Rhône Valley: Still the Best Wine Values Around
Côtes-du-Rhône and the Cru Villages offer some of the best QPR anywhere in the world. Here are some of the best of the best in the category.
2021 Domaine de Fondrèche Ventoux Rouge $16.99 90-92JD The 2021 vintage is one of the most elegant versions of this wine I have had in some time. The wine has all the hallmarks of old-school Rhône flavors with its aromas of strawberry and tobacco leaf. There are lovely flavors of pomegranate, bay leaf and roasted fennel on the palate. For those looking to get back to the more classic flavors in the Rhône, this should be at the top of your list of wines to add to your weeknight rotation.
2021 Domaine Roche Côtes-du-Rhône $11.99 92JS Romain Roche took over his family estate back in 2009. He and his family worked tirelessly to elevate the village of Cairanne to Cru status. After years of lobbying, the region was recognized at the same level as Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and nearby Rasteau. Romain makes his Côtes-du-Rhône from a blend of vineyards from both his holdings in Cairanne and the Côtes-du-Rhône appellations. A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan, it is a zesty red filled with aromas of strawberry, red cherry, tobacco, crushed pepper, and baking spices. The 2021s are more elegant and restrained and a perfect throwback for those looking for the more classical wines of yesteryear.
2020 Famille Ravoire "Pierre de Fontval" Cairanne $14.99 95DC The wines of Cairanne have been blowing up lately. I have been singing their praises, especially when we started working with Domaine Roche. Now these wines are finally getting their due. The Fontval ranked as one of Decanter's top Rhône wines in this year's wine competition. You may not need to read any further before putting a case (or two) in your shopping cart. But, a little more context—this small village was a humble Côtes-du-Rhône Village not too many years ago and in 2016 it was given Cru status alongside the more renowned villages of Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and of course Châteauneuf-du-Pape. And I believe Cairanne is one of the most interesting Crus on the scene in the southern Rhône. The soils are filled with limestone pebbles, sand, and clay. This distinct terroir gives natural finesse to the tannins of the wines from this region. The Fontval is a true classic with its vibrant red fruit nose of strawberry jam and redcurrants. Flavors of violet pastilles, anise, tobacco and spices emerge on the palate. This is generous in the mouth but has silky tannins and a pop of acidity to keep it all in balance. I can think of no better value wine to have on my weeknight rotation right now!
2021 Domaine de l'Amandine Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages Séguret $14.99 95DC L'Amandine ranks as one of my favorite small family operations in our Direct Import portfolio. When I met vigneron Alex Suter back at a wine fair in 2018, we hit it off immediately. I made sure to visit the property when I returned in March, and I loved the focus and simplicity of their winemaking and the freshness and style of the wines. Everything was built by his father-in-law back in the 60s who built the walls of the winery and installed the large concrete tanks. Not much has changed since then except maybe the overall volume of production as they have increased their holdings. Also, they started their organic certification with the 2020 vintage and are fully certified for the 2023 harvest. Usually that means price increases, but we have kept this wine at a humble $15 almost since the day we began working with it. And it still remains one of our vest values. The 2021 is elegant and refined with cherry and strawberry fruit, soft licorice notes and aromas of pipe tobacco and fresh bay leaf. It has silky tannins and a medium body that feels almost weightless. This is another great daily drinker that will elevate your weeknight wine game!