WINE OF THE WEEK - 2019 Reserve Mont-Redon Cotes du Rhone Blanc

Sep 26

This week’s wine pick was a gift from FMW Canada and therefore does not necessarily follow my approach to my weekly Wine Wednesday picks. Having said that, I did pick this wine out of several options that were presented to me because I am interested in what it represents. It is also a very affordable option which, if you are a regular reader of this blog or follow @wineitupanotch on Instagram or Tiktok, you will know is very important to me.

Before we get into it, I’d like to clarify that beyond being provided with a bottle sample, this post is not sponsored in any way. I have taken the time to try this wine and develop my own notes and impressions, learn the story about the wine, and present it back to you. I am therefore able to confidently say that this is a wine that I think you will really enjoy!

And with that, let’s get into this week’s pick!

2019 Reserve Mont-Redon Cotes du Rhone Blanc

This week’s wine comes from France, and more specifically from the Rhone Valley, and even more specifically, from the Southern Rhone Valley. If you know a bit about wine, you’ll understand now why I was interested in this wine and what makes it unique. If not, don’t worry I’ve got you covered! Read on to learn all that you need to know about this wine.

What does this wine cost?

$18/bottle.

Where does this wine come from?

This wine comes from the Cotes du Rhone, which is a fairly large appellation in the Southern Rhone Valley. The Rhone Valley runs along the Rhone River and is essentially bifurcated into two parts, known as Northern Rhone and Southern Rhone respectively.

The Southern Rhone Valley is the warmer of the two parts and essentially sits atop of Provence. It is home to the incredibly famous appellation, Chateauneuf-du-Pape and is also known for its warm, sunny climate, interesting soils and incredibly powerful Mistral wind.

Why is this wine unique?

White wines from the Rhone Valley are a rarity. By some accounts, they represent less than 5% of total production from this region. For this reason, they are little known outside of France and often represent tremendous value plays for wine consumers.

Who makes this wine?

This wine is made by the Abeille-Fabre family, who are the owners of one of France’s oldest wine estate, Chateau Mont Redon. Mont Redon is undoubtedly a huge and well recognized name in the Southern Rhone, making beautiful wines from three main locations where the estate owns top notch lands.

With four generations of winemaking under their belt, this week’s wine is made by combining age old knowledge with top quality wines that are sourced from the Cote du Rhone. The Chateau Redon winemaking team then ages and blends these wines and bottles them under the Reserve Mont-Redon label.

A few Wine Geek “essential facts” about the wine (feel free to skip this if you don’t care about detailed wine-making information!):

Variety - Mainly Viognier, with Grenache and Roussanne

Vinification - whole cluster pressing, vinified at 14-16 degrees celsius, matured on lees for several months

ABV - 13.5%

Residual Sugar - 2 g/L

My tasting notes:

This wine almost has hints of a white burgundy! A beautiful golden yellow in the glass, this is an expressive wine that reminds me of walking through apple and lemon orchards on a bright summer, cloudless day. There is a slight saline and wet stone quality to the nose as well, which promises the wine will be refreshing. On the palate, this is an elegant and expressive white wine. With notes of peach, apricot, lemon butter and pear, and a roundness that is very intellectually pleasing, this wine wraps you up in a dance that you don’t want to end. Medium to full bodied, with a long and lasting finish, this wine is perfect for lunch time imbibing!

Aging potential:

I wouldn’t bother - drink this now.

Recommendations to Wineitupanotch:

Pair this wine with grilled or steamed/poached white fish and seafood.

Wineitupanotch Wine Score: 90 points

A beautiful and affordable white wine - you won’t be disappointed, especially if you like elegant white wines that are not oaky or steely.

If you’re located in Ontario, you can find this wine at the LCBO under Product #18602.

FINAL VERDICT:

This is definitely a wine that is worth checking out!

If you’ve tried this wine already, or decide to pick it up and try it after reading this post, I’d love to hear from you and hear what you think of it! Please do drop me a line.

Until next time, wishing you love, light and of course - good wine! :)

Cheers!

XOXO