Southern Rhône
APRIL 2025
This month, we're visiting France's classic Southern Rhône region, known for a range of delicious, easy-drinking red blends from everyday-priced Côtes-du-Rhône up to fancy Cru Villages wines from around the famous, medieval villages of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas & Vacqueyras. Julie & I visited this area in 2006 (with little kids in tow), and we found it to be beautiful, welcoming, slow-paced, kid-friendly, with daily trips to the farmers market, and wonderful food & wine at every turn. Looking forward to when we can return...
In the meantime, enjoy these wines. Southern Rhône reds are traditionally blends of Grenache, Syrah & Mourvèdre with a pleasant earthy note that gives the wines depth, but leaves them approachable and lovable for the masses.
Photo top: La Bastide Saint Dominque lavender fields // Photo above: Domaine de La Janasse harvest
Rhône Valley Classification System
The Rhône Valley appellation has a pyramid ranking system with entry level wines designated as Côtes-du-Rhône AOC. The next level up (which generally indicates more complexity in the wine from specific soils & microclimates) is Côtes-du-Rhône Villages. Third level in the pyramid is Côtes-du-Rhône Villages + [the name of the village], an additional honor. The pinnacle of the pyramid are Rhône Crus, where only the name of village is on the label. These are the most famous and expensive wines from the Rhône: Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras & more.
In this month's club, you have two Cru reds (from Rasteau & Vacqueyras) and a white from IGP Principauté-d'Orange (vineyards to the east of the village of Courthézon where the winery is located).
Photo: Le Mas des Flauzières harvest
2-BOTTLE CLUB
Le Mas des Flauzières
Near the village of Vaison La Romaine
Le Mas des Flauzières is a farm which belonged to the Château d’Entrechaux in the Middle Ages. Since 1919, it has been owned and operated by the Benoît family. Jérôme Benoît (pictured) studied agronomy & oenology, and in 2002, he decided to start producing his own wines. The estate, located near the village of Vaison La Romaine, has properties that range over several appellations, including Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Séguret, Ventoux, and Côtes du Rhône Villages.
Le Mas des Flauzières 2019 Vacqueyras Le Pilou Rouge
Southern Rhône, France • Reg $31.99 | Mixed Case $25.59
50% Grenache, 50% Syrah aged 18 months in oak barrels.
Garrigue-ola!! Herbs, earth, dark raspberries, plums on the nose. Flavors of wild strawberries, lots of plums (unusual for Vacqueyras), cherries which lead to orange rind acidity kicking in. Then lots of herbs, earth and fine tannins on the finish. I wouldn’t age this wine. I’d drink it. Love how it shifts around from strawberries to plums to cherries. Kind of great. Fuller-bodied.
Pair with grilled meats. We enjoyed with a dry-aged flatiron steak with fingerling potatoes, zucchini, hazelnuts, Parmesan, lemon zest. Terrific.
La Bastide Saint Dominique
Courthézon, France
Marie-Claude & Gérard Bonnet founded the estate in the 1980's with only a small plot of land, growing it to 50 hectares, including vineyards in Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages, Cairanne, Châteauneuf du Pape and IGP Méditerranée. Their children, Eric & Veronique Bonnet (pictured), took over for their parents in 1999. Eric has transitioned to organic farming, with French AB (Agriculture Biologique) Organic farming certification in 2011.
"Located in the Southern Rhône Valley, between Avignon and Orange, our estate enjoys a warm and dry climate, characteristic of the Mediterranean climate. Sun and the Mistral wind impart their characteristics to the wines, combining with the terroir to give them a distinct character and a marked identity. Wines that are warm, robust, sun-kissed, yet characterized by finesse and elegance." –Eric & Veronique Bonnet
La Bastide Saint Dominique 2022 Rasteau La Cabane Rouge
Southern Rhône, France • Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
Grenache 70%, Mourvèdre 30% from red clay soils. Aged 10-12 months in concrete tanks, so pure fruit.
Very herbal, garrigue, red fruit on the nose. Old-style, classic, Rhône nose. Then the Mourvèdre kicks in on the palate: dark raspberries, black cherries, mulberries, herbal, rustic, barnyard on the back palate through the finish. So absolutely sexy & delicious. Old school Rhône. In a good way. Terrific wine.
The winery says to pair with: dauphinois gratin with porcini mushrooms, Brie de Meaux and Camembert, prime rib steak with grenaille potatoes, slow cooked (7 hour) lamb shoulder. There you go! Drink now to 5 years.
3-BOTTLE CLUB
Domaine de La Janasse
Near the village of Courthézon, France
This family winery has made a name for itself producing powerhouse Châteauneuf-du-Page reds, but their range is broader. Founded in 1976 by Aimé Sabon, he built up his holdings to include 90 hectares, spread over as many as 70 different parcels throughout the appellation.
Their terroirs range from sandy soils to clay-limestone to gravelly red clay and galets (large, smooth, flat stones). Aimé still oversees the vineyards (which he farms organically), while his children, Christophe & Isabelle (pictured above in the middle), are the winemaking team. Their wines include the appellations: Châteauneuf-du-Papes, Côtes-du-Rhônes, and IGP designation vineyards (like the Viognier in your club).
Domaine de La Janasse 2023 Viognier
Southern Rhône, France • Reg $32.99 | Mixed Case $26.39
100% Viognier from sandy vineyards in the Pincipauté d'Orange to the east of Courthézon. Aged for 6 months – 60% in vats (on the lees) and 40% in barrels (25% new).
Nose of white flowers (really big!!), dried apricot, note of dried peach. The palate adds in pear with nutty notes (honeyed pecan?). Fuller-bodied. Luscious with great acidity and a dry finish. Lovely curveball. This wine is full of surprises. So much fun. And absolutely delicious. I predict this will be one of my top wines of the year! Winery says to enjoy as an aperitif or on a salad of scallops & mesclun. Drink now to 3 years.
A Note from Jens:
Huge fan of wines from the Southern Rhône! Hope you enjoy them. Pretty sure they are going to knock your socks off!
Your wine club pick-up tasting is always the 2nd Saturday of the month. Hope you can join us to taste and learn about your wines! As well, you'll be able to taste the Portalis EXPLORES club wines. April theme is Portugal. Hope you can join!
Cheers,
Jens Strecker, Owner
Portalis Wine Shop
If you are here because you’re curious about our wine clubs: Here’s more general info & online signup> You can also peruse the last 12 months of both clubs to get a feel for the themes we pick and the wines we showcase: Portalis EXPLORES (our everyday wine club) & Portalis FLAGSHIP (our signature club).