The Southern Rhône’s Value Play
While wine collectors and much of the wine press consistently focus their attention on the elite growing regions of the southern Rhône Valley, namely Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras, the vast majority of the region’s wines come from less-sexy locales. Not surprisingly, these bottlings are almost always priced more gently than their fancy, better-known cousins. Best of all, in many instances they offer stunning value.
As is the case throughout the southern Rhône, Grenache rules in blends, with percentages of the variety often far greater than the minimum required (typically 50%) by their respective appellations. At the same time, many of these vineyards experience cooler and often longer growing seasons than other areas, namely Châteauneuf-du-Pape, so they rely more heavily on the late-ripening Mourvèdre and Syrah. Maximum permitted yields are also higher than they are in the marquee appellations.
The result, as might be expected, is wines that are usually less opulent than those from the luxe neighborhoods, with lower alcohol levels and typically less complexity and ageworthiness. That’s great news for the vast majority of consumers, as most of these wines are drinkable on the young side, if not immediately upon release, even if the best examples will reward some cellaring. These wines are frequently bottled within a year of harvest, which means that a number of 2015s will soon be reaching export markets.
Vines and olive trees share space throughout the region, like here, in Beaumes-de-Venise
The best wines covered in this article come from appellations that have been awarded AOC status—now also called AOP (Appellation d'Origine Protégée), in accordance with EU standards, but old-timers like this writer are having a tough time making the bureaucrat-mandated language changeover. While there are a number of excellent wines being made that bear the simpler Côtes-du-Rhône Villages moniker (especially those from Sablet, Séguret, Valréas and Plan de Dieu), the overall standard of wines that have won AOP recognition (commonly called “crus”) are usually—or at least should be—of higher quality.
Of additional interest is that many of these wines are made by producers who are based in the big-time appellations, which means that these wines benefit from the care and attention that well-heeled, conscientious vignerons are able to lavish upon them. Of course, many extremely serious and talented growers and winemakers operate exclusively within the so-called “lesser” appellations covered in this article and even though their work doesn’t grab the attention given to their colleagues in the big three areas, it can often be at a similar level of dedication.
Main AOPs (Appellations d'Origine Protégées) Featured in this Article
Vinsobres
Situated well to the cooler north of most of the Southern Rhône’s growing areas, Vinsobres produces wines that often contain a healthy dose of Syrah, and they show it. The mandated blend here requires 50% Grenache, at least 25% Syrah and/or Mourvèdre, and the balance Cinsault, Carignan, Counoise, Vaccarèse, Picpoul Noir and Terret Noir, as well as permitted white varieties, which include Clairette, Clairette Rose, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Picpoul, Ugni Blanc, Viognier and Muscardin, but white grapes cannot make up more than 5% of the final blend.
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Although much attention is usually focused on the southern Rhône Valley’s elite areas – namely Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras – the vast majority of the region’s wines come from less-sexy locales. Not surprisingly, these bottlings are almost always priced more gently than their fancy, better-known cousins. Best of all, in many instances they offer stunning value.
Show all the wines (sorted by score)
Producers in this Article
- Alain Jaume & Fils
- André Brunel
- Boutinot
- Brotte
- Cave de Rasteau
- Château Beaubois
- Château d'Aqueria
- Château de Beaucastel
- Château de Manissy
- Château de Montfaucon
- Château de Nages
- Château de Ségriès
- Château des Tours
- Château d'Or et de Gueules
- Château du Trignon
- Château Grand Escalion
- Château Juvenal
- Château La Canorgue
- Château La Croix des Pins
- Château Le Devoy Martine
- Château Mas Neuf
- Château Mont-Redon
- Château Pégau
- Château Saint-Roch-Brunel
- Château Unang
- Chêne Bleu
- Clos du Mont-Olivet
- Cuvée du Vatican
- Delas Frères
- Domaine Alary
- Domaine Amido
- Domaine Catherine Le Goeuil
- Domaine Chantepierre
- Domaine Charvin
- Domaine d'Arbousset
- Domaine de Beaurenard
- Domaine de Bramadou
- Domaine de Cabasse
- Domaine de Coyeux
- Domaine de Crève Coeur
- Domaine de Cristia
- Domaine de Durban
- Domaine de Fenouillet
- Domaine de Fondrèche
- Domaine de Galuval
- Domaine de Gournier
- Domaine de la Bastide
- Domaine de la Becassonne
- Domaine de la Bouïsièrre
- Domaine de la Clapière
- Domaine de la Janasse
- Domaine de la Mordorée
- Domaine de la Petite Cassagne
- Domaine de la Presidente
- Domaine de la Vieille Julienne
- Domaine de l'Echevin
- Domaine de Longue Toque
- Domaine de l'Oratoire St. Martin
- Domaine de Marcoux
- Domaine de Piaugier
- Domaine des Accoles
- Domaine des Anges
- Domaine des Carteresses
- Domaine des Coteaux des Travers
- Domaine des Escaravailles
- Domaine des Maravilhas
- Domaine des Tours
- Domaine de Verquière
- Domaine du Grand Montmirail
- Domaine du Joncier
- Domaine du Pegau
- Domaine du Séminaire
- Domaine Fond Croze
- Domaine Gallety
- Domaine Gramenon
- Domaine Grande Bellane
- Domaine Grand Nicolet
- Domaine Grand Veneur
- Domaine Grosset
- Domaine Jean-David
- Domaine Juliette Avril
- Domaine L'Abbé Dîne
- Domaine La Consonnière
- Domaine La Florane
- Domaine Lafond Roc-Epine
- Domaine La Montagnette
- Domaine La Réméjeanne
- Domaine La Soumade
- Domaine le Renard
- Domaine Les Aphillanthes
- Domaine Les Eschaffins
- Domaine Les Grands Bois
- Domaine Maby
- Domaine Martinelle
- Domaine Pélaquié
- Domaine Pierre Rougon
- Domaine Pierre Usseglio
- Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils
- Domaine Richaud
- Domaine Roche
- Domaine Roche-Audran
- Domaine Roger Sabon
- Domaine Rouge-Bleu
- Domaine Rouvre Saint-Léger
- Domaine Saint-Damien
- Domaine Saint-Gayan
- Domaine Saint-Nicolas
- Domaine Saint-Préfert
- Domaine Saladin
- Domaine Soleyrade
- Domaine Valand
- Domaine Volcae
- Éric Texier
- Famille Bréchet
- Famille Perrin
- Famille Saurel
- Famille Tardieu (Tardieu-Laurent)
- Féraud-Brunel
- Ferraton Père & Fils
- Frederic & Daniel Brunier
- Gabriel Meffre
- Georges Lelektsoglou
- Grandes Serres
- Isabel de France
- Jean-Paul Daumen
- J.L. Chave Sélection
- Kermit Lynch
- La Bastide Saint-Dominique
- La Framboisière
- L'Ameillaud
- Laroche
- Latitude Wine
- Lavau
- La Vieille Ferme
- Le Clos des Grillons
- Le Clos du Caillou
- Les Ajustiers
- Les Coteaux de Fournès
- Les Garrigues
- Les Halos de Jupiter
- Les Hauts de Cairanne
- Les Vignerons de Tavel
- Louis Bernard
- Luc Baudet
- Maison Chapoutier
- Maison Nicolas Perrin
- Malmont
- Marius by Michel Chapoutier
- Mas Carlot
- Mas de Jallon
- Mas des Bressades
- Maurice & Nicolas Boiron
- Maxime-François Laurent
- Michel Gassier
- Mourgues du Grès
- M & S Ogier d'Ampuis
- Nicolas Boiron
- Olivier & Lafont
- Olivier Ravoire
- Patrick Galant
- Paul Jaboulet Aîné
- Petit Chapeau
- Pierre Amadieu
- Pierre-Henri Morel
- Pierre Vidal
- Prieuré de Montézargues
- Rotem & Mounir Saouma
- Saint-Cosme
- Sélection Laurence Féraud
- Simon Alexandre
- Vignobles Balma Venitia
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