The 7 Best Red Wines From the Rhône Valley to Buy Now
Maison Brotte, Château de Beaucastel, M. Chapoutier
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Robb Report may receive an affiliate commission.
While Greeks and Romans were the first to plant grapevines on the Rhône River’s steep slopes, the modern era of winemaking in this part of southeastern France dates back to the 18th century, when wine barrels were marked with the initials CDR for Côte du Rhône. The Rhône Valley is one of France’s finest winemaking regions, but it is often overshadowed by its big brothers, Burgundy and Bordeaux. The Rhône has hot sunny days and rocky soils that retain heat at night, ensuring an ideal climate for growing concentrated, intensely flavored grapes. The northern Rhône is known for its bold Syrah-based wines, while the southern Rhône is famous for wines made mostly with Grenache.
If you’re a Grenache lover, you can expect full-bodied wines with ripe fruit flavors of black currant, black cherry, and plum, as well as spice flavors of finely ground black pepper and fennel seeds. Syrah devotees will enjoy fruit flavors, like black plum, cassis, and black raspberry, with touches of crushed violet petal and pencil lead in the finish. These wines are built to age for decades, but they’re also delicious when drunk young. Here are seven that we have enjoyed this week:
-
Château de Beaucastel 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Image Credit: Château de Beaucastel Pierre Tramier purchased Château de Beaucastel in 1909 and replanted vineyards that were decimated by phylloxera just a few years earlier. Today, the Courthézon estate is run by the Perrin family, the fifth generation of Pierre’s descendants, who manage 320 acres of planted vines. Three-quarters of the vines are planted in the historic Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, but the family also has vineyards in Vinsobres, Gigondas, Luberon, and Ventoux, among others. Their 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape has aromas of red plum, red raspberry, and crushed violet petals with soft, rounded tannins and flavors of cassis, raspberry, and black plum.
-
M. Chapoutier 2022 La Bernardine Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Image Credit: M. Chapoutier The venerable house of Chapoutier goes back to 1808, and today it is run by Michel Chapoutier, who took over from his predecessor at the young age of 26. He is considered to be an original disruptor in the wine world thanks to his passion for creating innovative wines that sometimes seem counterintuitive to the older traditions held by many French winemakers. His La Bernadine 2022 has aromas of dried Mediterranean herbs, blueberry, and raspberry that transition to flavors of smoked charcuterie, crushed violet petals, and cassis, all wrapped in a velvety tannic sheath.
-
Maison Brotte 2022 Les Murets Côte Rotie
Image Credit: Maison Brotte Maison Brotte was founded in 1931 by business school graduate Charles Brotte. His son Jean-Pierre took over the business in 1970 and focused on the export market, thereby making Maison Brotte wines available in Canada, the U.S., and over 100 other countries. His son Laurent and his wife Christine took over in 2001, and today the fifth generation is represented by their sons, Thibault and Benoît. Maison Brotte 2022 Les Murets has aromas of violet, anise frond, blackberry, and cassis that transition to flavors of red currant, raspberry, and black licorice. It’s drinking nicely right now, but don’t hesitate to lay it down for a few years.
-
Domaine Santa Duc 2021 Habemus Papam Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Image Credit: Domaine Santa Duc Winemaker Benjamin Gras crafts excellent wines using Mourvedre, Syrah, Cinsault, and Grenache grapes grown at the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains. He is known for minimal intervention, use of biodynamic principles, whole-cluster vinification, and wild yeast fermentation. He also bottles his wines unfined and unfiltered. His Habemus Papam is garnet colored with aromas of cassis, plum, and forest floor. Silky tannins coat your palate with flavors of dried plum, cherry, mint, and dried sage. Drink now or lay it down for up to a decade.
-
Delas 2020 Francois de Tournon Saint-Joseph
Image Credit: Delas Brothers Henri and Florentin Delas took over the company started by their ancestors in 1835 and renamed it Delas Freres in 1924. In 2015, the company celebrated its 180th birthday, and today it is still going strong. Delas Francois de Tournon is named for the monastic order of Jesuits who resided in this area in the 17th century. The winemaking team chose to blend grapes from the terroirs of Saint Jean de Muzols, Mauves, Vion, and Tournon to make this stunning 100 percent Syrah wine. Aromas of smoked charcuterie, brown baking spices, black cherry, and black plum lead you to pleasantly grippy tannins upon entry. It is generous in the mid palate with flavors of raspberry, black cherry, and a touch of dried cranberry in the finish.
-
E. Guigal 2022 Lieu-Dit Rouge Saint-Joseph
Image Credit: Etienne Guigal Etienne Guigal opened his eponymous winery in 1946 and made wine continuously for an impressive 67 harvests. Today, the third generation of the family is represented by Philippe and Marcel Guigal, who continue the legacy started by their grandfather. Their wines continue to be some of the best Rhônes available in the U.S. market. The Lieu-Dit Rouge 2022 from Saint-Joseph has aromas of anise, plum, and black cherry with elegant, tight-grained tannins and flavors of cranberry, cherry, vanilla, and red currant.
-
Domaine de la Janasse 2022 Cuvée Chaupin Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Image Credit: Domaine de la Janasse Aimé Sabon made the bold decision to stop selling his family’s grapes to a local cooperative in 1976 and instead built his own winery to produce his fantastic wines. He named it Janasse after the town his family lived in and started out with a mere 37 acres. Today, his son, Christophe, manages 222 acres, and his granddaughter, Isabelle, is the winemaker. The family’s Cuvée Chaupin 2022 has aromas of black raspberry, dried sage, rosemary, and thyme, and crushed violet petals. It is smooth and silky in the mouth with soft tannic structure and flavors of Oolong tea, red raspberry, and black currant.
