REGIJA / REGION
Vino se u dolini Rhône proizvodi već više od 500 godina, a neki od njegovih vinograda su među najstarijima u Francuskoj. Grenache vlada jugom s mješavinom mediteranskog grožđa, dok su na sjeveru dvije zvijezde Hermitage – uzgojen na impozantnom granitnom obronku iznad grada Taina i najbolje ga je čuvati u stražnjem dijelu podruma desetljeće – i Côte-Rôtie, zvjezdana apelacija proslavljena Guigalovim vinima s jednog vinograda, ali i dom desecima izvrsnih proizvođača koji su još manje poznati. Strme padine s pogledom na rijeku moraju biti terasaste kako bi se omogućila proizvodnja. St Joseph i Cornas također nude vina težine i vrijednosti, ali najbolji izvor dobre vrijednosti je Crozes-Hermitage, satelitska apelacija koja je oživjela u posljednjih nekoliko godina dolaskom mlade krvi.
Riječna dolina širi se južno od Valencea u krajolik Côtes du Rhône na vjetrovitim aluvijalnim ravnicama i nižim obroncima brda. To je najimpresivniji prizor tijekom hladnog, vedrog, plavog neba uvjeta Mistrala. Najbolja vinska sela Côtes du Rhône promovirana su u vlastite apelacije – Vinsobres, Vacqueyras – po kvaliteti bliske poznatijim Gigondama.
Kralj južne Rhône je Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Ovdje galets roulés, zaobljeno kamenje iz drevnog riječnog korita, pružaju kontekst za slavno bogata crna vina koja odišu toplinom i biljem juga, a pojačana su složenošću koja proizlazi iz miješanja nekoliko sorti grožđa. Ukupno ih je dopušteno trinaest, ali Grenache obično dominira, uz Syrah i Mourvèdre. Fina berba zahtijeva osam do deset godina odležavanja u podrumu za najbolje rezultate. Ako vaš ukus teži punijim, bogatijim, relativno egzotičnim bijelim vinima, onda bi vam možda bolje odgovarao bijeli Hermitage ili Châteauneuf-du-Pape iz doline Rhône, ili pak divno mirisni, opojan Condrieu – sjedište sorte grožđa Viognier.
Wine has been produced in the Rhône Valley for over 500 years, with some of its vineyards being amongst the oldest in France. Grenache rules over the south with a mix of Mediterranean grapes, while in the north, the two stars are Hermitage – grown on an imposing granite hillside above the town of Tain and best put away in the back of the cellar for a decade – and Côte-Rôtie, a star appellation made famous by Guigal’s single-vineyard wines, yet also home to dozens of fine producers as yet less well known. The sheer hillsides overlooking the river have to be terraced to make production possible. St Joseph and Cornas also provide wines of weight and worth, but the best source for good value is Crozes-Hermitage, a satellite appellation which has come alive in the last few years with the arrival of young blood.
The river valley widens out south of Valence into Côtes du Rhône country on the windy alluvial plains and the lower slopes of the hills. It is a most imposing sight during the cold, clear, blue skies of Mistral conditions. The best of the wine villages of the Côtes du Rhône have been promoted to their own appellations – Vinsobres, Vacqueyras – close in quality to the better known Gigondas.
The king of the southern Rhône is Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Here the galets roulés, rounded rocks from the ancient river bed, provide the context for gloriously rich red wines that are redolent of the heat and herbs of the south, and enhanced by the complexity which comes from blending several grape varieties. Thirteen are permitted in all, but Grenache usually dominates, along with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support. A fine vintage needs eight to 10 years cellaring for best results. If your taste runs to fuller, richer, relatively exotic white wines, then perhaps a white Hermitage or Châteauneuf-du-Pape from the Rhône Valley would suit better, or else a marvellously perfumed, heady Condrieu – headquarters of the Viognier grape.
