Terroir Daronton 2017 Roaix, Côtes du Rhône Villages

Le Terroir Daronton is a cooperative winery that includes about 200 winegrowers in the Southern Rhone.  They don’t make a generic “Cotes du Rhone”; instead, they focus on village-designated wines. These villages include famous ones like Gigondas and Chateauneuf du Pape. They also include less well-known crus like Seguret, Visan, and this bottle from Roaix.

Wine Review

This is a classic and lovely Cotes du Rhone Cru, closer in style to Gigondas than Chateauneuf du Pape. Aromas of toasted lavender and driftwood and core minerality on the nose. Medium-bodied with iron-flecked plum notes, typical of high-altitude Grenache. Tannins are a bit astringent, so a decanter is recommended.  For a food pairing, Sicilian caponata or Pasta Alla Norma would be lovely. For a French meal, Hachis Parmentier (Shephards Pie) would do the trick nicely.