Images of Duché d’Uzès
November 29, 2019
Eastern part of the appellation, near the town of Uzès Typical limestone soils Patrick Chabrier of Domaine Chabrier Michel Souchon, president of AOC Duché d'Uzès and president of Cave Durfort Luc Reynaud of Domaine Reynaud Western part of the appellation, approaching the Cevennes mountains Nicolas Souchon of Mas des Volques Nicolas…
Images of Costières de Nîmes and Clairette de Bellegarde
November 22, 2019
Classic Costières de Nîmes galets roulés soils Cyril Marès of Mas Carlot and Mas de Bressades shows off a big one! The Abbatiale Saint-Gilles du Gard in the town of Saint-Gilles Anne and François Collard of Château Mourgues du Grès Clairette rose from a book by H. Marès (an ancestor of Cyril Marès) written in 1890 Bruno Manzone of Domaine Manzone,…
2018 Rhône report now available on Decanter Premium
November 19, 2019
The 2018 vintage in the Southern Rhône is one in which simple rules of thumb don't apply. The region suffered the worst attack of downy mildew in generations, which decimated some vineyards and made for a very difficult growing season. Often it was organic/biodynamic growers that were hardest hit, and the disease had a cruel predilection for old vines. Great vineyards were overcome just…
When is a rosé not a rosé?
November 15, 2019
Among the first five wine appellations ever to be minted in France were two of the finest terroirs of the Rhône: Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Tavel. Fast forward 83 years and Châteauneuf is famous the world over; Tavel is in the doldrums. It was once the most famous rosé in France but as tastes for rosé get ever paler, Tavel has found itself left out in the cold. One winemaker has ripped up the rule…