2022 Côtes du Rhône Villages Vieilles Vignes
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Tasting notes
A blend of 80% Grenache, with 10% each Mourvèdre and Syrah, the fruit is all whole-bunch fermented in concrete – with no new oak used for maturation. The “Vieilles Vignes” referenced are an impressive 50 years old on average, and lend impressive intensity to this elegantly styled Côtes du Rhône Villages – a wine that is far more serious than its name suggests. The nose is perfumed and sweet, with rose and garrigue florals, as well as a touch of something creamy. The fruit fills the mouth, transparent and weightless – combining power and finesse. The sweet red-berry fruit is framed by fine but sandy tannins, adding grip and texture. Beautifully fresh, there’s a long, saline finish, with a final savoury twist.
About the producer
Domaine Font de Courtedune – for now, at least – is something of an insider’s secret. With vineyards right next door to Ch. Rayas, and sharing the same sandy soils, this tiny Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate produces outstanding wines that are a fraction of the price of those of its famous neighbour.