Global Masters Wine of the Week: Ripe Rhône red for under £10

Every week we select a wine that picked up either a Gold or Master from our competition series, and tell you why the judges loved it. Enter the Global Masters and this could be your wine.

It’s one of the most widely planted red wine grape varieties in the world, but all too often, Grenache is at best, overlooked and, at worst, derided.

The hardy Mediterranean grape is not just the reliable workhorse of viticulture. It is responsible for one the world’s most celebrated reds, Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Even if you haven’t got deep enough pockets for CdP, there are producers all over the southern Rhône making outstanding blends heavily reliant on the round, spicy, fruity flavours Grenache lends to wine.

This one, from a cooperative winery that includes about 200 winegrowers in the Southern Rhône, is just such an example.

Terroir Daronton doesn’t make a generic Côtes du Rhône, instead focusing on making wines that denote their village of origin, including Gigondas, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and lesser-known crus such as this one from Roaix, to bring their partner vineyards into the spotlight.

The Roaix, according to our judges, is a great example of “what Grenache does very well.” On the nose are classic scents of concentrated black cherry and plum, blackcurrant and a hint of spice. On the palate, the wine is warming and inviting, evolving pleasantly into an exceedingly quaffable red. This is a bottle designed for cosy nights in. If you’re looking for an excuse to crack this open, serve it with a traditional French Hachis Parmentier (Shepherd’s Pie for the anglophones), but really, at under £10 a pop, you shouldn’t need one.

The wine: Terroir Daronton – Roaix

The source: Rhône Valley, France

The grape(s): Grenache (52%), Syrah (34%), Mourvèdre (14%)

ABV: 14%

The style: A full-bodied, soft, unoaked and easy-drinking GSM with flavours of cherry, blackcurrant and pepper.

The price: Under £10, in select retailers. If you’re looking for something similar but prefer not to chase, Waitrose sells another blend (this time from Seguret) from the same cooperative for £9.79

The medal: Gold – The Grenache Masters 2019

Click here to find out more about our 2019 Grenache competition.

With high quality judges and a unique sampling process, the Global Wine Masters provides a chance for your wines to star, whether they hail from the great vineyards of Europe or lesser-known corners of the New World.

It’s a competition dedicated to making winners out of winemakers.

Please visit the Global Masters website for more information, or please call +44 (0)20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com