SOLD OUT! The 2018 Le Grange de Piaugier Cotes du Rhone is an absolutely stupid deal in high quality, estate-grown Cotes du Rhone. From one of my favorite producers in the Southern Rhone, we’ve stocked this wine for over 8 years. But we’ve never offered it up at a price like this.
A classic and traditionally styled Cotes du Rhone with lots of ripe fruit, spice, earth and herb notes, this one flows a little too easily. I’ll also add that I’ve had every vintage of this wine since 2011 — this is the best rendition of this wine ever produced.
2018 Le Grange de Piaugier Cotes du Rhone
The best Cotes du Rhone value on the planet!
SOLD OUT
For true wine lovers, a good Cotes du Rhone is a necessity of life. It’s the kind of wine that brings comfort, pleasure and joy and the version from the fine folks at Domaine de Piaugier is classic. This is the kind of red wine that is hard to stop drinking once the bottle is open. And if you’re going to a party, make sure to bring at least two bottles. But keep an eye on your bottles because once your friends taste it, they’ll be fighting over who gets the next glass.
Domaine de Piaugier is located in the village of Sablet, one of the most beautiful viticultural zones in the world. Sitting at the base of the jagged Dentelles de Montmirail in the sunny Southern Rhone, this is where I think I’d like to retire one day. Today, the estate is run very capably by Jean-Marc Autran, the fourth generation of his family to grow grapes. Like many growers in the region, the family sold all of their grapes to coops for many years, but in 1985 Autran made the decision to start bottling his own wines. I’m glad he did!
This is an artisanal, hand-crafted, and delicious red wine that sells for less than what you would pay for many industrially-produced, commercial wines. Autran farms organically, he harvests by hand, he ferments in cement with native yeasts, and his wines are just lightly fined and filtered before bottling. He also works with old vines planted in diverse soils and ferments with whole clusters (stems and all). His commitment to quality over quantity production is why this one over-delivers in such a big way.
The 2018 Le Grange de Piaugier Cotes du Rhone is mainly Grenache with Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsulat and Carignan present as well. It offers up a classic Provencal nose of dark cherry, raspberry, pepper and herb that leads into a fresh and medium-bodied palate. It’s not too heavy but it’s not at all light, and the structure comes more from acidity than tannin.
Perfect for pairing with burgers, barbecue or just a simple charcuterie platter, this one is great without food too. The first glass is nice, but with a little bit of air, this one really opens up beautifully.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville