2018 Chene Bleu Astralabe

Rhône Valley

The Rhône is really two regions under one name. In the north, between Vienne and Valence, Syrah grows alone on steep granite terraces at Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage, Cornas and Saint-Joseph, while Viognier makes the perfumed whites of Condrieu. Further south the valley widens and warms, and Grenache leads blends drawn from a long list of permitted varieties at Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras. The two halves share a river and little else.