Notify me
2016 Cairanne
Domaine Catherine Le GœuilYou would be forgiven for not being able to place Cairanne on a map. Twenty miles north of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this village is among the underrated of the southern Rhône, and it didn’t receive AOC status until the 2016 vintage! And what a vintage to commemorate: 2016 is widely regarded as an incredible year in the Rhône Valley. Daniel Brunier of Vieux Télégraphe told us, “I would never use this word lightly, but 2016 is the absolute best vintage I’ve ever seen here since 1978.”
Now, even though it was only validated recently by the authorities, that doesn’t mean Cairanne hadn’t been producing excellent wines for years before that. Kermit began to import the reds of Catherine Le Gœuil in 2005. Ever since, they have represented his ethos: “If you are looking for great values, look where no one else is looking.” Made from impeccable Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, and Counoise grapes—organically farmed and kept dry by the mistral—grown in sandy molasse, clay, and limestone, this Cairanne bears all of the southern Rhône notes we love: black cherries, garrigue, olives, and stones. It will pair magically with braised oxtails or grilled lamb chops.
—Tom Wolf
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2016 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 51% Grenache, 17.5% Syrah, 17.5% Mourvèdre, 7% Carignan, 7% Counoise |
Appellation: | Cairanne |
Country: | France |
Region: | Southern Rhône |
Producer: | Catherine Le Goeuil |
Winemaker: | Catherine Le Gœuil |
Vineyard: | About 50 years old, 6 ha |
Soil: | Sandy Molasse, Limestone, Clay |
Aging: | Vinification lasts for 2-3 weeks in temperature-controlled cement tanks |
Farming: | Organic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 14.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
2020 Gigondas “Terrasse du Diable” MAGNUM
France | Southern Rhône
An abundance of violets and velvet, amid a cooling sensation of a cold spring on a hot day.
2023 Côtes-du-Rhône “Poignée de Raisins”
France | Southern Rhône
Serve this one cool, from a carafe, with a plain old burger—generously seasoned with herbes de Provence.
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône “L' Emouvante”
France | Southern Rhône
Deep, concentrated, and refreshingly saline, this is like great Cornas with Mediterranean influences.
2021 Tavel Rosé HALF BOTTLE
France | Southern Rhône
This dark, autumnal rosé is a beacon of tradition in a sea of paler styles.
2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau”
France | Southern Rhône
The majesty of the La Crau vineyard is encapsulated in this wine. I can't think of a grander expression of Southern Rhone terroir to be enjoyed this winter.
2022 Beaumes-de-Venise Rouge
France | Southern Rhône
Grenache is joined by Syrah and a drop of Mourvèdre to create this delightful everyday red scented with herbes de Provence and ripe black cherry.
2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc “Clos la Roquète”
France | Southern Rhône
Clos La Roquète’s blanc is luscious, yet finishes nice and dry with striking acidity.
2020 Gigondas “Racines” MAGNUM
France | Southern Rhône
Intense in both color and character, the most dense and vinous I can ever remember from this cuvée.
2023 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse “Le Pigeoulet” Blanc
France | Southern Rhône
The blend is equal parts Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, and Clairette. Together, they create a wine that has a complex mouth-feel that finishes with a nice refreshing acidity.
2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc “La Crau”
France | Southern Rhône
Clairette, an unsung hero of the south, is the main grape here, undoubtedly one of many key elements to this singular wine.
About The Producer
Catherine Le Goeuil
More from Southern Rhône or France
2022 Vacqueyras Rouge “Cuvée de Lopy”
Domaine le Sang des Cailloux France | Southern Rhône
NV Clairette de Die Brut
Achard-Vincent France | Southern Rhône
2023 Côtes-du-Rhône “Sierra du Sud”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2021 Tavel Rosé HALF BOTTLE
Château de Trinquevedel France | Southern Rhône
2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc “La Crau”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2022 Gigondas
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes du Rhône Rouge
Selected by Kermit Lynch France | Southern Rhône
2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc “Clos la Roquète”
Frédéric & Daniel Brunier France | Southern Rhône
2023 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge “La Rubiconde”
Maxime François Laurent France | Southern Rhône
2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2020 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise HALF BOTTLE
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge
Selected by Kermit Lynch France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vacqueyras Rouge “Cuvée de Lopy”
Domaine le Sang des Cailloux France | Southern Rhône
NV Clairette de Die Brut
Achard-Vincent France | Southern Rhône
2023 Côtes-du-Rhône “Sierra du Sud”
Domaine Gramenon France | Southern Rhône
2021 Tavel Rosé HALF BOTTLE
Château de Trinquevedel France | Southern Rhône
2023 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc “La Crau”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2022 Gigondas
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône
2022 Côtes du Rhône Rouge
Selected by Kermit Lynch France | Southern Rhône
2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc “Clos la Roquète”
Frédéric & Daniel Brunier France | Southern Rhône
2023 Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge “La Rubiconde”
Maxime François Laurent France | Southern Rhône
2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape “La Crau”
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe France | Southern Rhône
2020 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise HALF BOTTLE
Domaine de Durban France | Southern Rhône
2022 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge
Selected by Kermit Lynch France | Southern Rhône
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
For the wines that I buy I insist that the winemaker leave them whole, intact. I go into the cellars now and select specific barrels or cuvées, and I request that they be bottled without stripping them with filters or other devices. This means that many of our wines will arrive with a smudge of sediment and will throw a more important deposit as time goes by, It also means the wine will taste better.