Xavier Vignon Arcane VI Les Amoureux 2016 750ml
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A Southern Rhône Red Blend refers to a wide range of grape varieties blended together in the southern reaches of the Rhône Valley of southern France. While the blend could theoretically consist of any of a wide range of grape varieties, it is usually made up of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, in varying proportions, typically with Grenache and Syrah as the dominant partners.
The Rhône Valley is one of France's key wine regions, and is divided neatly by a gap of about 25 miles (40km). Wines from the northern part of the valley tend to be Syrah-dominant (Hermitage and Côte Rôtie being the most notable examples), while wines from the southern Rhône are more commonly blends, with Grenache playing a more dominant role.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the most famous example of a southern Rhône blend, but similar blends are found in wines from Gigondas, Vacqueyras and the regional Côtes du Rhône title.
Alongside Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre (which are often collectively referred to as a GSM blend), a number of local varieties can be found in southern Rhône blends. This includes varieties like Carignan and Cinsault, which are planted along the Mediterranean coast, but also more obscure varieties like Clairette, Counoise, Muscardin, Terret Noir and Vaccarese.
Interestingly, it is not unheard of for southern Rhone red blends to also include white grape varieties like Viognier or Roussanne albiet in small proportions.
Given that there are so many possible combinations in these southern French varieties, "Rhone Blend" and its variants have been useful cover-all terms. An unresolved question is whether it is appropriate to use the descriptor for wines from regions that have adopted these varieties. Australia and California in particular have embraced the classic Rhone grape varieties: in California, the main proponents of the variety have become known as the "Rhone Rangers", and in Australia, the term "GSM" on a bottle has been enthusiastically embraced by consumers.
Food pairings for Southern Rhône Red Blend
Beef and bean stew with sage
Meatloaf
Herb-crusted lamb rack
