Southern Rhone

Region: France, Rhone
Grape variety: Syrah & Grenache
Background: The Jaboulet family started working the land in the Rhone region in 1834. The generations continued to succeed one another until Maison Paul Jaboulet Aine was acquired by the owners of Chateau La Lagune in Bordeaux, the Frey family, in 2006. Although lauded for wines like Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert and the famous Hermitage La Chapelle, winemaker Caroline Frey has been receiving excellent reviews for her wines from the Southern Rhone region. From a robust Vacqueyras, to Chateauneuf du Pape Les Cedres and the Secret de Famille Cotes de Rhone wines, Paul Jaboulet Aine offers fantastic quality from these much loved regions. This is the most famous appellation of the southern Rhône and also one of the best-known in France and abroad.

Tasting notes: Deep ruby red colour with very thick legs. The bouquet offers complex and intense notes of macerated red berries, blended with sweet spices and a final hint of garrigue (Mediterranean vegetation). Powerful and warm attack in the mouth, with a spicy and hot finish.

Region: France, Rhone

Grape variety: White blend - Grenache Blanc complemented by Clairette and Viogner

Background: The word “Barville” evokes the history of our ancestors in Château Neuf-du-Pape since 1880. A great wine that shows character and elegance, and honours the historical grape varietal, king of the southern Rhône: Grenache. To get the best out of Grenache, sustainable viticulture is applied, with a strict winter pruning in order to limit the yield in favour of concentration. The Grenache is handpicked at good maturity.  

Winemaking process: Direct light pressing (pneumatic press). Cold settling overnight at 10°C. Alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks at a low temperature between 16 – 18°C. No malolactic fermentation to preserve the freshness. Maturation on fine lees with regular stirring in stainless steel vats for 6 months. Bottling in March, April of the year following the harvest.

Tasting notes: Aromas of exotic fruits, white flowers and citrus fruits. Wonderful complexity with notes of peach and apricot, this wine displays excellent freshness and length.  

Region: France, Rhone
Grape variety: Grenache (80%), Syrah (10%) & Mourvedre (10%)

Tasting notes: The resulting wine has an aromatic nose with red fruits developing into notes of macerated fruits. Straightforward attack on the palate, with strong tannins, finishing with great depth and strength.

Region: Rhone, France,

Grape Variety: 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah

Winemaking Process: ‘Les Traverses’ are the dry stone walls which were built to support and protect the slopes in Ventoux from the significant erosion caused by the strong Mistral winds. 40+ year old vines on average From the foothills of the Mont Ventoux – clay and limestone soils with south/southwest exposure 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah Aged in 20% large older barrel and 80% in stainless tanks.

Tasting Notes: Blood orange, raspberry, fresh pepper and wild herbs emerge from this delicious Ventoux Rouge. Incredibly sappy and persistent with laser focus and precision. When they are well-made by a gifted winemaker, reds from Ventoux are usually excellent value. This one really is, boasting fresh aromas of red fruit, spices and cedar. Palate is fruity and lively with fine tannins in the background. Nothing over complicated, this bottle is a great pick for your everyday drink!

Food Pairing: This Grenache pairs well with lamb shank with mushrooms, roast duck with apples and beef tataki.

VEGETARIAN FRIENDLY

Region: Rhone, France

Grape Variety: 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah 

Tasting Notes: This wine has the Southern Rhône's classically warm, ripe feel with red fruits blended with spices. Well-structured on the palate with rounded tannins and a final spicy note.

Food Pairing: It will make a perfect match with fish or poultry and mushrooms especially prepared using garlic.

VEGETARIAN FRIENDLY & ORGANIC

Region: France, Rhone
Grape variety: Viognier

Tasting notes: Its nose is very expressive with aromas of white fruits, peach, accompanied by notes of flowers, a typical Viognier complexity. On the palate, the attack is lively and fat, the palate unctuous and gourmet revealing notes of apricots and exotic fruits.

Region: France, Rhone
Grape variety: Grenache Blanc

Tasting notes: It is made of a subtle blend of various local grapes providing concentrated flavours of white fruit and flowers, while remaining crisp and fresh. A short stay in oak barrels brings in a toasted hint for a greater personality.

Region: Southern Rhone, France

Grape Variety: Grenache & Syrah

Background: This wine was created in 1952 by Charles Brotte with the co-operation of local provençale glass and ceramic craftsmen. The unique bottle shape represents the gnarled and twisted vines typical of the region due to their struggle of growing against the Mistral wind. The bottle is exclusive as they are the only winery permitted to use this shape. The Fiole du Pape is the bestselling Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the world.

Winemaking Process: Hand-harvested with berry selection, de-stemming and crushing before being put into vats. Each variety is vinified separately. A 20-day maceration period, alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in concrete vats. Blending of dry wines and traditional maturation in traditional 100-year-old oak vats, for 1 to 5 years. A rigorous selection takes place before final blending of reserve wines of different vintages to obtain a Châteauneuf-du-Pape of consistent style and maturity. Bottling takes place only once these high standards have been reached.

Tasting Notes: Deep and bright ruby. Fruity and spiced. Reminiscent of ripe berries, morello cherry, warm spices (cinnamon, clove, nutmeg), truffles and cedar. Elegant and well balanced, fleshy and powerful, with long lasting aromas. A pleasure to savour.

VEGAN FRIENDLY