REPORT FROM RHONE VALLEY WINES..
The Event: The Rhone Valley Vineyards Winemaker Tour
The Venue: 2d Event
The Target Audience: wine media, sommeliers, wine agents.
The Availability/Catalogue: an xlsx file with full details
The Quote/Background: The Rhone Valley (North and South) is a region and not an appellation. The "Vignobles de la Vallee du Rhone" wine tour had six principals speak to us: Michelle Bouffard from Chateau du Trignon (Gigondas), Denis Guthmuller who is President of the Syndicat Of Cotes du Rhone, Philippe Pellaton from Maison Sinnae, Celine Verdier Rieu from Chateau d'Orsan, and Samuel Montgermont. There are 31 appellations in the region, using 34 grape varieties for 17 crus, 22 Cotes du Rhone Villages, and 171 communes. Exporting to Canada: 9% of the total production (which is itself 76% red, 11% white, 13% rose). Of all the wines, 18% are organic.
The Wines: I tasted most of the wines. The tasting was divided into three parts: one was a seminar of 11 wines, another was a stand up walk around of about 10 wines, and another was a sitdown lunch with about a dozen wines. Only 7 or so agents rep these wineries, while half of the wineries here were looking for agents. No prices were offered on my spreadsheet. About half of the wines were organic...see below...The tasting featured 23 wines followed by an extensive meal with more wines. Each course was matched with an appropriate wine to underline their ability to enhance food.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Chateau de Trignon Gigondas 2017
-Xavier Vins Red Cotes du Rhone 2020 (Noble)
-J. Denuziere Cotes du Rhone, 2020 (Rogers)
-Chateau d'Aqueria Tavel Rose, 2022 (Noble)
-Cave Heritiere Gabert Cave de Tain Hermitage, 2018 (Noble) [my fave red]
-Paul Jaboulet Cornas Les Grandes Terasses, 2020
-Les Vignes de l'Arque Cuvee Les Chemins de Rome White Duche d'Uzes 2022
-Cave de Bonnieux Luberon Cuvee Revelation 2020
-J. Denuziere Saint Joseph Cotes du Rhone 2020
-Cave de Cairanne Cuvee Insouciante Red 2021
-Cave Saint Desirat Condrieu 2020 [my fave white]
-Alain Jaune Grande Garrigue 2021
-Domaine de Vacqueyras Seguret L'Amandine Cotes du Rhone Villages 2021
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (87 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Chateau Beaubois Cuvee Confidence Costieres de Nimes 2022 (white)
-LAVAU White Cotes du Rhone 2022 (Noble)
-Domain Rozel Cuvee Alayx, 2021, Grignon-LesAdhemar
-Halos de Jupiter Red Cotes du Rhone 2020
-Chateau des Coccinelles Cotes du Rhone 2022
-Domaine Gassier Nostre Pais 2020
-Les Petits Duc Cotes du Rhone 2021
-Domaine de la Citadelle Le Chataigner Rose Luberon 2022
-Domain Autrand Cotes du Rhone Village, 2022 (N Pearce)
-Villa Voltinia Maison Sinnae Cotes du Rhone Villages Chusclan, 2021
-Chateau d'Orsan Chusclan, 2020
-Mas Carlot Generations Costieres de Nimes 2020 (N Pearce)
-Gabriel Meffre Cotes du Rhone Saint Vincent 2022
-La Font Louisiane Cotes du Rhone 2020
-Collines de Bourdic Duche d'Uzes Les Figuieres 2022
-Chateau de Montfaucon Comtesse Madeleine 2021 (not sweet) (N Pearce)
The Food: our sitdown lunch had a wide variety of protein to show off the wines. Service was on small plates, naturally. We began with dungeness crab old bay cakes with the Coccinelles. This was followed by the pork belly bao hoisin, cashews, chili mayo and the Chataigner rose (best combination of the afternoon: what a delight!). Next was a braised beef short rib with the Autrand and the Mas Carlot, followed by some slow cooked lamb with the Chateau D'Orsan Cotes du Rhone Villages Chausclan 2022. The parade ended with a small individual cheese course with the Montfaucon.
The Downside: apart from the seminar there was no overall listing of wines, they all had to be hand-selected in writing.
The Upside: the set-up was nicely done, with a seminar, walk around, and a lunch.
The Contact Person: diane.santerne@sopexa.com; agathe.arollinat@sopexa.com.
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 86.
Brand Appellation Color Cuvée name Vintage Organic label Workshop Agent
Xavier Vins AOC Côtes du Rhône Red 2020 Panel Noble Estates
Château Beaubois AOC Costières de Nîmes White Confidence 2022 Organic, Biodynamic Demeter, HVE Panel n.a
Château d'Aqueria AOC Tavel Rosé Château d'Aqueria 2022 HVE Panel Noble Estates
Cave de Cairanne AOC Côtes du Rhône Red Insouciante 2021 Organic, Biodynamic Demeter, HVE Panel Louis Charles Agency
Château du Trignon AOC Gigondas Red 2017 Organic Panel n.a
Domaine Rozel AOC Grignan-les-Adhémar Red Alayx 2021 HVE Panel n.a
Halos de Jupiter AOC Côtes du Rhône Red Côtes du Rhône 2020 Panel Halpern Enterprise
Lavau AOC Côtes du Rhône White 2022 Panel Noble Estates
Les Vignes de l'Arque AOC Duche d'Uzes White Les Chemins de Rome 2022 Organic Panel n.a
J Denuzière AOC Côtes du Rhône Red 2020 Panel Rogers Company
Cave de Bonnieux AOC Luberon Red Révélation 2020 Panel n.a
Paul Jaboulet Ainé AOC Cornas Red Les Grandes terrasses 2020 Discovery Halpern Enterprise
Alain Jaume AOC Vacqueyras Red Grande Garrigue 2021 Organic Discovery Vinoluna / Groupe Soleil
Château Boucarut AOC Côtes du Rhône Red Les Petits Ducs 2021 Organic Discovery n.a
Domaine de l'Amandine AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret Red 2021 Organic, HVE Discovery n.a
Domaine Gassier AOC Costières de Nîmes Red Nostre Païs 2020 Organic Discovery Halpern Enterprise
CECILE MESTRALLET - Les Collines du Bourdic AOC Duche d'Uzes White Duché d'Uzès blanc 2021 HVE Discovery n.a
Gigondas Lacave AOC Côtes du Rhône White La Font Louisiane 2020 Discovery n.a
Maison Gabriel Meffre AOC Côtes du Rhône White Gabriel Meffre "Saint Vincent" 2022 Discovery Trajectory Beverage
Caves Carod AOC Clairette de Die Sparkling Jasmée Muscat 2023 Lunch Hektars Agenc
Château de Montfaucon AOC Lirac White Comtesse Madeleine 2021 Organic Lunch Nicholas Pearce Wines
Chateau des Coccinelles AOC Côtes du Rhône White Château des Coccinelles 2022 Organic Lunch n.a
Château d'Orsan AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages CHUSCLAN Red Château d'Orsan 2022 Lunch n.a
Domaine Autrand AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages Red 2020 Lunch Nicholas Pearce Wines
Domaine de La Citadelle AOC Luberon Red Le Châtaignier 2021 Organic, HVE Lunch n.a
Domaine des Garances AOC Beaumes de Venise Red Alazard 2022 Organic Lunch n.a
Héritiers Gambert Cave de Tain AOC Hermitage Red 2018 Lunch Noble Estates
Mas Carlot AOC Costières de Nîmes Red Générations 2020 Lunch Nicholas Pearce Wines
Maison Sinnae AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages Chusclan Red Villa Voltinia 2021 HVE Lunch n.a
The Event: The Rhone Valley Vineyards Winemaker Tour
The Venue: 2d Event
The Target Audience: wine media, sommeliers, wine agents.
The Availability/Catalogue: an xlsx file with full details
The Quote/Background: The Rhone Valley (North and South) is a region and not an appellation. The "Vignobles de la Vallee du Rhone" wine tour had six principals speak to us: Michelle Bouffard from Chateau du Trignon (Gigondas), Denis Guthmuller who is President of the Syndicat Of Cotes du Rhone, Philippe Pellaton from Maison Sinnae, Celine Verdier Rieu from Chateau d'Orsan, and Samuel Montgermont. There are 31 appellations in the region, using 34 grape varieties for 17 crus, 22 Cotes du Rhone Villages, and 171 communes. Exporting to Canada: 9% of the total production (which is itself 76% red, 11% white, 13% rose). Of all the wines, 18% are organic.
The Wines: I tasted most of the wines. The tasting was divided into three parts: one was a seminar of 11 wines, another was a stand up walk around of about 10 wines, and another was a sitdown lunch with about a dozen wines. Only 7 or so agents rep these wineries, while half of the wineries here were looking for agents. No prices were offered on my spreadsheet. About half of the wines were organic...see below...The tasting featured 23 wines followed by an extensive meal with more wines. Each course was matched with an appropriate wine to underline their ability to enhance food.
**** BEST -- Four Stars (91+ in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Chateau de Trignon Gigondas 2017
-Xavier Vins Red Cotes du Rhone 2020 (Noble)
-J. Denuziere Cotes du Rhone, 2020 (Rogers)
-Chateau d'Aqueria Tavel Rose, 2022 (Noble)
-Cave Heritiere Gabert Cave de Tain Hermitage, 2018 (Noble) [my fave red]
-Paul Jaboulet Cornas Les Grandes Terasses, 2020
-Les Vignes de l'Arque Cuvee Les Chemins de Rome White Duche d'Uzes 2022
-Cave de Bonnieux Luberon Cuvee Revelation 2020
-J. Denuziere Saint Joseph Cotes du Rhone 2020
-Cave de Cairanne Cuvee Insouciante Red 2021
-Cave Saint Desirat Condrieu 2020 [my fave white]
-Alain Jaune Grande Garrigue 2021
-Domaine de Vacqueyras Seguret L'Amandine Cotes du Rhone Villages 2021
***1/2 BETTER -- Three and a Half Stars (87 – 90 in Quality/Price Rating terms):
-Chateau Beaubois Cuvee Confidence Costieres de Nimes 2022 (white)
-LAVAU White Cotes du Rhone 2022 (Noble)
-Domain Rozel Cuvee Alayx, 2021, Grignon-LesAdhemar
-Halos de Jupiter Red Cotes du Rhone 2020
-Chateau des Coccinelles Cotes du Rhone 2022
-Domaine Gassier Nostre Pais 2020
-Les Petits Duc Cotes du Rhone 2021
-Domaine de la Citadelle Le Chataigner Rose Luberon 2022
-Domain Autrand Cotes du Rhone Village, 2022 (N Pearce)
-Villa Voltinia Maison Sinnae Cotes du Rhone Villages Chusclan, 2021
-Chateau d'Orsan Chusclan, 2020
-Mas Carlot Generations Costieres de Nimes 2020 (N Pearce)
-Gabriel Meffre Cotes du Rhone Saint Vincent 2022
-La Font Louisiane Cotes du Rhone 2020
-Collines de Bourdic Duche d'Uzes Les Figuieres 2022
-Chateau de Montfaucon Comtesse Madeleine 2021 (not sweet) (N Pearce)
The Food: our sitdown lunch had a wide variety of protein to show off the wines. Service was on small plates, naturally. We began with dungeness crab old bay cakes with the Coccinelles. This was followed by the pork belly bao hoisin, cashews, chili mayo and the Chataigner rose (best combination of the afternoon: what a delight!). Next was a braised beef short rib with the Autrand and the Mas Carlot, followed by some slow cooked lamb with the Chateau D'Orsan Cotes du Rhone Villages Chausclan 2022. The parade ended with a small individual cheese course with the Montfaucon.
The Downside: apart from the seminar there was no overall listing of wines, they all had to be hand-selected in writing.
The Upside: the set-up was nicely done, with a seminar, walk around, and a lunch.
The Contact Person: diane.santerne@sopexa.com; agathe.arollinat@sopexa.com.
The Event's Marketing Effectiveness and Execution (numerical grade): 86.
Brand Appellation Color Cuvée name Vintage Organic label Workshop Agent
Xavier Vins AOC Côtes du Rhône Red 2020 Panel Noble Estates
Château Beaubois AOC Costières de Nîmes White Confidence 2022 Organic, Biodynamic Demeter, HVE Panel n.a
Château d'Aqueria AOC Tavel Rosé Château d'Aqueria 2022 HVE Panel Noble Estates
Cave de Cairanne AOC Côtes du Rhône Red Insouciante 2021 Organic, Biodynamic Demeter, HVE Panel Louis Charles Agency
Château du Trignon AOC Gigondas Red 2017 Organic Panel n.a
Domaine Rozel AOC Grignan-les-Adhémar Red Alayx 2021 HVE Panel n.a
Halos de Jupiter AOC Côtes du Rhône Red Côtes du Rhône 2020 Panel Halpern Enterprise
Lavau AOC Côtes du Rhône White 2022 Panel Noble Estates
Les Vignes de l'Arque AOC Duche d'Uzes White Les Chemins de Rome 2022 Organic Panel n.a
J Denuzière AOC Côtes du Rhône Red 2020 Panel Rogers Company
Cave de Bonnieux AOC Luberon Red Révélation 2020 Panel n.a
Paul Jaboulet Ainé AOC Cornas Red Les Grandes terrasses 2020 Discovery Halpern Enterprise
Alain Jaume AOC Vacqueyras Red Grande Garrigue 2021 Organic Discovery Vinoluna / Groupe Soleil
Château Boucarut AOC Côtes du Rhône Red Les Petits Ducs 2021 Organic Discovery n.a
Domaine de l'Amandine AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret Red 2021 Organic, HVE Discovery n.a
Domaine Gassier AOC Costières de Nîmes Red Nostre Païs 2020 Organic Discovery Halpern Enterprise
CECILE MESTRALLET - Les Collines du Bourdic AOC Duche d'Uzes White Duché d'Uzès blanc 2021 HVE Discovery n.a
Gigondas Lacave AOC Côtes du Rhône White La Font Louisiane 2020 Discovery n.a
Maison Gabriel Meffre AOC Côtes du Rhône White Gabriel Meffre "Saint Vincent" 2022 Discovery Trajectory Beverage
Caves Carod AOC Clairette de Die Sparkling Jasmée Muscat 2023 Lunch Hektars Agenc
Château de Montfaucon AOC Lirac White Comtesse Madeleine 2021 Organic Lunch Nicholas Pearce Wines
Chateau des Coccinelles AOC Côtes du Rhône White Château des Coccinelles 2022 Organic Lunch n.a
Château d'Orsan AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages CHUSCLAN Red Château d'Orsan 2022 Lunch n.a
Domaine Autrand AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages Red 2020 Lunch Nicholas Pearce Wines
Domaine de La Citadelle AOC Luberon Red Le Châtaignier 2021 Organic, HVE Lunch n.a
Domaine des Garances AOC Beaumes de Venise Red Alazard 2022 Organic Lunch n.a
Héritiers Gambert Cave de Tain AOC Hermitage Red 2018 Lunch Noble Estates
Mas Carlot AOC Costières de Nîmes Red Générations 2020 Lunch Nicholas Pearce Wines
Maison Sinnae AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages Chusclan Red Villa Voltinia 2021 HVE Lunch n.a
Dean Tudor, Prof Emeritus T'karonto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) School of Journalism
Treasurer of Wine Writers' Circle of Canada http://www.deantudor.comhttp://gothicepicures.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/gothicepicures
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