the southern vineyards and offer great value as do the village wines of Lirac. Costieres de Nimes, Cotes du Ventoux and Luberon are still under the radar and offer good value but, that said, the price tags have started to ‘go north’.
The ‘cru’ wines of Gigondas and Vacqueyras offer good ‘black fruit’ value but be careful, Chateauneuf du Pape’s global popularity will be reflected in the price tag.
My friend ordered St. Joseph and Vacqueyras in the restaurant and on the way home popped into a wine shop to buy a bottle of …. Crozes-Hermitage Blanc! But more about the white wines of the Rhone Valley in the next blog.
