Beginner French: Cotes du Rhone Years ago, I lived in Arizona when I first started getting into wine. Back then, I had a friend who always brought Cotes du Rhone to any social gathering. What I recall was that Cotes du Rhone is not only a fruit-forward and complex red wine, but it was great to drink before, during, or after the meal. And in retrospect, that really is the hallmark of any great “goto,” or house wine. The Cotes du Rhone region is centered along the Rhone River By Kurt Wieneke occasions, Cotes du Rhone has other varietals such as Carignan or Cinsault included, but this depends on the producer. Grenache is themore voluptuous grape, giving lots of warmth and richness to the blend. It also has a hint of cotton candy on the nose which is usually a dead giveaway for me. Syrah is the workhorse grape in the blend, imparting depth and structure along with a meaty and peppery character. Mourvedre is the outsider, adding some in southern France between the towns of Vienne and Avignon. It’s a massive Mediterranean wine region. To put it in perspective, the Cotes du Rhone region is nearly five times larger than California’s Napa Valley in terms of vineyard area. Cotes du Rhone wine is traditionally a core blend of three different grape varietals: Grenache (60%), Syrah (30%), and Mourvedre (10%). The percentages can differ, but you get the point. On many
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