By Kurt Wieneke, aka Wine Guy Kurt
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 “go-to,” or house wine.
The Cotes du Rhone region is centered along the Rhone River 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 occasions, Cotes du Rhone has other varietals such as Carignan or Cinsault included, but this depends on the producer. 
Grenache is the more 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 furry tannins to the texture and contributing mysterious flavors and aromas such as herbs or maybe even a hint of iodine.
What I have always liked about Cotes du Rhone wines is that they are both simple and complex at the same time. By simple, I mean that they are very approachable and fruit-driven, usually not heavy on oak, and meant to drink at the table. The French even have a term for this called ‘Vin de Table’. Complexity comes by using different grape varietals in the blend, which gives different flavor characteristics to the wine. This makes a wine more interesting to smell and taste. It’s kind of like adding salt, pepper, spices, or herbs to your food.
If you are new to Cotes du Rhone reds and would like to get acquainted, the following wines should be readily available at your local grocery or liquor store.
- Chapoutier, “Belleruche”, Cotes du Rhone
Famille Perrin, Cotes du Rhone, Reserve
Delas, “Saint-Esprit”, Cotes du Rhone
- Guigal, Cotes du Rhone
Kurt Wieneke, aka Wine Guy Kurt, a freelance wine writer who grew up in Seymour and is now based in Indianapolis. Kurt, an avid wine taster, enjoys sharing his 30 years of experience in collecting and tasting fine wines.
