#northernrhone

[wineinvestmentuk]

A Guide To… The Northern Rhone and its Styles

Find the captivating wines of this district grounded as a French fine wine heartland, yet maybe one that is undervalued in examination with any semblance of Bordeaux and Burgundy. You can Buy Wine through Wine Investment UK.

Prologue toward the Northern Rhone

A solitary red assortment – Syrah

The Rhone wine area takes its name from the Rhone River, which streams from its source in the Swiss Alps and goes through 250 miles of Southern France before joining the Mediterranean Sea toward the west of Marseille. While thinking about the wines of the Rhone Valley, we for the most part consider two very particular areas toward the north and south.

With eminent contrasts in the atmosphere, geography, and the blend of grapes planted. This is a territory known predominately for its red wines and these are in some regard more tantamount with the wines of Burgundy toward the north than with the wines made toward the south.

A solitary assortment Syrah-rules for red wine creation and similar to the case in Burgundy, this is a grape that can be a superb channel for the statement of spot those searching for terroir in a glass ought to be upbeat here. You can Sell Wine through Wine Investment UK.

The terroir

Though the Southern Rhone evokes pictures of murky daylight across rambling open fields, grape plantations sprinkled with forests of olive trees and fields of lavender, the north is an alternate suggestion. The grape plantations that embrace the banks of the stream among Vienne and Valence are frequently on massively steep slants lining a valley that in spots hopes to have been etched out of the stone that rules the soils here.

Creating wines is probably the best locales of the Northern Rhone isn't simple, with grape plantation work in pieces of Côte-Rôtie frequently being more likened to mountaineering than cultivating. The exertion needed to deliver wines from these destinations isn't in itself an assurance of value, yet the way that the vignerons trouble to keep doing so is demonstrative of exactly how great the wines can be.

Different wine styles

Regardless of the strength of a solitary grape assortment, the reds of the Northern Rhone are fluctuated in their appearances, from light, sappy, and lively to profound, agonizing, and complex. Some qualities appear to be available in a large portion of the wines anyway pepper, barbecued meat and violets regularly drift from a glass of Syrah from this piece of the world such that no place else appears to very have the option to reproduce.

While the reds offer maybe the most smooth articulations of Syrah discovered anyplace on the planet, the whites can be similarly boggling. Three assortments are significant here: Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne, with the last pair regularly mixed. The sweet, botanical aromatics of Viognier make it overpowering in its childhood, at first diverting from the way that as well as can be expected to be genuinely profound and complex.

The mix of Marsanne and Roussanne can deliver wines with a capacity to age for a long time, tenderly advancing to wines with a profoundly nutty and sugary profile, with this matching arriving at its apogee in the great whites of Hermitage. You can contact Wine Investment UK for Buy Wine in UK, Sell Wine in UK, and Wine Portfolio Management Services as well.

[pelzonwine]

2001 Pegau is all I had hoped it would be. Cherry, plum, leather, and dried herbs mingle with earthy, stony flavors. This particular bottle was also one of the cleanest bottles of Pegau I have ever had. At age 19, it is now drinking at peak. Still plenty of fruit and structure, but I don't think further aging will improve the wine. Might hold for a few more years, but I really think this is the perfect time to crack these. My favorite effort from @domaine_du_pegau that I have tasted. #wine #winesofinstagram #winestagram #winetime #winegeek #winelover #winetasting #winenight #wines #vin #redwine #vinrouge #france #rhone #rhonenord #northernrhone #chateauneuf #chateauneufdupape #grenache #syrah #mourvedre #pegau #domainedupegau https://www.instagram.com/p/CJXat-elsBa/?igshid=wd2c668opudp

[dandelionwineshop]

Drinking @cuilleronyves is like writing a novel, only more delicious! 📚🍷🦁 #drinkwine #drinksmart #drinkcuilleron #northernrhone #syrah #weekendplans #greenpoint (at Greenpoint, Brooklyn) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8SxbwCH48_/?igshid=2xg15x2qx3aa

[antonintalkswine]

Côte-Rotie V.V 2015 C.Billon

As some of you may know, getting access to wines produced in the very region where one lives tend to be a much easier process which, also tend to lead to a much wider selection as a whole. Pretty amazing, right? 

You don’t say and I do consider myself lucky then. Let’s make a quick jump in time before I jump into our review.

With my move back to France from Toronto, long story short, came the opportunity to further my viticulture and winery-related knowledges by working for Domaine Coursodon up in St. Joseph. (obviously, including some applying vs. interview deal, but it all worked out).

Which brings me to today’s review. 

Tain-l’Hermitage, located in the heart of the Northern Rhône and across the Rhône river from the Hermitage hill, is probably everybody’s first introduction to the area and also where I’ll be reviewing today’s review from.

Domaine Billon, recently introduced to the very well-stocked Côte-Rotie producers portfolio, found its way in the area selling grapes primarily as a négociant to E. Guigal in Ampuis before purchasing their own sites and is still being developed today. 

Côte-Rotie, at the very Northern end of the Rhône Valley, very famous AOC where viticulture was introduced in Roman Times, gradually grew famous for its Syrah (up to 95%) vs. Viognier (up to 20%) blend and although producers style can vary, that elegance Côte-Rotie is known for has stood true to the test of time.

Here, we have a 95%, 5% blend from multiple sites on old vines, up to 30 years old.  On another note, 2015, along with 2016 and 2017 have been known for being magic vintages in the area so let's see how this is delivering.

Visually, the wine takes on a darker-ruby tinge and developing into a light-ruby/purple on the rims, leaving quite a coating feel.

On the note, one thing that hits me is that fragrant, freshly-picked blackcurrants/blueberries edge to the wine while also noticing some pretty intense spice box feeling… Paprika, curry and almost vanilla beans, suggesting a larger proportion of new oak here. 

On a second whiff, strong floral and lilac/wet violet notes rise up with a slight stone fruits feel to the wine (most likely from the add of the Viognier grape). 

On the palate, again, that enveloping sense of fresh spices (that comes with new oak usage) again comes jumping in here with some crushed blueberries, almost leaning towards blueberry jam, although not feeling overbearing.     Strong floral notes with some firmer tanning tannins yet lively acidity but again, this is a wine that will gracefully develop and soften up with time (and patience?).

Again, here, a good effort for what Côte-Rotie can offer and a reminder that this is truly an age-worthy wine. I would keep an eye out for Domaine Billon while the Estate is still being developed and investments are incoming.

Thanks for reading!!

AA.

[vinowithanaccent]

Oh boy! I was IN for a treat with this Syrah for sure. Outstanding bottle from Domaine Vincent Paris... Granit 30 2016, beautiful deep purple color and strong black fruit on the nose and palate as well as violet, chocolate and tobacco 🤤🤤... Cornas AOC in the Northern Rhone 🍇🍷 . . . . . . #cornasregion #rhonevalley #northernrhone #redwine #frenchwine #syrah #2016vintage #winelover #wineoftheday #winegoals #wineeducation #wineenthusiast #wset2 #wsetlevel2 #winephotographer #winetourism #winebottles #wineglass #winestudy https://www.instagram.com/p/CGIpbG6HBa8/?igshid=ldjfdktjwjmv

[whatsophiesipped]

A rose is a rose is a rose 🌹 #closdecuminaille #pierregaillard #StJoseph #rhône #northernrhone #brickwork #granite tastes like #iron #mineral #pretty #perfumed #raspberry #cherry #vibrant #sleek #fruit #finesse #2015 #nextEPcomingsoon #wine #sunday #drinkwhatyoudo (at Battersea)

[attorneysomm]

While this bottle may not look like much from the outside, the contents were simply stunning! This 1987 Guigal La Mouline Cote Rotie was a highlight from a recent in-person tasting (that complied with all legal requirements). . Based in the Northern Rhone, E. Guigal makes some of my favorite wines. The so-called La La trilogy (La Mouline, La Landonne and La Turque) is the crown jewel of the Guigal lineup. La Mouline always contains the highest percentage of Viognier (typically around 11%). The La Mouline fruit comes from a steep, heavily-terraced portion of the Cote Blonde vineyard with rocky soils and which is typically the warmest of the three sources. (See the very first post in my profile for vineyard pics!). La Mouline is produced using the more gentle pumping over technique as opposed to punching down. As a result of these differences, La Mouline tends to be the most elegant of the three and the one that can be enjoyed the earliest. . Of course, La Mouline still ages phenomenally well! La Mouline is also one of those rare wines that transcend vintage and points and is inevitably one of the most memberable bottles on the table every time it is opened. And so it was with this 1987! Despite being from a supposedly off vintage, this La Mouline outclassed many more highly regarded (and more costly) wines from the very first nose! An intriguing array of dark cherry, black pepper, smoked meat, olive, iron, rosemary, thye, and sage perfectly balanced the abundant acidity. The mouthfeel was ethereal and the finish long, lingering and complex! La Mouline has a soulful character that reminds you with every sip that you are experiencing something truly special! After every sip, I sat in silence soaking it all in much like I do when appreciating an artistic masterpiece at a museum. It was such a blessing to be able to experience this memorable wine in-person with good friends I had not seen since January. . . . . #guigal #eguigal #domaineguigal #coterotie #côterôtie #northernrhone #syrah #syrahwine #viognier #lamouline #vineyard #tastingnotes #wineporn #wineevents #rhonevalley #rhone ##wineeducation #vin #instawine #winelover #winenot #topwine (at Roots and Water Wine Room) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBLoQ0nJBO-/?igshid=1hzfoswnh4z4t

[benstastingnotes]

Bought this last weekend at Pimpernel's Rhone Release cellardoor tastings. Thought it would age beautifully—and it has! Enticing nose of melon, ripe peach and apricot delight; medium to full bodied palate of peach, green apple, ripe apricot, hints of butterscotch and more. So much more. Today, my favourite Yarra Valley white. . . Pimpernel Vineyards 2015 Marsanne Viognier. . . . #pimpernelvineyards #winetasting #wine #tastingnotes #rhone #northernrhone #yarravalley #cellardoor #yarravalleycellardoors #wineofaustralia #whitewine #marsanne #viognier

[capitalcorks]

Name: 2010 Paul Jaboulet Aine Crozes-Hermitage Domaine Thalabert _________ My rating: 92 _________ My Price: $29 from @lastbottle, best available in US is now $50 online. _________ Like Burgundy, I need to be drinking more Northern Rhône. There’s just a level of savory minerality and uniqueness to the Syrah that comes from these hallowed grounds, but it’s often inacessible price wise, much like Burgundy. This one has a nice nose of violets, dark fruit and faint notes of smoked meats. On the palate this is a lovely and serious entry level effort. Rich and silky fruits turn to salty olive tapenade and some spice. Tannins are in check, but this is structured and acidic enough to likely continue to improve for quite some time. One to seek out at under $40. _______________ #northernrhone #syrah #winesoffrance #frenchwine #crozeshermitage #wine #winetasting #dcwine #2010vintage #lastbottle #redwine #winewithfamily #winewithfriends #winelover #winestagram #finewine (at Washington, District of Columbia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1xAmCOHV6D/?igshid=1ubashdvzo3zo

[adonisd1956]

OMG!!!!! Holy Shit!!!! 2005 Marc Sorrel Hermitage. Love the color in this! Honey, honeysuckle, butterscotch. Still has good acidity at 16 years old! Soooo wish I had another bottle of this! This wine was so good! A gift from my friend William Woodruff of @chloewineimports #northernrhone #hermitage #marcsorrel (at Edmonds, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQKzLZ6N0EV/?utm_medium=tumblr

[learningtoruninmy30s]

A delicious 2013 M. Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage Petite Ruche. Nice after a long run day!!! #wine #winesaturday #mchapoutier #hermitage #frenchwine #northernrhone (at Casa de Brady)

[pelzonwine]

2005 Pierre Gaillard St. Joseph Clos de Cuminaille is surprisingly good. After a couple of underwhelming bottles of their Cote Rotie (way too much oak/vanilla), Gaillard's St. Joseph succeeds precisely where their CRs failed. Grilled herbs, olive tapenade, earthy iron notes and blackberry strike a perfect balance with the acid and the tannins. No trace of oak and a fantastic pairing with the rather peasant-esque dinner of sausage, roasted brussels and parsnip puree. The earthiness of the parsnips and brussel sprouts and the saltiness of the sausage made this such a great pairing. And the acid of the wine cut through the fattiness of the sausage like a laser. #wine #vin #redwine #vinrouge #france #rhone #northernrhone #rhonenord #stjoseph #saintjoseph #syrah #gaillard #pierregaillard #closdecuminaille #2005 https://www.instagram.com/p/BrMIZGGH8pD/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=s5utbzl8kax

[mariel1112]

Rainy day dins: homemade #frenchbreadpizza 🇫🇷🥖🍕 with loads of #fireescapegarden parsley & basil with #northernrhone #crozeshermitage #syrah — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2Lyutmt

[antonintalkswine]

Domaine Coursodon St.Joseph

“I never once considered doing anything else” were Jérôme’s first words (4th generation winemaker) upon being asked about what had gotten him started in the first place. This was one of our first encounters and I cannot say I’ll forget his words anytime soon.

Domaine Coursodon is indeed an estate rooted in history in its own rights. 

Antonin Coursodon and his father Jean-Auguste, first founded the Domaine in the late 19th century and in many ways, helped pave the way for what most people know St.Joseph as it is nowadays. 

Although, first records of vineyards and wine in the area being made was recorded as far back as 1688 under the name ‘Vin de Mauves’, it was not until 1956 that the appellation was well-defined under a stricter set of rules or AOC. 

Antonin, indeed was not gifted with the most conflict-free century to get everything up and running, struggling to make ends meet as the phylloxera crisis was just around the corner. 

Another thing to bear in mind was, whether in the Northern Rhône or most of the wine world, wine had not made it as a huge global trend just yet, which means that most winemakers at the time not only produced wine but had equal interests in nurturing peach, apricot and cherry crops. 

In other words, more means and further ways to make a living out of helped keep the farmer on its feet when times were tough.

But as one would say, as one problem struck, more were to come… 

Heading into the first decade of the 20th century and while most winemaking areas in France and Europe were just started to recover from the phylloxera wipeout, resources and backstocks were becoming scarce as conflicts arose and WWI hit, putting winemakers’ livelihood on a thread.

As a result, this led to what most consider the ‘blending-era’. 

As there was not much wine to go around and put out on the market, a lot of what sold under a single name (Châteauneuf-du-Pape) was actually sourced from a few different places and blended together in order to meet demand.

What this did was leading to general public confusion but mostly a fairly significant drop in quality for what some had fought for centuries. 

This is where the Institution des Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée (INAO) came about as the main nationwide body of regulation but so what had just happened could further be avoided through strictly implemented regulations, drawing not only geographical borders for all French appellations but giving them accurate rules for winemakers to follow including yields, harvest and such.

Jumping back to Domaine Coursodon and St.Joseph, the appellation was given one of the latest AOCs to be implemented in 1956, just under 100 hectares of vine with its original area stretching to six villages, Chateaubourg, Glun, Mauves, Tournon-sur-Rhône, St-Jean-de-Muzols and Vion.

Following pressure from a growing demand as well as an increasing number of newly planted vineyards outside the original area, the appellation was extended in 1971 and capped at 3000 hectares in 1994, today currently at 1200 hectares under vine. 

And while all of the now 20+ year-old expanded area goes under the name ‘St-Joseph’ on a label, the original six villages (adding up the already well-established list of longtime producers there) are widely known for producing some of the most complex and long-lived wines. 

Domaine Coursodon, which up until the 1980’s owned only 5 hectares in the area, has gradually grown over the years into a well-established 16 hectares operation. Starting in Glun, vineyards can also be found just above the village of Mauves but also Tournon and St-Jean-de-Muzols, further North up the Rhône river.

Bottlings from the Domaine can be sourced from all types of soils from low-water retention limestone, pebbles to decomposed granite but the most compelling examples can be found on the latter on South-exposed head-spinning steep hillsides. Some parcels, especially in St-Jean-de-Muzols, even share similarities with vines planted on the Hermitage hill, being very geographically close by. 

Absolutely stunning and deeply rooted in history, those can nevertheless be backbreaking and require higher hands-on involvement and dedication year in year out. The slope incline is indeed one factor that make the use of mechanical tools impossible and almost all vineyard labor across the growing season is carried out manually.

Upon working alongside Jérôme although no biodynamic or organic certification is in the works, a clear acute awareness for general vineyard health is what is driving his every move. He indeed leans towards a more ‘Lutte Raisonnée’ approach as little pesticide spraying is done unless needed, as he believes keeping vines healthy and putting them in a position so setbacks can be avoided, is the best way to look out for them.

Today, Jérôme very much strikes me as a modern traditionalist. Let me explain myself here.

As some older-generation producers stick with decades-old practices, Jérôme is a firm believer of year-round dedication in the vineyards and good phenolic maturity as it, he himself puts it, best expresses the ‘terroir of the appellation’.

He also, down in the cellar, relies on a blend of new oak barrels (260 litres) sitting alongside demi-muids (traditional 600 liters barrels from the area) as well as stainless steel, used mostly for his entry-level bottlings.

What is following down below is a flight of barrel sampling (from wines soon to be bottled) across multiple vintages.

R/ SILICE (100% SYRAH), made from a blend of different limestone-based parcels (Mauves, Tournon and Glun), fermented in stainless tank, open-vat fermenters and aged 12 months in demi-muids:

2017—>  Although different samplings were done from multiple parcels which would later go into the final blend of ’Silice’, focus was made here on the softness of the Syrah grape, and while crunchy and grippy at times, I found fragrant violet notes, freshly picked black fruits and black liquorice with great acidity. Drink now!

R/ L’OLIVAIE (100% SYRAH), made from older vines on a steep, granite-based, single-vineyard in St-Jean-de-Muzols, aged 15 months in 85% demi-muids and 15% new oak:

2017 —> A bit more concentrated, this to me falls into meat-based pairings as this definitely is a more serious, dinner wine. A bit more viscous, which will probably tame with age. Crushed blackberries, black currant, bramble and a lingering earthy and peppery edge. Long-ageing potential.

2012 —>  Absolute beauty. This was not supposed to be part of the flight but great surprise upon opening. Difficult year at first but evolved amazingly. Great concentration while keeping a fine line of balance all throughout. Wet leaves, touch of forest floor all came together with a beautiful fragrant black currant core. Drink now.

R/ SENSONNE (100% SYRAH), made from a blend of different parcels on granite soils, aged 15 months in 100% new oak:

2017 —> A bit more impact of new oak felt but good balance overall. Delicious black fruit core, linced with cloves, cinnamon and garam marsala, wet rocks and long finish. Long ageing potential.

R/ PARADIS St.PIERRE (100% SYRAH), flagshig bottling of the Domaine, made from a amphitheater-shaped single-vineyard overlooking the town of Mauves, granite soils, aged 15 months in 80% demi-muids and 20% new oak:

1996 —> Another completely unexpected surprise. This definitely took some time to open up but revealed leather, tobacco notes, subtle wild blueberry fruit. Still incredibly lively at this stage, balsamic vinegar and marzipan undertones. Great complexity. Drink now.

2003 —> Heat wave hit the area hard but was amazingly handled inside the winery. A touch more concentration here, stewed black fruits dominate with bramble, dry violets and wet rocks notes. Long finish. Drink now.

W/ PARADIS St.PIERRE (95% MARSANNE, 5% ROUSSANNE), same single-vineyard overlooking the town of Mauves, aged 12 months in 80% demi-muids and 20% new oak:

2017 —>  Again, multiple samplings were done from barrels scattered around the winery but most of the stony fruit side of the Marsanne/Roussanne blend was showing. Apricot and nectarine flesh, acacia flowers, sunflower seeds with rich mouthfeel. Decent acidity.

This wine has layers and layers coming through and strongly screams for food. Long ageing potential.

[gerardhigginswine]

Every time I taste this vineyard young it takes me straight to the great vineyards of the Northern Rhône. Shiraz with a juicy, dense, black berried fruit profile, kalamata olive accent and a wholesome silken texture. Top quality Syrah is always as unmistakeable varietally as any of the other noble red varieties, and with no exception here family Tyrrell is proving that Hunter Shiraz can be as great as the wines which inspire it. Great work guys, the Hunter valleys great vineyards are looking fabulous in 17! #huntervalley #hunterboy #tyrrells #semsational #oldpatch #fouracre #firstfamiliesofwine #syrah #shiraz #wine #rhone #northernrhone https://ift.tt/2DFFsZZ

[allsoulspod]

Last night we chatted about our favorite vampire and witch, who were enjoying this beauty. #côterôtie #allsoulstrilogy #Repost @misswinelane ・・・ OEFF.... NORTHERN RHÔNE SYRAH VINTAGE 2011. Incredible soft nose & taste with violet, black fruit & velvety tannins. #syrah #rhône #northernrhone #bonnevaux #2011 #vintage #vintage2011 #winetasting #misswinelane #violet #softtannins #wineglass #winestagram #winebottle #coterotie #côterôtie #jboutin #unfiltered #boutin #france #vindefrance #rhonevalley