By Dwight Casimere
France’s Rhone Valley is a treasure trove of rich, flavorful wines that often fly under the radar of many wine lovers who lavish attention on better-known wine regions such as Bordeaux. They’re missing out on some of the most versatile and affordable French wines available.
Often characterized by their intense red fruit flavors, dominated by candied strawberries, raspberries and captivating red licorice, Rhone Valley Reds are often called ‘light’ as red wines go. However, that can be a misnomer as they display intensely powerful fruit flavors and a subtle blend of violets and sweet herbs that makes them perfect for summertime.
Dominated by Grenache and Syrah, Rhone Valley red blends can be a showcase for a mixture of native grapes, such as Mourvedre, Counoise, and Cinsault.
Chateau Pesquie Silica 2019 ($38) is a spirited Rhone blend from the Chaudière family of the highland vineyards located on the face of Mont Ventoux in Vaucluse above the Rhone Valley. Listed as a UNESCO Biosphere reserve due to its rare diversity of flora and fauna, it displays everything from Mediterranean flowers and herbs to walnut trees, pines and beech trees.
The heady mix of aromas and flavors, combined with careful small barrel aging makes this blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Cinsault informed by sandy soil with small rocks an absolute delight with summer barbecues, soft cheeses and refreshing salads.
Cave Saint Desirat Septentrio Saint-Joseph 2020-$18 is by contrast an extremely intense, complex Syrah wine that offers concentrated flavors of dark fruit, shaved cinnamon stick and cloves more suited to a well-aged steak or leg of rack of lamb cooked just to rare over the coals. Slathered in olive oil and Herbs of Provence, the beef or lamb will make you think you’re one of the locals! The meal, combined with this wine will make you feel that you are idling in the lavender covered fields of the Rhone Valley.
A side of mixed wild mushrooms or giant Porta Bella mushrooms stuffed with Gorgonzola and grilled giant asparagus spears, make for an elegant dinner that shows off the careful barrel aging that makes this a connoisseurs delight.
The name ‘Septentrio’ refers to its place of origin in the northern Rhone. ‘Septentrio’ is Latin for ‘north.’
Rich with flavors of concentrated blackberries hints of black pepper and subtle back notes of vanilla and hazelnuts, this is an elegant wine that finishes with a distinct flourish.
Rhone Valley wines invite a deep dive into their many variations. The Rhone Valley offers stunning wines at affordable prices. Visit cotesdurhone.com.