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2020 Côtes du Rhône
Selected by Kermit Lynch
This emblematic southern Rhône red originates half an hour east of Avignon, just outside a town whose name begins with Châteauneuf and whose vineyards are littered with the Rhône’s most quintessential terroir feature: the rounded river stones called galets roulés. No, this is not the Châteauneuf—Châteauneuf-du-Pape—that brought the region fame through its history of papal schism and legendary wines, but Châteauneuf-de-Gadagne, a charming medieval village worthy of a stop the next time you find yourself near Avignon.
For this cuvée—our house blend—we use mostly Grenache, along with some Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan, and a splash of Marselan planted in a galet-strewn terroir, which reflects the southern sun into the forty-year-old vines and yields an expressive rouge full of beautiful aromas and flavors of black cherries, stones, and a hint of black olive. Year in and year out, we are amazed to find this much southern French character and deliciousness for the price of a movie ticket.
—Tom Wolf
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2020 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 48% Grenache, 39% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre, 5% Carignan, 1% Marselan, 1% Cinsault |
Appellation: | Côtes du Rhône |
Country: | France |
Region: | Southern Rhône |
Producer: | Selected by Kermit Lynch |
Vineyard: | 40 years average, 36 ha |
Soil: | Marl, Limestone |
Aging: | Wine is aged in cement tank before bottling |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 14.5% |
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About The Producer
Selected by Kermit Lynch
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Kermit once said...

Kermit once said...
I want you to realize once and for all: Even the winemaker does not know what aging is going to do to a new vintage; Robert Parker does not know; I do not know. We all make educated (hopefully) guesses about what the future will bring, but guesses they are. And one of the pleasures of a wine cellar is the opportunity it provides for you to witness the evolution of your various selections. Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.
Inspiring Thirst, page 171