Domaine Vallot Cotes Du Rhone 2021
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Domaine Vallot sits in the southern Côtes du Rhône village of Le Coriançon, with vineyards planted on the hills above the winery at an altitude reaching 450m within the appellation of Vinsobres.
Vinsobres red wines were granted their own appellation status as an AOC in 2006. The village had previously been under the Côtes du Rhône Villages umbrella since 1967. The white and rosé wines of the village are sold under the Côtes du Rhône designation.
High altitude vineyards surround Vinsobres, running for 10km on the south-east facing limestone slopes which mark the beginning of the Alpine foothills. This privileged position at higher altitudes affords a mild micro-climate throughout the year with the Dentelles de Montmirail and Mont Ventoux as a backdrop, which lends wines from the region great freshness and complexity from a longer vegetative maturation cycle. The soils here are rocky and rich in limestone, but there are also patches of sandy soil. Vinsobres sits at a higher elevation than neighboring Gigondas or Vacqueyras, which is a key concept for the definition of the appellation and what sets them apart: freshness and finesse.
With their founding five generations ago, Domaine Vallot is one of the oldest domaines in the Côtes du Rhône. Their modern business was created by François Vallot, who is a fourth-generation vigneron. With an exceptional natural climate and a strong passion for quality, François Vallot was an early adopter of the organic and biodynamic movements in the southern Rhône. He began working in organics in the early 1990s and his vineyards gained official certification from Ecocert in the difficult 2003 vintage, which he credits as one of the reasons his wines were so fresh in a historically hot year. With many years of biodynamic farming under his belt, Domaine Vallot attained their Demeter biodynamic certification in 2007.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Typically thought of as a baby Chateâuneuf-du-Pape, the term Côtes du Rhône actually doesn’t merely apply to the flatter outskirts of the major southern Rhône appellations, it also includes the fringes of well-respected northern Rhône appellations. White wines can be produced under the appellation name, but very little is actually made.
The region offers some of the best values in France and even some first-rate and age-worthy reds. Red wine varieties include most of the Chateâuneuf-du-Pape varieties like Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Counoise, as well as Carignan. White grapes grown include Grenache blanc, Roussanne and Viognier, among others.