Aug. 25, 2020

Emma Egli

Don’t be intimidated by the label! This $7 French red is a steal and an affordable, introductory option for wines from Côtes-du-Rhône. French wines are labelled according to the region in which they are grown, not the grapes used to make the wine. In the future, I will make a cheat sheet for you to bring to the store so that you have a better idea of what to look for!

Côtes-du-Rhône is an AOC (appellation d'origine contrôlée – a defined area of land with a unique climate/soil) composed of Northern Rhône and Southern Rhône. It is in the southeast corner of France, just northwest of Provence! This wine is from Southern Rhône where the climate is warm, and the grapes have more time to develop into full bodied reds. Some of the most popular red wine grapes in this region are Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. In fact, these are the three grapes used in the blend of this wine! This classic trio is often found in red wines from California as well.

On the nose, there is a lot of cherry jam, clove and other dark spices. It is fairly simple and not overbearing. The wine on the palate is lacking flavor, but I did taste some cherry notes. Unlike big bold California reds or serious wines from Côtes-du-Rhône, this has a medium body. A fuller body and longer finish would have been a better representation of a traditional Côtes-du-Rhône red, but for $7, this is easily enjoyable. This wine would pair well with a diverse selection of foods. From hard cheeses to grilled meats and vegetables or even sushi, you can’t go wrong!