Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/882780
{ SOMMjournal.com } 121 mentions of Côtes du Rhône on the label. There are nine crus in the southern Rhône and eight crus in the north. Sadly, many consumers' education on Rhône wines doesn't go past the Côtes du Rhône AOP level. Delve a little deeper into the Rhône wine hierarchy to explore region - ally, however, and the wines of the Rhône Valley begin to show their true identity and individuality. Regions represented on the Cruise with the Crus included Beaumes- de-Venise, Gigondas, Lirac, Rasteau and Vinsobres from the Southern Rhône, and Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Cornas and Saint- Joseph from the Northern Rhône. The Southern Rhône crus make primarily red wines with Grenache typically leading the blend. Some delightful whites are also produced. The terrain, while still hilly, is less steep, and the cliate is inuenced ore by the Mediterranean—windier, warmer in sum - mer and less cold in the winter. As a result, the wines tend to be more round and voluptuous. Representing the south included the sharp, stone-fruited Château de Montfaucon 2015 "Comtesse Madeleine" Lirac Blanc (40% Marsanne, 35% Clairette, 20% Grenache Blanc, 5% Picpoul), Domaine Grand Nicolet 2015 "Terre des Bertrand" Rasteau (70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Carignan), and the blackberry spiced Domaine Jaume 2015 "Altitude 420" Vinsobres (60% Grenache, 40% Syrah). The Northern Rhône crus produce mostly varietal wines and are devoted to both red and white. For the reds, Syrah is the dominant grape variety. Its inland location means a continental climate, steeper terrain and colder winters, which help make wines of great character, good tannic structure and ageability. A few of the wines—all from the outstanding 2015 vintage—representing this region included the rich and racy Julien Pilon "Lône" Condrieu (100% Viognier) as well as the Julien Pilon Dimanche à Lima from Saint- Joseph (50% Marsanne, 50% Roussanne). The Jacques Lemenicier Cornas (100% Syrah) was also a standout. Kristie Petrullo, founder of Petrullo Wine Company, served as the dedicated Rhône sommelier for the cruise. CÔTES DU RHÔNE CRUS FEATURED WINES WHITE WINES Condrieu, Julien Pilon, Lône, 2015 Condrieu, Delas Frères, La Galopine, 2014 Condrieu, Paul Jaboulet Aîné, Les Grands Amandiers, 2014 Lirac, Château de Montfaucon, Comtesse Madeleine, 2015 Saint-Joseph, Julien Pilon, Dimanche à Lima, 2015 RED WINES Beaumes-de-Venise, Domaine des Bernardins, Bernardins, 2015 Beaues-de-enise, hona, Confidence, 20 Cornas, Jacques Lemenicier, 2015 Cornas, Paul Jaboulet Aîné, Les Grandes Terrasses, 2012 Cornas, Vins Jean-Luc Colombo, La Louvée, 2012 Côte-Rôtie, Domaine Barge, Du Plessy, 2013 Côte-Rôtie, Vidal Fleury, Brune et Blonde, 2013 Côte-Rôtie, Domaine de Bonserine, La Garde, 2012 Gigondas, Domaine Saint Damien, Louisiane, 2014 Gigondas, Pierre Amadieu, Romane Machotte, 2014 Gigondas, Domaine Saint Gayan (SCEA JP et M MEFFRE), Origine, 2013 Lirac, Château d'Aqueria, Château d'Aqueria, 2015 Lirac, Ogier, Lou Camine, 2015 Rasteau, Domaine Grand Nicolet, Terre des Bertrand, 2015 Rasteau, Coteaux des Travers, La Mondona, 2014 Rasteau, Domaine La Soumade (EARL ROMERO Frédéric), Prestige, 2014 aint-oseph, oaine illard, eet, 20 Saint-Joseph, Ferraton, La Source, 2015 Vinsobres, Chaume Arnaud, 2014 Vinsobres, Domaine Jaume, Altitude 420, 2014 NATURAL SWEET WINES Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, Domaine des Bernardins, Bernardins, 2015 Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, Vidal Fleury, 2014