A recent tasting at 67 Pall Mall, hosted by Anna Spooner (formerly of the Wine Society, but now on the Masters of Wine programme), showcased a selection of carefully curated bottles from the southern Rhône. The tasting was designed to give a platform to some of the excellent wines on offer in the region; shining examples of where to source wines of high quality without the cru tag.
Starting with the whites, it was pleasing to taste both single-varietals and blends, wines of great complexity and ageing capability, some with grapes unusual for the region, some using wild yeasts, and all perfect for summer drinking if you are looking for a different flavour profile from the ubiquitous Sauvignon Blanc, Picpoul and Pinot Grigio offerings.
A Côte-du-Rhône Blanc from the stable of renowned winemaker, Jean-Luc Jamet, this time of indigenous varieties Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier, was simply stunning, and already has 4 years in bottle. A serious summer wine that would also fit that gap between now and spring if it’s white you are after, given its weight and slightly oily texture. This wine has a high alcohol level, at 14 per cent, but is so well balanced, it carries it off well (Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc, Couzou, Jean-Luc Jamet, 2019).
The reds were more predictable, but coming in at 15 per cent abv, overly alcoholic for my taste. Time perhaps to look to the Rhône for white wine.
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