Xavier Vignon : Côtes du Rhône 2021

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Côtes du Rhône 2021 by Xavier Vignon

Tasting Notes

Appearance

This Côtes du Rhône reveals a deep, luminous garnet-red colour, reflecting the old vines that make up its blend.

Nose

The nose opens with aromas of ripe red and black fruits, supported by notes of sweet spice and garrigue, characteristic of the southern terroirs of the Rhône Valley.

Palate

The palate is fruity and structured, carried by fine tannins and a lively freshness, leading to a long, spicy finish.

Food and Wine Pairings

This cuvée is ideally paired with grilled beef or subtly spiced pork chops, but it also works very well with a vegetable couscous or aubergines with lemon, making it a versatile match for both meat-based and vegetarian dishes.

Serving and Cellaring

The Côtes du Rhône 2021 Xavier Vignon is best served at a temperature between 14 and 16°C. It can be enjoyed now, but will keep until around 2027.

A Côtes du Rhône Shaped by the Mosaic of Terroirs of the Southern Rhône

The Estate

The House of Xavier Vignon, led by Xavier Vignon himself, a renowned consulting oenologist in the Rhône Valley, established itself in the Southern Rhône after advising numerous estates in the region. It gradually built up its own vineyard in the Dentelles de Montmirail, while also developing a négociant activity based on blending many different parcels. The house stands out for its precise, parcel-by-parcel approach and its particular attention to the geology of the soils.

The Vineyard

This Côtes du Rhône is crafted from numerous parcels of old vines, mainly located in the southern part of the Rhône Valley. The highly varied soils combine clay, rounded pebbles, limestone and sand, giving each parcel its own distinctive expression, which enriches the final blend.

Vinification and Ageing

For the Côtes du Rhône 2021, the grapes are hand-harvested and then vinified, with fermentations carried out at moderate temperatures to preserve the aromatic finesse of the fruit. The deliberately short ageing takes place 80% in concrete tanks and 20% in truncated conical wooden vats, to retain all the purity of the fruit and the expression of the terroirs.

Grape Varieties

Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Syrah