What grape varieties are used in Rhône Méridionale and Rhône Septentrionale wines?

Visit Rhône Valley wines are favored by all wine lovers. Some are used to drinking a "simple" Côtes-du-Rhône, Côtes-du-Rhône Village, while others seek out the complexity of its terroirs.

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Northern Rhône Valley

 

Located in the northern part of the Côtes-du-Rhône, it includes such legendary appellations as Hermitage, Condrieu, Côte-Rôtie...
For red wines, only one grape variety can be used. It's Syrah. Syrah brings spice and red fruit, often with a sweet spice finish. Often planted on granite and schist slopes, Syrah enjoys a temperate climate with continental influences.
For the red wines of the following appellations, Côte-Rôtie and Saint-Joseph, it is permitted to blend a small quantity of white wines (Viognier for Côte-Rôtie and Roussanne & Marsanne for Saint-Joseph) to soften the Syrah, which adds structure and character.

 

• Côte-Rôtie Le Galet Blanc: François Villard

A charismatic winemaker from the Northern Rhône, François Villard produces a powerful Côte-Rôtie with notes of red fruits such as raspberry.
Carried by 18 months in barrel, the finish is toasty, powerful and still tannic. That's why it's best to decant this lovely bottle 4 hours before drinking, and to accompany a fairly powerful red meat.

 

Which grape varieties are used for white wines ?

• Visit viognierThis grape variety is found in the Condrieu and Château Grillet appellations and produces highly aromatic wines with notes of stone fruit and exotic fruit. Viognier also thrives on granite soils, bringing out all the minerality of this terroir.
• 3 grape varieties that can be single-variety or blended in the following appellations: Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage and Saint-Péray. These grape varieties are very different from one another.
• Visit Roussanne is a very mineral, full-bodied grape with notes of white fruit and apricot. Marsanne produces fresher wines, with citrus and exotic notes.

 

• Condrieu La Doriane, Guigal

Considered one of the appellation's finest wines, Cuvée La Doriane will surprise you with its aromatic intensity. Firstly, because it's located on the steep granite slopes that give it its complexity and freshness. And secondly, because the wine is aged for 12 months in barrel to give it substance and depth. This is a superb wine to enjoy with white-fleshed fish, with which white fruit and floral notes will combine.

 

The Southern Rhône Valley

Bringing together wines such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas or VacqueyrasThe southern Rhône valley is best known for its red wines, but there are plenty of white wines to discover. A wide variety of terroirs are found here, with limestone, sandy and pebbly soils, complemented by alluvial deposits from the Rhône.

What grape varieties are used in red wines ?

We find a multitude of grape varieties, but the main ones are ;

• Grenache,
• Syrah or Mourvèdre
• and Carignan.

Grenache produces powerful, racy wines with aromas of black fruits, cocoa and spices.
As in the northern Rhône, Syrah produces rich, supple, peppery wines.
Mourvèdre, a difficult grape to grow, produces powerful, deep wines with black fruit and copper notes.
Carignan brings power, candied fruit and structure to the wine.

 

• Gigondas 2015 Terrasses de Montmirail - Domaine Grand Veneur - Alain Jaume

Produced from a blend of Grenache Noir, Syrah and a small proportion of Mourvèdre, Alain Jaume offers here a great classic on Gigondas.
The wine is then aged in vats and oak barrels for around 13 months, to provide stability and sufficient tannic substance to balance it all out.
The nose is interesting, starting with typical Gigondas notes of ripe red fruit, followed by hints of spice. We find the same chronology on the palate, with remarkable depth.

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Which grape varieties are used for white wines ?

Many grape varieties can be used to make wines, each adding a little touch of character, but the main white varieties are :

• Roussanne,
• Marsanne,
• Clairette
• and Bourboulenc.

Roussanne is the grape variety that brings the most complexity and substance to Rhône wines. On the palate, it has a fat, round texture with notes of stone fruit. Some appellations, such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc, can produce white wines with 100% Roussanne!
Marsanne retains the same characteristics as in the north. It produces tighter white wines, with notes of exotic fruits and white fruits. Very interesting as a single varietal or in blends.
Clairette is one of the oldest grape varieties in the Rhône Valley. Its juices are fairly alcoholic, with a slight acidity and bitterness. On the palate, we find these characteristics, with notes of white apples, white fruits and a lovely freshness.
Bourboulenc is a grape variety that needs a lot of sun, which is why it thrives in the southern Rhône Valley. Its wines are fresh, floral and low in alcohol.

 

• La Réserve blanc 2018 Côte du Rhône - Le Clos du Caillou

With this Côte du Rhône, Clos des Cailloux has produced a rich, powerful white. The blend of 85% Clairette and 15% Grenache Blanc, then matured in demi-muid and new barrels for 4 months, affirms a dense palate, with notes of juicy white fruit and blood orange. The finish, still carried by the barrel, ends on sweet spices.

> Our Clos du Caillou wines

The diversity of grape varieties in the Rhone Valley is the source of the richness, finesse and originality of Rhone wines. Comptoir des Millésimes offers all the greatest Rhône estates. Old Rhône vintages, as well as wines directly from the Rhône Valley estates.