Domaine de Marcoux Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2023

Marcoux’s silky and perfumed Côtes-du-Rhône was traditionally drawn from two small, biodynamically farmed parcels of old vines on the edge of the Châteauneuf vineyards in the northern sector near Orange. There’s one hectare at Maucoil (planted in the 1930s) and another at Bois Lauzon (planted in 1965). Today, two newer parcels, close to the winery in the north of Châteauneuf, have joined the blend. The wine is a blend of Grenache and Syrah, with a little Mourvèdre. The grapes are sorted both in the vineyard and in the cellar—not all Côtes-du-Rhône is created equal. Harvesting is always done by hand, and fermentation takes place in cement tanks using wild yeast. As always, it is a cut above, and a delicious introduction to the Domaine’s wines.