It’s been a long time since I drank a bottle of Cotes du Rhone, and as I am trying to break away from my well established favourite wine regions, I decided to try a bottle of Cotes du Rhone rouge. The Southern Rhone had a number of different appellations including Chateauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras etc but the real volume comes from the basic Cotes du Rhone. The grapes used for the red wines are Grencahe, Syrah and Mourvedre. These wines can have varying quality and can be blended from anywhere within the specified CDR region. The yield for these wines is 52hl/Hectare
Wines that are deemed to be better than basic CDR are entitled to the Cotes du Rhone Villages Appellation. There is a lower yield required, 38hl/Hectare, and the blend of grapes must be as follows ‘ Grenache 50% minimum, Syrah and / or Mourvèdre 20% minimum, other grape varieties tolerated within the Appellation, 20% maximum.’ Rhone Valley website. The soil and climate criteria are also stricter.
A named village will also be subject to these strict criteria and the yield is slightly lower at 37hl/Hectare. The appellation will still be Cotes du Rhone Villages but the name of the specific village will be prominent on the label, i.e. Cairanne, Rasteau, Sablet being some of the better known. Before becoming an appellation in its own right, Vacqueyras would have been a CDR Villages.
Caves St Pierre Cotes du Rhone Vielles Vignes 2007 was a lovely, bright medium ruby core with some purple on the rim. Dark fruit aromas of cherry and spice. Surprisingly elegant, in its context, with dark cherry fruit, some strawberry flavours and a decent length. Widely available at €12.99 but have seen it for less.
