Do Not Miss These Southern Rhône Wines

The beautiful sun that ripens the grapes in France’s Southern Rhône Valley translates to fruity, delicious wines in your glass. With the help of the hearty Mistral wind that blows through the vineyards, these wines retain freshness and verve all while delivering complex, full-flavored wines. Do not miss these!

2020 Domaine Beau Mistral "Selection Vieilles Vignes" Rasteau $17.99 91DC Composed of 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah—all destemmed with 90% aged in concrete and the remainder in barrel. Lush black raspberry with classic garrigue notes of dried summertime brush, savory sage, and juniper. A light peppery finish, coupled with fruitiness and ripe tannins make it a perfect pairing for bison or portobello mushroom burgers in the back yard as temperatures warm up this spring.

2020 Domaine Beau Mistral "Bastide St-Martin" Rasteau $19.99 93DC Also completely destemmed Bastide St-Martin is a fruity, plum-driven blend of 50% Grenache, 45% Syrah, and 5% Mourvèdre. Stony minerality brings to mind the vineyard’s clay-limestone soils covered in rolled pebbles. Fine touches of violet and licorice linger on the powerful finish.  Pair with game or cheeses such as Comté or a creamy Camembert.

2021 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape $99.99 96DC 93-95VN 94JD 94JS 94WA 94WS Classic Beaucastel beauty! Fresh, fragrant, and lively—ripe juicy plums and black cherries, garrigue, licorice, pepper, and a touch of bacon. Silky and full-bodied with magnificent depth. Grenache 30%, Mourvèdre 30%, Syrah 15%, Counoise 10% Roussanne, 5% Cinsault, with the balance a blend of Vaccarèse, Terret Noir, Muscardin, Clairette, Picpoul, Picardan, and Bourboulenc—all organically grown. Bottled unfiltered. Pair with an herb-infused Provençal beef or lamb stew served over mashed potatoes or fresh tagliatelle.

- Kerry Kirkham, K&L Writer and Editor