Winery VinariusLe Grand Moulin Côtes du Rhône

When I taste the new vintage in the Rhône every autumn, I taste the wines blind, meaning the bottles are covered up. At the end, when the wines are revealed, many of the top performers are no great surprise. Something I find particularly exciting, however, is to see an estate that I’m unfamiliar with do better and better, year after year; a dark horse breaking away from the pack. In recent years, this is something I’ve witnessed with Vignobles Chirat. Aurélien Chirat was tinkering with some mach ...

Côtes du Rhône is a beloved brand among casual wine drinkers in both the UK and the US. It’s a mid-week mainstay. But as a Decanter Premium subscriber, your relationship with wine is likely to be rather more than casual… Are Côtes du Rhône wines really worth your attention? Some, definitely. Just as a revered appellation can elevate the value of a wine, a relatively lowly one can hold prices back. So when top estates bottle wines as Côtes du Rhône, they’re often sold at a fraction of the price o ...

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 ...