Undeniable Rhône Reliability

To be clear this is not in the Côtes du Rhône, but instead this is a play on words/metaphor for reliable. I hope you got it.

For reliability and value, there may be no region on the planet that delivers time and again like the Côtes du Rhône. The southern French appellation stretches over 200 kilometers from the southern Rhône city of Avignon all the weather north to Vienne in the northern end of the Rhône Valley. Côtes du Rhône is not so much a specific area of the vast Rhône appellations as it is a sort of catch-all. Côtes du Rhône wines may be made from outside of the valley's most highly regarded AOCs like Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Saint-Joseph, or it may very well be de-classified wines that actually comes from within a more prestigious AOC, but is not quite up to the quality that comes with that fancy name, or is perhaps a blend that doesn't fall within the stricter AOC guidelines.

For the most part Côtes du Rhône wine blends vary depending upon if they hail from the northern or southern reaches of the greater Rhône. There are also different standards applied to Côtes du Rhône wines, depending upon which part of the Rhône they were grown in. The northern wines are of a serious pedigree, generally coming from steeper sloped vineyards, and all treated by hand. The grape that dominates is Syrah, in the south, Grenache dominates. The town of Montélimar seems to play the role of the meridian, with Syrah and Mourvedre dominance allowed to its north, Grenache to the south. 

All the numbers and origin stories aside, as a general statement, these wines tend to be warm, fruit forward, and very easy drinking. The Grenache grape is known for its fruity character, despite taking some time to ripen it also tends to hang out to its freshness. The other usual suspects in the Côtes du Rhône, both Syrah and Mourvedre, typically offer spice, and a round, palate filling character. 

Of the whites they can come in a variety of styles, more ripe and fleshy Viognier, Roussanne, or Grenache blanc varieties, or they may be leaner and more angular with fresh bright acids. In all they too offer variety, but reliable quality for the price.

2016 Domaine de la Solitude Côtes du Rhône Blanc $15

This white blend is mostly from a grape that you might not know, Clairette, as well as Viognier and just 10% of Grenache Blanc. It's a great blend recipe for this white, as Rhône whites can often be a bit phenolic, and a bit too flabby in the mouth, this wine is quite the opposite, refreshing and bright. The white wine does have a hint of an orange hue, making it quite pretty to look at. Aromas of citrus, cut stone fruits and white flowers, and a bright yet round palate. Flavors of almond, orange zest and apricot mark a really fresh white wine. 

2015 Chateau Pegau Cuvée Setier Côtes du Rhône Villages $19

This is a lot of wine for less than a Jackson. Chateau Pegau is only a few clicks from the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC, so this is a serious growing region. This wine is a very Old World blend of mostly Grenache with equal parts Syrah and Mourvedre. Native yeasts only are used and the wine is definitely a sort of funky earth driven red. Aromas are of wild berry, smoke, turned earth and a garrigue, and the palate is lush, but really complicated, the flavors tend towards, herbal, mushroom and meaty savoriness. These are fifty year old vines, and a definitely old world food wine. This is a rustic wine that is made to stay true to a style and a region.