Sail down the Rhone for French classics

Ask me to pick one wine region in Europe where my wine heart resides and it would be the Rhône Valley. The River Rhône, France’s longest, works its way to the Mediterranean from the Alps passing some of France’s most celebrated vineyards. Many of these wines have found their way into my cellar.

The northern part of the Rhône is where you find the world’s greatest expression of syrah. Farther south grenache becomes the dominant grape among the vineyards of Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas.

The third Friday in September is International Grenache Day so this is a great excuse to celebrate a grape which may not be as wellknown as merlot or sauvignon blanc but is one of the world’s most widely planted varieties.

In Spain grenache is known as garnacha. There is some dispute between French and Spanish producers as to whose grape it is, but either way it is capable of intriguing wines whether as a blend or a stand-alone variety.

Vacqueyras is a lesser known appellation in the south Rhone near Gigondas and because of this the wines can be undervalued. The Society’s Exhibition Vacqueyras 2019 (The Wine Society £12.50) is mainly grenache with a little syrah and is great value for money. The nose has dark autumn fruits, some spice and a little dried herb. The palate is fullbodied with more dark fruits, ripe tannins and a long finish. This overdelivers. Try with barbecued lamb or your first slowcooked autumn casserole.

Gigondas

2018, Guigal (Majestic £22.99 or £19.99 as part of a mixed six) is produced by one of the Rhône Valley’s greatest producers and this grenache-dominated blend has been aged in old large oak barrels for two years.

This is more fullbodied than the Vacqueyras with similar autumnal dark fruits on the nose but with some savoury notes, hillside herbs, followed by layers of dark fruit, spices and supple tannins on the palate. Try with roast beef or lamb or hard cheeses.

From farther afield McHenry

Hohnen Hazel’s Vineyard Grenache Syrah Mataro 2018, Margaret River (winedirect.co.uk £23.95) is from a region better known for its cabernet sauvignon blends. This is a cracker from biodynamically-grown vineyards and bursts from the glass with raspberry, plum and black cherries as well as dried herbs, coffee and spices. The palate is beautifully structured with juicy dark fruits, crunchy acidity and fine tannins, perfect with shepherd’s pie or Lancashire hotpot.