2019 Cotes du Rhone Le Temps Est Venu

Full bottle 1,285 g. Transparent crimson. Youthful and vigorous with more of a bite than the 2018. In fact there is quite marked tannin here still. If you can find a 2018, I'd suggest the older vintage for current drinking, and/or decant this well ahead of serving it not too cool. But it's a very honest expression of the southern Rhône. But inspired by a New Zealand wine writer's recent tasting of Guigal Côtes du Rhône back to 1983, I will suggest a reasonably long drinking window. (JR)

A blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre, the 2019 Cotes du Rhone le Temps Est Venu is spruced from Plan de Dieu and Visan, both in the Southern Rhône. Aged in concrete, it offers attractive scents of garrigue, black cherries and dried spices on the nose, while in the mouth, it's full-bodied, round and generous. Gently framed by supple tannins and a touch of alcoholic warmth, it hints at cherries jubilee on the finish.