In episode 208, the second part of The Drinking Hour’s Côtes du Rhône special, David Kermode takes a look at the terroir, grape varieties and blending that happens in Côtes du Rhône Villages. He is joined by Raphaël Knapp of Château la Borie and Anthony Taylor of Gabriel Meffre, both of whom have hands on experience working in the region.
Following on from the previous episode, which saw Kermode take a look at the first tier in the pyramid of quality within Côtes du Rhône, Knapp succinctly explains the differences between Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages, the two main appellations in the Southern Rhône. Taylor expands upon this, underlining how the wine of Côtes du Rhône Villages is typically more terroir-specific and complex.
The trio move on to the history of the Côtes du Rhône AOC, which was awarded AOC status in 1937, just two years after the system was first established. They explain how Côtes du Rhône Villages, the next step up in the hierarchy of quality, was created in 1966. Knapp and Taylor speak about why this ranking is useful to consumers.
The second half of the episode includes a look at the decade-long process involved in a Côtes du Rhône Villages vineyard receiving cru designation, an examination of the the qualities of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre, and an insightful discussion on the impacts of climate change in the region, which sees Knapp explain why some producers think planting the lesser known variety Marselan might be a helpful step to take. The trio end the podcast by sharing their favourite Côtes du Rhône Villages wine and food pairings.
Discover more episodes of The Drinking Hour with David Kermode here
