The wine region of Côtes-du-Rhône is located in the region of Rhône méridional of Rhone Valley of France. Wineries and vineyards like the Château de Beaucastel or the Chateau de Fonsalette produce mainly wines red, white and pink. The most planted grape varieties in the region of Côtes-du-Rhône are Mourvèdre, Viognier and Marsanne, they are then used in wines in blends or as a single variety. On the nose of Côtes-du-Rhône often reveals types of flavors of pineapple, red plum or sour cherry and sometimes also flavors of truffle, juniper or clove.
In the mouth of Côtes-du-Rhône is a powerful with a nice balance between acidity and tannins. We currently count 1765 estates and châteaux in the of Côtes-du-Rhône, producing 4241 different wines in conventional, organic and biodynamic agriculture. The wines of Côtes-du-Rhône go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or mature and hard cheese.
Mouyssaguès is a grape variety that originated in the southwest of France. Today it occupies just under a hectare, whereas in the past it filled the entire Lot valley. Its adult leaves have between 7 and 9 lobes. These turn completely red in the autumn. Its blue-black berries are elliptical and short. As for its truncated cone-shaped bunches, they are of medium size. They are also compact and winged. Mouyssaguès has only one approved clone, 1.150. A dozen others have been planted in Aveyron. Mouyssaguès can bud in the middle or late, 8 to 10 days after Chasselas. It ripens early for the second time. Vigorous, it is not very sensitive to the various diseases common to these grape varieties. Although productive, it is preferable to prune it long. The mouyssaguès makes a very astringent and coloured wine. This variety can also be called negret, faroneux, rouge menu or peyregord. Because of its high yield, it is often called the poor man's vine.
white wines from the region of Côtes-du-Rhône go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or mature and hard cheese such as recipes of ham and cheese omelette, sea bream or gratin with chard leaves.
On the nose in the region of Côtes-du-Rhône often reveals types of flavors of citrus, blood orange or cheese and sometimes also flavors of minerality, almonds or lemon. In the mouth in the region of Côtes-du-Rhône is a powerful with a nice freshness.
Most Côtes-du-Rhônes are juicily drinkable on release, but certain Rhône appellations produce wines that go on developing for decades. ‘We are lucky,’ says Vincent Avril of Clos des Papes in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, ‘we can make wines that can age – so I think we should.’ Young wines offer vibrancy, brightness and refreshment, but only in maturity do they reach their full aromatic complexity and textural harmony. Scroll down to see Matt’s top 10 mature Rhône wines for drinking this Christmas { ...
Think of Colombia, think of balmy evenings dancing to salsa, fuelled by shots of aguardiente and arepas. But there’s plenty more than the anise-based spirit and cornmeal cakes to sample in the South American country. Chefs have stepped up their game to put gastronomy on the map, with sommeliers and bartenders following suit. Not just appreciating local ingredients and distilling spirits, they also seek out wines from around the world to accompany fine-dining experiences. Their endeavours have pa ...
Establishing a vineyard isn’t something you just rush into these days. Identifying the right site, carrying out soil analysis, selecting suitable rootstocks and varieties, procuring equipment… We’ve made a lot of progress in the past 80 years. But perhaps we overthink such things. Some estates, such as Domaine Font de Courtedune, have grown organically, with major decisions often being made for practical, rather than stylistic, reasons. And the results, from Côtes-du-Rhône to Châteauneuf-du-Pape ...
