Written by: James Molesworth | August 12, 2021
We’re starting to get a peek at the Southern Rhône Valley‘s 2019 and 2020 vintages now, as the early waves of Côtes du Rhône bottlings and other wines come in. Both vintages were marked by extremely hot growing seasons that resulted in dense, concentrated reds—typical for the region. Cool nights and some well-timed rains helped alleviate these hot and dry conditions, and the early returns are promising.
To wet your beak, here’s a batch of solid values that should be easy to find on shelves. They provide a glimmer of what to expect as the greater bulk of Southern Rhône wines come in through the fall and winter. But there’s also an outlier here—the late-release 2017 from Rodolphe de Pins’ Château de Montfaucon estate. Lirac is a cru located just to the west of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and sits on very similar terroir. It’s a sleeper appellation providing red wines that age nicely over five years or so.
BOUTINOT
Côtes du Rhône-Villages Les Coteaux 2019
Score: 90 | $20
WS review: A singed mesquite note leads the way in this offering, with gently mulled cherry and plum fruit following along. Sanguine and red tea notes line the slightly taut finish. Drink now through 2023. 8,700 cases made, 1,600 cases imported.—J.M.
