Charlemagne Wine Club - 2002 Tastings

Monday 21st January 2002
Rhône - Côtes and Villages with David Carter
What could be more welcoming at the start of a damp, cold new year than the summer warmth of the Southern French sun, juicy red fruit flavours and the spicy and herbal aromas of the garrigue.
All this and more can be found in the wines from the varied appellations of the Southern Rhône. Côtes du Rhône can represent excellent value for money from the right grower as it may well be declassified from a higher appellation. Quality conscious growers in the Villages are striving to attain full AOC status and the gurus are moving in with their new ideas and techniques.
Jean Luc Colombo, the guru of Cornas in the north, is one who has spread his influence wide to the south and is one of the many top growers and winemakers featured in our tasting.
Among the wines to be featured are: Châteauneuf du Pape ‘Les Bartavelles’ (Colombo); Lirac ‘Les Queyrades’ (Andre Mejan); Gigondas ‘Domaine du Cayron’ (Michel Faraud); Châteauneuf du Pape ‘Vieux Mas des Papes’ (Daniel Brunier); Vacqueyras Domaine Le Clos de Cazaux ‘Cuvée des Templiers’ (Archimbaud-Vâche); Valréas ‘Clos Petite Bellane’ (Thierry Sansot); Chateau des Tours Grande Réserve (Emmanuel Reynaud).