Côtes du Rhone (芳莎丽庄园)

Southern Rhone
Côtes du Rhone (芳莎丽庄园)

Click to view: Map of Cotes du Rhone.

Classified in 1937, the Cotes du Rhone is an enormous appellation encompassing red, white and rosé wines covering an area of 40,300 ha and producing a crop that is 3 times larger than Beaujolais and almost as much as Bordeaux. Although this wine can come from across the Rhone region, more than 90% comes from the south. With the honourable exception of those produced by famous northern names like Jaboulet and Guigal, the finest examples are made in the south.

Although white wines are made, about 90 percent of Cotes du Rhone wines are red and Rose. The principal red grape is Grenache, Counoise, Mourvedre, Terret Noir, and Syrah are also grown.

The white grapes used are Bourboulenc, Clairette, Marsanne, Muscardine, Picardan, Roussanne, and Piqupoul (or Picpoule). Though Cotes du Rhone red wines have in the past been rather heavy, the relatively recent implementation of modern winemaking techniques (including Carbonic Maceration) has resulted in lighter, fruitier wines to suit today’s modern palate.

The quality of these wines varies immensely. Cotes du Rhone-Villages AC is a higher-quality appellation that requires lower crop yields usually is more alcoholic than let’s say Cotes du Rhone AC wines.

Seventeen villages are allowed to produce wines under this appellation: Baumes de Venise, Cairanne, Chusclan, Laudun, Rasteau, Roaix, Rochegude, Rousset-les-Vignes, Sablet, Saint Gervais, Saint Maurice-sur-Eygues, Saint-Pantaléon-les-Vignes, Séguret, vacqueyras, Valréas, Vinsobres, and Visan.

These wines are generally more full-bodiedthan the regular Cotes du Rhone AC wines, and single estate wines are generally the best. If the wine is from a single village, the label may have the village name appended, as in Cotes du Rhone-Chusclan.

If the wine is a blend from two or more villages, the designation Cotes du Rhone must be used.

Grape(s):

From left to right: Grenache, Mourvedre, and Syrah.

From left to right: Clairette, Roussanne, and Marsanne.

Soils:
Vineyards are sated on calcareous soil with pebbles.

From left to right: Limestone, Cobble, and Sand.

Weather Conditions:
Mediterranean climate with lots of sun. The climate is dominated by the mistral, a cold north wind that can last for several days. Dry climate. In spring and autumn the rainfall is even lower than on the Mediterranean coast.

From left to right: Mediterranean, and Sunny Weather.

Best Producers:
Beaucastel (Coudelet de Beaucastel)
Andre Brunel
Henry Bouachon (Bellecombes)
La Janesse
La Vielle Ferme
Clos du Caillou
Delas
Guigal
Jaboulet
Perrin
Roger Sabon

Further Reading:
Terroir France
Vins Rhone
Wikipedia
Wine.com