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2023 Côtes du Rhône Rouge
Selected by Kermit Lynch
Half an hour east of Avignon, there’s 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, I’m not talking about the Châteauneuf—Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which brought the region fame through its history of papal schism and legendary wines—but Châteauneuf-de-Gadagne, a charming medieval village where our most beloved house blend originates. For this cuvée, the blend changes every year. We taste samples from twenty cuves and allow the vintage to guide our proportions of mostly Grenache and Syrah, along with some Mourvèdre, Carignan, and splashes of Marselan and Cinsault. As with many of the southern Rhône’s quintessential reds, this one originates from 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 at this price.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2023 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 46% Syrah, 35% Grenache, 9% Mourvèdre, 5% Carignan, 3% Marselan, 2% Cinsault |
Appellation: | Côtes du Rhône |
Country: | France |
Region: | Southern Rhône |
Producer: | Selected by Kermit Lynch |
Vineyard: | 40 years average, 36 ha |
Soil: | Alluvial with galets roulés (rounded riverbed stones) |
Aging: | Wine is aged in cement tank before bottling |
Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
Alcohol: | 14.5% |
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It’s a gem, and you won’t be disappointed.

About The Producer
Selected by Kermit Lynch
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Kermit once said...

Kermit once said...
When buying red Burgundy, I think we should remember:
1. Big wines do not age better than light wine.
2. A so-called great vintage at the outset does not guarantee a great vintage for the duration.
3. A so-called off vintage at the outset does not mean the wines do not have a brilliant future ahead of them.
4. Red Burgundy should not taste like Guigal Côte-Rôtie, even if most wine writers wish it would.
5. Don’t follow leaders; watch yer parking meters.
Inspiring Thirst, page 174