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Perrin La Ferme Julien Blanc 2010 Perrin La Ferme Julien Rouge 2010
Price: £9.50
Price: £9.50
Perrin La Ferme Julien Blanc 2010 Perrin La Ferme Julien Rouge 2010
Deliciously different southern rhone white Tasty Southern Rhone red
Bernard Latour Domaine L'Espigouette Cotes du Rhone 2009 Chateau Pesquie Cotes du Ventoux Cuvee Les Terraces 2006
Price: £10.99
Price: £13.99
Bernard Latour Domaine L'Espigouette Cotes du Rhone 2009 Pesquie Les Terraces 2006
A rustic and charming Cotes du Rhone Highly rated and a lot of wine for the money from the Rhone Valley.
Domaine Clavel LE Blanc 2007
Price: £16.50
Domaine Clavel LE Blanc 2007
Stunning, mineral St Gervais white from the Rhone
   
 
Rhone Valley
Up to two-thirds of the wine made in the Rhone Valley is sold under the AC Cotes Du Rhone designation and at the lower end of the market much of it is quite average. There are a number of young producers creating wines of good quality at reasonable prices but these require some seeking out. At the other end of the market the situation is very different indeed. The top wines of the Rhone Valley are the greatest wines of their kind and rank among the best reds wines from anywhere in the world. A good number of the top producers from some of the most famous names in wine with the increasing number of ‘super-cuvee’ wines are further emphasising the message. You’ll need to start at around £10 to get a good example and the very best can run well into three figures. The reds are usually blends in the south, sometimes of 10 or more grape varieties, but Syrah is the only red grape allowed in the Northern Rhone.

White wine is typically made from Viognier or a Rousanne-Marsanne blend, both of which can be excellent, though good Viognier is hard to find, even here in it’s spiritual home.

Key grape varieties:
R Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Carignan
W Marsanne, Roussanne, Viogner, Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Ugni Blanc

Northern Rhone - The northernmost part of the Rhone Valley is where full, bold peppery Syrah’s are made into Cote Rotie, St Joseph, Hermitage and Cornas that stretch the limits of flavour, texture and depth. Whites from Roussanne and Marsanne are also made at these appellations. If you're looking for Viognier, Condrieu and Chateau-Grillet are the best place to start.
Vintage recommendations: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004

Southern Rhone - The village of Chateauneuf du Pape is synonymous with Southern Rhone but is certainly not the only noteworthy appellation in this part of southern France. Gigondas, Vacqueras and a large amount of Cotes du Rhone are made here. The reds are almost always blends with Grenache the primary grape (Chateauneuf du Pape allows 13 varieties) and the whites are made from Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne.
Vintage recommendations: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004