In partnership with Côtes du Rhône

If you are reading/following me for a while you know I’m a big wine lover. With work I attend a lot of wine related events and travel to wine regions on a regular basis (well, not in the times of COVID but you know what I mean). And still I feel like there is always something to learn about wine. And here what I decided to do. I’ll be writing a monthly blog post about exciting wines I tried and fact I learned that month. Sounds good?

I've decided to start with Côtes du Rhône, because it's such a diverse and accessible region, and this podcast series Wine of the Times. In Wine Of The Times podcast series drinks guru, Joe Wadsack, takes us on a journey through the Côtes du Rhône meeting great guests along the way to taste excellent wines and chat about life, work and the Côtes du Rhône.

Here is my selection of Côtes du Rhône wines that I’ve learned about, tried and loved.

M. Chapoutier 'Belleruche' Côtes du Rhône 2019
With a name as well-known and respected as Chapoutier, it’s hard to believe that they were once seen as a disruptor. When Michel Chapoutier inherited the family business, he was determined to overhaul their whole process of winemaking to make wines which were as terroir-expressive as possible. This wine is light and deliciously fruity, rich, smooth. Easy-drinking. Notes of black cherries and herbs with a little kick of pepper. Unusually, it’s unoaked, which makes the fruit shine even more than a standard Côtes du Rhône. It’s the ultimate multitasker when it comes to food matching too – an unbeatable choice for a dinner because it’s happy with everything from salads to meats.
Domaine de l'Amandine Côtes du Rhône
This is a 50 ha family estate in the Southern Rhône with vineyards spread from Vaison-la-Romaine to Jonquières. The estate was begun in 1968 by Jean-Pierre Verdeau although both his father and grandfather had been involved in setting up local co-operatives.
In the early days he sold his wine to local merchants but gradually added more and more vineyards and eventually a bottling machine which enabled him to sell in bottle with immediate success. Today he has been joined by his daughter Sabine and son-in-law Alex Suter who grew up on the Rustenberg Estate in South Africa where his father was general manager. Their daughter Mathilde has relatively recently finished her studies and joined too. Traditional methods and a hands-on approach ensure that top quality grapes are produced expressing the complexity of the region’s terroir. Most of the vines are centred around the village of Séguret, some dating back to the 1950s and many grown on stone terraces – which they call ‘La Montagne’ – while the parcel near Jonquières produces IGP Vaucluse. The usual mix of Southern Rhône grape varieties is used, based on Grenache with Syrah taking an increasing role. The aim is to produce balanced wines with good fruit so the crop is totally de-stemmed and maceration lasts from six to 26 days depending on the wine being made.
This particular wine is all about ripe black cherries, spicy cranberries and redcurrants. Juicy black fruit fresh leaf character and earthy undertones combine to make this wine simply lovely.
Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône
The Les Dauphins brand is inspired by the early 1920s, a time when Paris was enjoying a glorious period of post-war decadence known as Les Années Folles (The Crazy Years!). Art, literature, cinema and music were thriving in France’s capital and these creative minds also fell in love with France’s iconic wines. Les Dauphins is crafted by a small network of family winemakers from the Dauphiné region of the Rhône Valley who joined forces to make delicious wines that fueled the creative revolution in bistros across Paris. The Dauphiné supplied countless Parisian restaurants, and became extremely popular thanks to the exuberance and versatility of their wines, which paired beautifully with classic French bistro dishes.
Today, Les Dauphins continues to uphold this legacy of excitement and creativity with their fabulous portfolio of excellent red, white and rosé wines from vineyards in the Southern Rhône. Headed up by talented winemaker Guillaume Valli, Les Dauphins favours those traditional grape varieties that have inspired palates for generations; Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. The result? Beautifully balanced, energetic and fruit-driven wines that are the ultimate accompaniment to quiet evenings in and special occasions alike.

Coming back to the Wine Of The Times podcast series. Listening to Joe chat to his guests, from famous rugby prop Andrew Sheriden's transition into the wine world to Three Drinkers's Helena Nicklin chat about the more unknown whites and rosés of the Rhône - it makes a great backdrop to a glass of lovely Côtes du Rhône wine and some cheese! Listen through iTunes if you have it iTunes Wine of the Times Podcast Series and there is some further information on the webpage where it’s also possible to listen: Wine of the Times Podcast Series