Six seriously delicious reds from the Rhone. Easy drinking, full flavoured satisfaction.

• 2020 Santa Duc Cotes du Rhone Les Vieilles Vignes
• 2022 Domaine la Remejeanne Cotes du Rhone Un Air de Remejeanne
• 2022 Domaine Saint-Damien Plan de Dieu Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes
• 2022 Domaine du Seminaire Cotes du Rhone
• 2021 Mas des Bressades Cuvee Tradition Rouge
• 2021 Domaine Alary Cotes du Rhone La Gerbaude

2020 Santa Duc Cotes du Rhone Les Vieilles Vignes

This is a Côtes du Rhône with serious pedigree, sourced from 50-year-old vines across the Rhône Valley’s distinctive soils of lithosol, marl, and red clay. This blend of 60% Grenache with Syrah, Mourvèdre, and a dash of Cinsault, Cournoise, and Carignan is bursting with depth, aged gently on lees with minimal sulphur to let the fruit’s natural vibrancy shine through.

Expect a plush, medium-to-full-bodied palate with a core of ripe red cherry, currant, and dark fruit, balanced by fine tannins and a creamy texture. Savoury notes of black olive, cocoa, and a touch of leather add complexity, while hints of pepper, garrigue, and underbrush evoke the Rhône’s rustic charm. This wine is drinking beautifully now, offering a long, smooth finish with just the right touch of spice.

Perfect for fans of authentic, expressive Rhône reds, Santa Duc’s Les Vieilles Vignes is refined, balanced, and ready to be enjoyed now, though it’s got the structure to age gracefully for those with patience.

2022 Domaine la Remejeanne Cotes du Rhone Un Air de Remejeanne

Looking for a pure, mineral-accented wine that captures the essence of the rugged Sabran landscape in the southern Rhone? Meet Un Air Côtes du Rhône, a beautifully crafted Grenache Syrah blend from Olivier Klein.

This certified organic wine is made from 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, sourced from the estate’s highland, sandy limestone vineyards around the hamlet of Sabran. The fruit is handpicked, sorted, and mostly destemmed before undergoing a natural ferment and a five-day cold soak. Maturation happens in concrete tanks for seven to eight months, ensuring no oak interference. The wine is unfined and lightly filtered before bottling, preserving its natural character.

Un Air Côtes du Rhône is full of bright red fruit, jumping out of the glass with scents of just-picked raspberries, cherries, and a bouquet of lavender, sage, thyme, and violet. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied and fine, with a rocky, dusty feel and a gentle caress of tannins that enhance its crunchy-fruited drinkability. This is a cool-climate Rhone at its best—supple, fragrant, and bursting with energy.

2022 Domaine Saint-Damien Plan de Dieu Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes

The 2022 Domaine Saint-Damien Plan de Dieu Vieilles Vignes is a beautifully layered and expressive Rhône red, offering remarkable depth and complexity for a wine of its price.

Run by the Saurel family, with winemaking now helmed by Romain Saurel, Domaine Saint-Damien has become a revered name in the Rhône Valley, celebrated for its focus on organic, low-yielding vineyards and traditional ageing in concrete vats. Consulting winemaker Philippe Cambie, known for his mastery in the region, has been instrumental in shaping the estate’s reputation, making wines that highlight the character of Gigondas and surrounding appellations.

This Côtes du Rhône, crafted from 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre, showcases layers of red and dark fruits with subtle undertones of herbs, pepper, and earth, creating a wine that’s both powerful and balanced. Its medium weight and remarkable freshness make it enjoyable now, with structure to develop beautifully over the next 5-6 years.

Lovers of authentic Rhône reds, eat your heart out here. A true bargain!

2022 Domaine du Seminaire Cotes du Rhone

Great value Cotes du Rhone from the organic vineyards of Domaine du Seminaire in the east of the Rhone, on the way to Alps.

It's a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Carignan. It's open, warm and ready to drink. There's the signature richness of the region, tempered with a little more restraint from the cooler site where this family resides.

Value for money wise, this is a cracking all-rounder red, and fully organic to boot.

2021 Mas des Bressades Cuvee Tradition Rouge

Great value Rhone red here. Mas des Bressades Cuvee Tradition Rouge is a juicy blend of Grenache and Syrah from the Costières de Nîmes.

Under the skilled hand of seasoned winemaker Cyril Mares, this wine is a bright, modern look at the classic regional blend of Grenache and Syrah. Cyril, having honed his winemaking skills in California and Chile, returned to his family estate in 1996, bringing with him a fresh perspective that shines through in his modern approach.

This wine greets you with a dark red colour and an enticing nose of fresh blackcurrant and classic Rhone garrigue herbs. On the palate, it's fresh, clean and deliciously ripe with rich black fruit flavours and a touch of spice.

If you want the taste of Rhone without the hefty pricetag, you're onto a good thing here.

2021 Domaine Alary Cotes du Rhone La Gerbaude

The 2021 Domaine Alary La Gerbaude is an organic Côtes du Rhône that overdelivers on every level. Made from Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan, this blend showcases the signature Alary charm – beautifully ripe yet balanced, with layers of red and black fruits.

On the nose, you’re greeted by expressive aromas of blackcurrant, strawberry, and a hint of crushed pepper. The palate is smooth and round, with fine tannins that add structure without overwhelming. There’s a lift of brightness from its natural acidity, which keeps the wine lively and light on its feet, perfect for pairing with dishes like lamb chops or pork sirloin.

With its velvety texture, long finish, and mouth-filling persistence, La Gerbaude is a bottle to enjoy now, offering incredible value in every glass.