2009 Chateau des Tours Côtes du Rhône Reserve, 3-bottle Lot

Château des Tours is owned and operated by the legendary Reynaud family, which purchased property in the Rhone Valley in 1880. Their first estate was Château Rayas. In the late 1930s the family purchased the property that would become the 100-acre Château des Tours, adding the 30-acre Chateau de Fonsalette in 1945. Four generations of Reynauds have operated the three estates turning their wines into gold standards for their appellations. Robert M. Parker Jr. has called Château Rayas “one of the mythical names of France” because of its outstanding winemaking. And Jeb Dunnuck has noted that Emmanuel Reynaud, current owner and winemaker, makes wines that “never lack for power or richness.” Château des Tours wines earn consistently complimentary reviews.

The Southern Rhône Valley wine region extends from Orange in the north through the communes Lirac and Tavel in the southwest. The French call the region Côtes du Rhône Méridionales and it includes some of the best known appellations in France, such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas. The climate and landscape of the Southern Rhone differ significantly from the Northern Rhone. There are hot, often windy Mediterranean appellations near Nimes and the south, and higher altitude, relatively cool appellations such as Côtes du Ventoux to the east. Understanding the region can be confusing given that there are thirteen appellations and sixteen red and white grapes allowed for wines with appellation status. Syrah is grown here, but it is much less important than in the north. Grenache is the prominent red grape, though most red wines are blends of at least four varietals. Other commonly used red grapes are Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Muscardin. Counoise, Terret Noir, Vaccarèse and Syrah are also permitted. The primary white grapes are Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc, though Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne are permitted, as are Picpoul and Picardin. Of note is the Côtes du Rhone Villages AOC, which is only in the Southern Rhone. Though Côtes du Rhône AOC wine is made in both the north and south, the Villages appellation has stricter requirements for winemaking and is generally considered higher quality than simple Côtes du Rhône. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that “There is a vast amount of enjoyment to be discovered in the southern Rhône…for these are some of the most sumptuous and pleasure-giving wines produced in the world.”