Southern Rhone Valley France
This is really great Côtes du Rhône, and one that will find favor with both newcomers and traditionalists who relish chewy, old-school, transparent Southern Rhône rouges. After completing his viticultural and winemaking studies in Burgundy, Julien Mus returned to his family’s domaine on the outskirts of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Mus converted the domaine to Biodynamic principles and committed his fruit to minimal-intervention, artisanal winemaking. Mus’s beautiful, floral 2019 Côtes du Rhône is composed of Grenache that’s vinified and aged traditionally in concrete tanks. It radiates a beautiful plum-ruby hue in the glass and explodes with warm, inviting Southern Rhône scents of cinnamon, cloves, tart plums, sweet red cherries, five spice, and licorice. At once sumptuous and taut on the palate, Mus’s Côtes du Rhône balances its generous fruit expression with plentiful, dusty tannins, freshening acidity, and classic Southern Rhône touches of licorice, allspice, garrigue, and crushed stones. Enjoy now and over the coming five years with roast lamb, grilled burgers, pork braises, hearty bean stews, and ratatouille.
Biodynamically Farmed
A July 2022 newsletter selection
