Wine Portfolio : Rhone Valley

Côtes du Rhône

The largest appellation in the Southern Rhone. These are all family-owned domaines that by appellation rules must have the vines and bottle the wine on the domaine to use the appellation name. All of these appellations control the grapes and percentages allowed, the production per hectare, the terrain for the vines, and even the type of wine - red, white, and rosé.

The styles of these wines vary considerably, depending on the characteristics the wine maker wishes to emphasize. The wine can have flower and fruit characteristics, herbal characteristics, or earthy characteristics.

The wines of domaines side by side, with the same terroir and the same percentages of the same grapes, can differ considerably, such as Domaine de l'Espigouette and Domaine de Favards 100 meters apart on the Route d'Orange in Violes. Thus, you should choose a style you prefer or to match a certain dish.

J et R imports a number of excellent Cotes du Rhone estates:

Domaine de l'Espigouette

Domaine Mireille et Vincent

Domaine des Amouriers

Domaine du Vieux Chêne

Domaine de la Tourade

Domaine Chaume-Arnaud

Domaine des Girasols

Domaine des Favards

Domaine de l'Espigouette

This domaine fashions a superb traditional Cotes du Rhone, that Robert Parker says "for readers looking for fabulous values from the southern Rhone Valley, here is a domaine to take seriously. The wines of Domaine de l'Espigouette are rustic, peppery, flavorful, robust, mouthfilling, textbook Cotes du Rhone."

J et R Selections is the exclusive importer of this important Rhone estate for the US.

Côtes du Rhône rouge 2000 vieilles vignes

Full of fruit, sweet, and elegant. 3300 cases made.

Domaine Mireille et Vincent

Robert Parker, Wines of the Rhone Valley, says Domaine Mireille et Vincent is a *** top producer of Valreas Cotes du Rhones. A biologique wine. J et R Selections is the exclusive importer of this Rhone estate for the US.

Côtes du Rhône rouge 1998

Cool and elegant, pure, and with a lovely scent of loganberries. A Silver medal winner at the Taster's Guild Annual International Wine Judging.

Côtes du Rhône blanc 1999

Sparkling with a lush golden tint, various nuances of pear, tropical fruit, and anise. 40% Clairette, 25% Marsanne, 25% Roussane, 10% Viognier.

Côtes du Rhône rosé 2000

The Cotes du Rhone, although 95% production is rouge, has delightful roses that, because of the basic grenache grape, have a peppery sparkle to them, especially delightful as an aperitif in the hot Provencal summers. This rose is 65% grenache, 10% vieilles vignes cinsault, and 25% carignan.

Domaine des Amouriers

J et R Selections is the importer of the traditional cuvees of this important estate. Robert Kacher imports special cuvees aged new oak; except for his cuvees, Amouriers never has used oak.

Côtes du Rhône rouge 2001

The Rhones of this Vacqueyras estate are tasty, elegant, richly fruity wines with good ripeness, medium body, and crisp acidity, all presented in a clean, fresh, lively format.

Domaine du Vieux Chêne

Robert Parker, Wines of the Rhone Valley and Provence, says the Domaine du Vieux Chene "has always been one of my favorite sources for very good Cotes du Rhone. The cuvee la Haie aux Grives is excellent- black ruby with a rich, complex bouquet of pepper and cassis, full-bodied, broadly flavored, and quite long. The cuvee Capucines is a deliciously fruity, round, berry-scented, plump wine that goes down very easily."

J et R Selections shares the US market with several other importers, but each has exclusive rights for its states.

Find out more about this estate...

Côtes du Rhône rouge 2000 cuvée de la Haie aux Grives

Dark red hue. Deep black fruit aromas have a wild, spicy note. Concentrated, mouth filling black fruit flavors unfold on the moderately full-bodied palate. Has a rich, deeply-fruited finish with grippy tannins. Certified biologique wine.

Côtes du Rhône rouge 2000 cuvée des Capucines

Capucines offers immense charm and beauty. There's an ease and immediacy here that makes you think the wine is quaffable. Then it begins to fill out, revealing a succession of new aromatic and textural experiences. Better to savor rather than to quaff. From the standpoint of elegance, a complete wine. Silver medal at Tasters Guild Consumers Wine Competition 2001. 100% grenache. No oak; aged 1 year in stainless steel vats. Certified biologique wine.

Côtes du Rhône rosé 2000 & 2001 cuvée des Capucines

An exceptional rose. Great charm, great finesse. 100% grenache. No oak; aged 1 year in stainless steel vats. Certified biologique wine.

Domaine de la Tourade

J et R Selections is the exclusive importer of this estate for the US.

Côtes du Rhône rouge 2000

Typical grenache bouquet and spice, with a bright aroma range of apple, berry, and Provencal herbs, spices, and flowers. Soft and agreeable. A Guide Hachette one star [* rating].

Domaine Chaume-Arnaud

J et R Selections is the primary importer of this estate for the US.

Côtes du Rhône rouge 2000

Super fruit vigor and joy. Berry, plum and peel. Full and delicious. Savory. Sweetly fruity. A biologique wine. The 1999 won a Gold Medal at the Taster's Guild Annual International Wine Judging. 6 hectares; 3000 cases made.

Côtes du Rhône rouge 2001

Clear ruby. Hint of strawberry in the bouquet, delicate strawberry/raspberry on the tongue, with pleasant spice follow-through.

Domaine des Girasols

J et R Selections is the primary importer of this important Rhone domaine, which specializes in special cuvees of Rasteau vignes declassified to Cotes du Rhone. Domaine des Girasols has special cuvees and realses most only after 3 to 6 years in cuve.

Find out more about this estate...

Côtes du Rhône rouge 1998 vieilles vignes

An extraordinary wine from 85-year old vignes whose yield is less than allowed in a Chateauneuf du Pape! A wine to cellar. Velvety almost black robe, intense bouquet of blueberry and blackberry with hints of liquorice and vanilla. Powerful, tannic, and long on the tongue with a slightly earthy taste which hints of surprises with aging. A Guide Hachette one star [* rating]. Grenache 90%, Cinsault 10%. No oak.

Côtes du Rhône rouge cuvée Malalangue 1995

Brilliant red ruby robe; bouquet of concentrated black currents, red fruits, and pepper; on the tongue direct and open, with black fruit and spices; well-balanced with good tannins and structure and astringent body. Grenache 39%, Cinsault 24%, Syrah 23%, Carignan and Mourvedre 14%. No oak.

Côtes du Rhône rouge cuvée Tombaronne 1997

Clear robe; bouquet of red fruits and a hint of nutmeg; smooth and refreshing, easy to drink. Grenache 65%, Syrah 21%, Cinsault 14%. Vieilles vignes. No oak.

Côtes du Rhône rouge cuvée Bienveillante 1998

Deep black robe; nose of macerated red fruit; on the attack fruits of eau de vie with notes of spices at the end; behind the roundness and power a tannic structure. A wine of density and character. Grenache 49%, Cinsault 25%, Syrah 20%, Carignan 4%, and Mourvedre 2%. No oak.

Côtes du Rhône rosé 2000

Rose petal robe, bouquet of violets and red currants, lively and vivacious on the tongue. Nice follow through. Grenache 54%, Cinsault 40%, Mourvedre 6%. No oak.

Domaine des Favards

Côtes du Rhône rouge 1999 cuvée Prestige

Black fruit, full on the palate, medium body with a pleasant follow-through.

Côtes du Rhône rouge 2000 and cuvée Prestige 2001

Will arrive late fall.