Côtes du Rhône, Il Fait Soif 2018, Maxime-François Laurent, France

Region: Côtes-du-Rhône. His vines are significantly further north than a typical Côtes-du Rhône, bringing more freshness.

Viticulture: Organic, biodynamic vineyards of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah.

Vinification: Whole cluster (stems included) fermentation in cement cuves, elevage in stainless steel.

Tasting: Big wine. Powerful. 14.5% alcohol. However, the nose has surprising restraint. None of the jammy, sugary fruit that so many hot wines fall victim to.

The nose is cherry, kirsch, hot spices, and a hint of smoky, savoury earthiness perhaps coming from the 20% Syrah. The palate is round, rich, powerhouse, with medium tannins, and a clear, linear acidity balancing the heaviness. Good wine!

 

This is a great pair for lamb and grilled meats. But beware: this wine will not be good with mezzes. Big grenache and vegetables = bitter.

Côtes du Rhône-Villages-Sainte-Cécile, Cuvée Marguerite 2017, Vin de Blaise, France

This Cotes-du-Rhone is from a tiny producer near Cairanne called Le Vin de Blaise. Blaise was the great grandfather of the vigneronne, who planted grapes over a century ago on the family farm.

The wine is true to the Rhône, made up of an old vine trio of Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan. I suspect there is a high proportion of Syrah, do to the dark peppery spices, and the structure of the acidity. A Grenache based wine is often very aromatic, but can tend towards flabby sweet fruit, of which there is none here. Instead, the classic kirsch is undergirded by dark black fruit, pepper, and spices. Mouthwatering acidity joins moderate tannins. Passe partout.

Région: Côtes du Rhône-Villages

Geographical Designation: Sainte-Cecile

Grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Carignan

Vinification: Natural fermentation in concrete, élevage in old oak. Low sulfites.

Tasting: Dark fruit, Kirsch, Pepper, Anise, Cool spices. Medium body. High acidity.

Here we in very familiar territory in the Rhône. A word on appellations. There are 18 appellations in the Southern Rhône, the most famous of which is Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the very first appellation in all of France, established in 1936. You’re also familiar with Ventoux, Cairanne, Vacqueyras, Gigondas, Tavel etc. These are all villages in the Rhône which gained full appellation status in the AOC system. Sainte-Cecile is a village as well, but does not have its own appellation. Instead it exists as a “geographic designation” within the umbrella of the ‘Côtes du Rhône-Villages’ appellation. This is all rather complicated, notoriously so, so don’t stress too hard.

Crozes Hermitage, Tradition 2017, Yann Chave, France

Region: Rhône Nord

Sub-Region: Crozes-Hermitage

Vinification: Organic. Wine made in stainless steel.

Tasting: The wine is purple, Syrah coloured. Nose is dark, with, blackberry, prunes, and a loootttttt of pepper and fatty smoked meat. Meaty. Palate is clean, fairly light but with structure, peppery and meaty.

Pairings:

Mozat

Makdous

Kabab d’Alep

Humus Lahme/Mushroom

Friki

Mixed Grill

Cairanne, Réserve des Seigneurs 2017, Oratoire St Martin, France

Region: Southern Rhone

Appellation: Cairanne

Find Cairanne!

Grapes: Roussane, Grenache Blanc, Clairette

Vinification: Wild fermentation in old concrete. Low sulfuring.

Tasting: Light color with gold flecks. Stone fruits on the nose, a touch of floral honey, a bit of minerality. Palate is broad, medium acid with a fairly long finish and a bit of grip. The honeyed stone fruit continues with some bitter herbs, Rhone classic. Delicious.

Côtes-du-Rhône, Nature 2017, Clos du Caillou, France

Region: Rhône

Subregion: Côtes du Rhône (near Ch9).

Grapes: 75% Grenache – 20% Carignan – 5% Mourvèdre

Vinification: Whole cluster fermentation in Stainless Steel, no sulphur.

Tasting: Classic enough Rhone red: jammy fruit (blueberries, kirsch, plum), with violets and cinnamon. The palate is soft and velvety, and the kirsch and cooked plum is accentuated. Lifted out of sweetness by a nice natural acidity well integrated. Really lovely.

Note that Clos du Caillou is a famous house, a major Chateauneuf-du-Pape player. This is their daring attempt at Natural wine. A success.

Crozes-Hermitage, Tradition 2016, Yann Chave

Region: Rhône

Sub-Region: Crozes-Hermitage

Vinification: Organic. Wine made in stainless steel.

Tasting: The wine is purple, Syrah coloured. Nose is dark, with blueberries, plum, blackberry and a loootttttt of pepper and fatty smoked meat. Palate is clean, fairly light but with structure, peppery and meaty.