I bought a few 2021 Pegau Côtes du Rhône “Maclura” a while back, having seen it recommended in another thread. The wine is very nice—especially considering its price tag. It has good flavor intensity and it’s an interesting wine, but the brett is a bit too much for my wife. So now I’m looking for an alternative.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a quality Côtes du Rhône without the brett? I’m hoping to find something with the complexity of the “Maclura”, but without the farmyard funk. Bonus points if it is widely available in the U.S.
Another vote for Charvin (a more red-fruited, fresh style) and the Coudoulet (usually darker and denser). The Coudoulet is more expensive.
Check the ABV on the Charvin, though. One year – the '22 I think – was marked at 15% and it showed. Normally the alcohol on that wine is lower – sometimes only 13.5%.
(I’m a fan of the Maclura, but I’m not terribly sensitive to brett.)
I always keep a dozen or two Southern Rhone and/or CdR reds from four or five different producers (in addition to my CdP and Gigondas) and they all are a great value, all under $20 and many hovering around $15. The four pictured are ones I’ve had this past year or so.
Edit to add that I love that many of them now are using Diam or some similar substitute for traditional cork. Drives me over a damn cliff that I have a higher incidence of corked wines with CdP bottles than the much less expensive CdR bottles. Ugh.
2 favs here are cailloux les quartz CDR and ferrando beatus ille. slightly higher pricepoint than the average. loved chateau des tours but that ship has sailed with the price escalation.
Selection Laurence Feraud Cotes du Rhone is from the producer of Maclura, but it is entirely a negociant wine. It might be a small step back from Maclura in complexity, but not much. And it is less expensive and it has no brett.
Are the Chave and Beaucastel clean now? Admittedly I haven’t had either in 10 years probably but stopped both because of Brett once I became fairly sensitive?
For the most part also stopped Pegau as well, but will buy some because why wife likes them quite a bit.
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The Chave Mon Coeur, Farconnet and Offerus that I’ve had in the past year or two has been pretty subtle. Ok for the value, but liking a bit of brett I’d rather have the Jamet CDR.
