Mixed Case – Rhone Explorer

Tasting Notes

The Rhône Valley is the second largest wine region in France (after Bordeaux). It is typically divided into northern and southern halves with particular grapes being predominant in each area. The Northern Rhône is the home to Syrah and here we present St. Joseph as a classic example. In the Southern Rhône, Grenache is king, represented in our case by the (almost) pure expression from Châteauneuf du Pape. Finally, we have a blend of the two grapes in the region of Massif d’Uchaux, part of the Côtes du Rhône appellation that covers essentially the entire region.

This mixed case allows you to explore three full bodied and powerful red wines from this unique region of France. These wines are perfect with rich wintery stews and braised dishes or with grilled red meats.

Domaine Gerard Courbis Saint Joseph “Vieilles Vignes” 2022:
The estate’s top Saint Joseph bottling is the Saint Joseph “Vieilles Vignes”. A selection from their finest old vines (over 60 years) that is meticulously sorted and fully de-stemmed, it receives an extended maceration of 3 to 4 weeks. After fermentation, it is aged for 24 months in a combination of barriques and larger 600 lt. oak barrels. Expressing the essence of hillside vineyards, the wine features savory aromas of smoked meat, olives and garrigue with hints of violets and blackberry. Concentrated red and black fruit on the palate leads to complex nuances of leather, graphite and pepper. The finish is long and smooth with feather-like tannins and soft integrated oak. 14.5% Alc.

Domaine Font de Courtedune Châteauneuf du Pape 2021:
The Font de Courtedune vineyards are distinguished by sandy soils which give the wines fine tannins and great elegance. The 2021 Châteaneuf-du-Pape is essentially pure Grenache with only a tiny amount of other permitted grapes which winemaker and owner Caroline Charrier notes have “snuck into the vineyards over the years”. Whole bunches are fermented and matured in concrete tanks with pumping over for gentle extraction. Just pure and simple winemaking that values finesse over power and allows the distinctive nature of the terroir to shine through. The wine itself is rich and intense with ripe red fruit aromas, fine tannins and a distinct herbal note. 15% Alc.

Domaine de la Guicharde Massif d’Uchaux Cuvée Genest 2022:
Domaine de la Guicharde is a small 40-hectare biodynamic wine estate located on the Massif d’Uchaux in the heart of the Rhône Valley. The 2022 Cuvée Geneste is blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah organically grown on the estate’s oldest hillside vineyards (30 to 60-year-old vines!). The soils of the Massif d’Uchaux are very rocky and particularly well suited to these varieties. After manual harvesting, the wine is matured in neutral tanks for 24 months before bottling. A dense purple colour in the glass, the bouquet is ripe and powerful with scents of stewed red and black fruits, cocoa, purple flowers and herbs de Provence. The palate is intense and concentrated with considerable weight in the mouth leading to a long, well-balanced finish. 15.5% Alc.

Food Pairings

These wines are perfect with rich wintery stews and braised dishes or with grilled red meats.