Country France
Region Rhone Valley
Farming Organic
Soils Sandy, alluvial soils
Variety Grenache Syrah Mourvedre 
Alcohol 14.5%
Size 750ml
Pairings Bacon Cheddar Burger, Campfire

A dense and concentrated dark ruby color with a hint of magenta. The nose reveals deep red fruit accented by grilled rosemary, black pepper, and violets, with hints of green tobacco and chocolate. The mouthfeel is broad, with plenty of blackberry preserves, dark spice, and gorgeous tannins leading to a long finish. It’s a bold, rich, and balanced Rhône blend. Drink now–2028.

About the Producer
As the head of prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape house Vignobles Mayard, Françoise Roumieux has emerged as one of the appellation's most forward-thinking figures. She’s a leader in regenerative, no-till farming, and of the winemaking community that forms the lifeblood of the Southern Rhône.

Françoise brings every bit of her acumen to bear in her magnificent 2019 Côtes-du-Rhône, which impressed us with its balance of savory power and levity, and with its unbelievable value. The level of quality in this bottle—made from 30-year-old organically farmed vines from two villages, hand-harvested, and vinified with minimum intervention—is incredible for the price. 

The leading critics of the Rhône have been effusive about the wines Françoise makes with her sister Béatrice at Vignobles Mayard. Most tellingly, the Wine Advocate praised the estate as one “where prices haven’t yet caught up with the increasing quality.” And this unctuous, garrigue-scented mixture of Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Syrah has the same stylistic verve as that estate’s marquee bottles. 

Like all great leaders, Françoise thinks about others as much as herself. That’s how she came to her role as president of the Femmes Vignes Rhône—a tight-knit consortium of the Rhône Valley’s leading female winemakers—and in 2016, she created a micro-negociant to highlight the contributions of the group, sourcing grapes exclusively from the 30 or so estates that comprise the organization. The 2019 blend features grapes from the sandy, alluvial soils in Saint Gervais and Domazan, where Françoise sources from sites that meet her exacting organic standards.

The striking result is a savory, dark, powerful 2019 Côtes du Rhône that steps up to the very heights of a crowded category.