Thursday, October 8, 2015

Les Dauphins, 2013 Côtes du Rhône Reserve Red


Côtes du Rhône wines are great values, delicious to sip and are ready to drink soon after bottling.

A Light Rhône Red For Dinner

When Green Dragon told me we were having a dinner guest, I grabbed this 2013 Les Dauphines Côtes du Rhône. CDR wines in general are crowd pleasers – easy drinking and appreciated by aficionados and newbies alike.
Our dinner was tortellini in tomato sauce with a nice spinach and strawberry salad. Normally I would head directly for an Italian wine, perhaps a Sangiovese. Instead, I decided to remain Continental, but venture to France instead. The pairing worked very well.
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A Grenache Driven Blend

Syrah is the primary grape in France’s Rhône region. The majority of the region’s wines come from the south. There the wines are typically made of Grenache, Syrah and Carignan. They are inexpensive and accessible.
Les Dauphin 2013 comes from the southern part of the Rhône region. The blend is 70% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 5% Mourvedre. Syrah is hearty and bold while Grenache is silky smooth and light. The combination works well in this CDR.
In the glass it has a beautiful crimson color. On the palate it is light to medium bodied with some springy agility. There are flavors of currant, blackberries and earth. On the tail end, there is a hint of spice.
Rhône wine imports have increased in volume by 20% in the last five years and there’s a reason why: quality and value. With a SRP of $12.99, Les Dauphin works well for a casual lunch or as an accent to an evening at home. It’s also a great wine to pair with dinner. You can go as light as pasta or go with a heartier beef dish.
Full disclosure: We received this wine as a marketing sample.
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