Whether you’re looking for the region’s big names or a rising star, the fruit of an illustrious appellation or something new and alternative, our selection from the Rhone is unbeatable.
The northern Rhône: classics abound
Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Cornas, Condrieu: some of France’s most coveted appellations. And we have a rich selection of bottles from their very best domains.
The northernmost zone of the Rhône is home to the prestigious Côte-Rôtie appellation, one of the region’s most prized for its powerful, dense and characterful wines. Maison Guigal, with its famous LA-LA-LA trio of La Landonne, La Turque, and La Mouline, is a Rhône giant, alongside Château d’Ampuis, whose cuvées deserve to be aged for a while to reach their pinnacle. Stéphane Ogier is also a proprietor of great terroirs, as is expressed in his Côte Blonde and La Bell Hélène cuvées. The Côte-Rôtie wines crafted at Domaine Jamet have been described by the RVF as “exceptional, offering a succulent mouthfeel and great aging capacity”. There are some beautiful lots from Chapoutier, including La Mordorée. And for a more attainable Côte-Rôtie, we recommend Domaines Yves Cuilleron, François Villard, Clusel Roch, Bonnefond, and Jasmin.
From Hermitage, the region’s star appellation, Jean-Louis Chave is an exceptional signature, and we have some of these cuvées in their mature vintages. The same is true of Jaboulet’s landmark La Chapelle cuvée, which you won’t have to wait years to uncork as it is available in its 1999 and 2006 vintages!
We mustn’t forget about the Rhône’s white wines, exuberant and driven by a notable strength, with Condrieu at the top of the list. Georges Vernay is one of the appellation’s top producers, whose Les Chaillées de l’Enfer cuvée is a must-try. We’ll add to this the wonderful wines of Gangloff, a domain that has found its way into the spotlight in recent years and is en vogue for good reason!
The southern Rhône: Châteauneuf-du-Pape and rising stars
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is an appellation of dreams in the world of wine, and we have a wealth of cuvées from names like Henri Bonneau, Beaucastel, Clos-Saint-Jean, la Janasse, and Roger Sabon. For a price that’s gentler on the wallet, you might want to try a 2016 Clos du Mont-Olivet, or a 2018 Télégramme!
But the southern Rhône should never be reduced to the treasures of Châteauneuf, as special as they are, as the region is bursting with alternative gems to brighten your cellar. The Tavel appellation is home to the sublime, natural wines of Domaine de l’Anglore, Rasteau’s reputation owes much to Gourt de Mautens, and Gigondas’ Domaine Raspail Ay is available in its most recent vintage. From Ardèche, the name to have in your cellar is Domaine des Accoles, which means ‘terraces’ in Occitan, a superb biodynamic estate that makes fine, fresh cuvées.
From the Côtes-du-Rhône, we’d like to draw your attention to Domaine de la Réméjeanne (2016, 2018, 2019), a true hidden gem that the RVF described as thus: ‘one of the region’s best, making pure and sleek wines’.
