From: Rhône, France
Varietals: 70% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre

Taste & Critical Acclaim: This glorious red wine from Le Clos du Caillou is truly impressive. It showcases vibrant red fruits complemented by layers of spice, anise, and silky textures. Though it carries only a Côtes du Rhône classification, it rivals many Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines. This blend of 70% Grenache from 70-year-old vines and 30% Mourvèdre from 20-year-old vines offers a mix of serious, mature fruit right alongside the friendly nature of youthful Mourvedre: lush black cherries, complex garrigue notes, and a subtle hint of cedar. Full-bodied and rich, it has a plush, velvety mouthfeel with a lingering finish.

“There was no 2021 made, but the 2022 Cotes du Rhone La Reserve, tasted as a blend drawn from the seven demi-muids (one new), is a terrific wine. A co-fermented blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Mourvèdre, it delivers lush black cherries, refreshing,
complex garrigue notes and just a hint of cedar. Full-bodied and rich, it’s plush and velvety in feel, with a lingering finish.” 92-94 pts., Joe Czerwinski, robertparker.com

Jeb Dunnuck: “While this cuvée wasn't made in 2021 due to the frosts, the 2022 Cotes Du Rhone La Reserve should make up for it – it’s a brilliant Cotes Du Rhone that readers will love. Bing cherries, red plums, blackberries, black liquorice, and sappy flower notes are just some of its nuances, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's going to be one of the finest Cotes Du Rhone out there.” (93-95) points

Pairing: Grenache-forward blends like this gem pair wonderfully with foods with smoky or charred flavors, such as grilled or smoked meats, vegetables, and BBQ. Grenache/ grenache-forward blends love herbs and spices like rosemary, pepper, cinnamon, five- spice, and even cumin. Curries, braises, stews, Asian cuisine, and tagine are just a few examples. We’re combining a few of these ideas in the recipe below for Curried Duck Legs with Ginger and Rhubarb by Melissa Clark. If you’re in the mood for something less involved, grab a duck rillette or confit and serve it on a baguette or toast with a rhubarb ginger compote for any equally pleasurable treat.

Curried Duck Legs With Ginger and Rhubarb
By Melissa Clark

About. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the French wine industry struggled to recover from the devastation caused by phylloxera, which wiped out millions of acres of vines. Chateauneuf-du-Pape faced significant issues with wine fraud and adulteration during this chaotic period. Pierre le Roy of Chateau Fortia spearheaded the establishment of regulatory standards, including rules on alcohol levels, yields, and grape varieties. This initiative eventually led to the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system we know today.

An essential part of this regulatory effort was a detailed map of the Chateauneuf-du- Pape vineyards. When officials attempted to include Clos du Caillou on this map in 1936, the estate’s owner forcibly rejected them, resulting in a noticeable gap where Clos du Caillou should have been. Despite the estate’s subsequent inclusion in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC, wines from this area, like their ‘La Reserve’ 2022, are still classified as ‘Cotes du Rhone.’ At a recent tasting, this wine stood out among Cotes du Rhone and rivaled many Chateauneuf-du-Papes, highlighting its exceptional quality and value. Given its rarity and the fact that it was not produced in 2021 due to frost, it remains a highly sought-after find. We have only a few cases available.