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Rhône, Provence & Southern France Wine Producers

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This guide covers the sweep of southern France: the granite slopes of the northern Rhône, the sun-baked stones of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the maritime vineyards of Provence and Corsica, the vast diversity of Languedoc-Roussillon, and the distinctive terroirs of Bordeaux and the Southwest. For context on how these fit into 

Thierry Allemand has achieved almost mythical status amongst Cornas devotees. His 4 hectares on the appellation's steepest slopes yield wines of extraordinary intensity and purity: benchmarks for what this rugged terroir can achieve.

His farming is essentially organic though uncertified. Winemaking is traditional: whole clusters, extended maceration, ageing in older barrels without new oak. The resulting wines are dark and powerful yet possess floral elegance belying their concentration.

Cornas Chaillot from younger plateau vines is already remarkable. Cornas Reynard from old vines on the steepest slopes is transcendent: one of France's greatest Syrahs, capable of decades of evolution.

Franck Balthazar's 3-hectare domaine represents artisanal Cornas winemaking at its essence. His granite slopes are farmed organically, yielding wines of remarkable intensity with a finesse distinguishing them from the appellation's sometimes rustic reputation.

His approach is traditional: whole-cluster fermentation, extended maceration, ageing in older barrels.

Cornas Chaillot from a specific granite plateau parcel shows characteristic power tempered by mineral freshness. Cuvée Casimir from older vines offers greater depth and complexity.

The Bénétières' 3-hectare domaine has become a Condrieu reference, producing Viognier of unusual restraint and precision on steep granite slopes. Their approach emphasises freshness over the sometimes cloying richness marking lesser Condrieu.

Indigenous fermentations, ageing in older barrels, and early bottling preserve floral aromatics whilst maintaining acidity.

Standard Condrieu is always accomplished. Single-parcel bottlings including remarkable Côte Bonnette show what this appellation achieves when approached with rigour.

Ampuis | Côte-Rôtie | Certified Organic

Mickaël Bourg's tiny 2.5-hectare domaine in Ampuis, Côte-Rôtie's heart, has quickly established itself amongst appellation elite. Parcels spread across famous slopes are farmed organically and vinified with light touch.

Côte-Rôtie blended from multiple parcels shows characteristic elegance and perfume. Single-parcel bottlings, when produced, offer even greater precision and depth.

The Chave domaine represents Hermitage at its most profound. The family has farmed here since 1481, and today Jean-Louis and his son maintain traditions refined over centuries.

Their 15 hectares span Hermitage's diverse terroirs: granite of Bessards, limestone of Méal, loess of Rocoules, alluvial terraces below. This diversity allows them to craft a single blended Hermitage transcending its components.

White Hermitage, primarily Marsanne with some Roussanne, is rich and honeyed in youth but develops extraordinary complexity with age. Red Hermitage from Syrah across multiple lieux-dits is powerful yet elegant, evolving for decades.

In exceptional vintages, Cuvée Cathelin, a selection of finest lots, stands amongst France's greatest wines.

Their négociant label offers more accessible wines from Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, and Côtes du Rhône.

The Clusel-Roch domaine has been a Côte-Rôtie benchmark for decades. Gilbert Clusel and wife Brigitte Roch built the estate through patient acquisition of prime parcels; today son Guillaume continues their work.

Their 4 hectares include sites in both Côte Blonde and Côte Brune, the two sectors defining Côte-Rôtie's terroir. Farming is organic, winemaking traditional: whole clusters, extended maceration, ageing in older barrels.

Standard Côte-Rôtie blended from multiple parcels is consistently excellent. Single-parcel bottlings including Les Grandes Places from Côte Brune and La Viallière from Côte Blonde show even greater definition.

Mercurol | Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph | Certified Biodynamic

René-Jean Dard and François Ribo's domaine has achieved cult status amongst natural wine enthusiasts, bottles disappearing almost instantly. Their 6 hectares across Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, and Hermitage are farmed biodynamically and vinified without sulphur.

Results can be challenging, the no-sulphur approach yielding considerable bottle variation. But at best, they offer a window into what northern Rhône Syrah expresses with radical non-intervention.

Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph bottlings show bright, peppery fruit. Hermitage from a small hill parcel demonstrates greater concentration and complexity.

Mauves | Saint-Joseph | Certified Organic

The Gonon brothers' domaine has become a Saint-Joseph reference, demonstrating what this sometimes uneven appellation achieves with serious viticulture and winemaking.

Their 9 hectares, all on steep granite slopes defining the best sites, are farmed organically. Cellar approach is traditional but precise: whole-cluster fermentation, extended maceration, ageing in older barrels.

White Saint-Joseph from Marsanne and Roussanne is rich and honeyed. Red Saint-Joseph Les Oliviers is consistently excellent. Vieilles Vignes from 1920s parcels ranks amongst the northern Rhône's finest Syrahs.

Ampuis | Côte-Rôtie | Organic Principles

The Jamet domaine represents Côte-Rôtie at its most traditional. The family has farmed here since 1950; today brothers Jean-Paul and Jean-Luc maintain the estate with their children.

Their 9 hectares span both Côte Blonde and Côte Brune, providing material balancing power and elegance. Farming is essentially organic, winemaking traditional: whole clusters, extended maceration, ageing in older barrels with minimal new oak.

Standard Côte-Rôtie blended from multiple parcels is consistently amongst the appellation's finest. Côte Brune bottling in exceptional vintages shows even greater depth and structure.

The Levet family has farmed in Ampuis since the eighteenth century, their domaine passing through generations while Côte-Rôtie rose from obscurity to acclaim. Today Agnès Levet continues family tradition with 3 hectares on steep slopes.

Her approach is traditional: organic farming, whole-cluster fermentation, extended maceration, ageing in older barrels.

La Chavaroche from a steep Côte Brune parcel is particularly notable for depth and structure.

Ludovic Lionnet's 4-hectare domaine represents a new generation's approach to this traditionally rustic appellation. Granite slopes are farmed organically and vinified with lighter touch than many neighbours.

Cornas shows characteristic power but with greater finesse and youthful accessibility. Cornas Terre Brûlée from a specific plateau parcel offers additional depth and complexity.

Chavanay | Saint-Joseph | Certified Organic

Aymeric Paillard's 3-hectare domaine in Chavanay has emerged as one of Saint-Joseph's exciting new addresses. Steep granite slopes are farmed organically and vinified with minimal intervention.

Saint-Joseph rouge from young vines is bright and peppery. Cuvée Aurélie from older vines shows greater concentration and structure.

Vincent Paris's domaine has become one of Cornas's benchmarks, wines showing power and finesse in equal measure. His 10 hectares span various granite sites, providing material for both accessible and age-worthy bottlings.

His approach combines traditional winemaking with thoughtful innovation: whole-cluster for some cuvées, destemming for others, ageing in mixed barrels and larger vessels.

Cornas Granit 30 and Granit 60, named for their respective parcel gradients, show slope's influence on Syrah. La Geynale from the appellation's highest sites offers even greater elegance and perfume.