Cotes du Rhone Vielles Vignes 2016 – Le Clos du Bailly

Founded in 1779, Le Clos du Bailly estate is located next to the Pont du Gard, part of the UNESCO world heritage list, in the southern part of the Rhône Valley. The winery has a yearly production of 1500 hectolitres with a clear focus on quality. Le Clos du Bailly produces various types of grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Carignan, Marselan, Viognier and Ugni Blanc. They believe that you only make great wines with great grapes. Therefore, they take care of their vines all year round. Each step is important, from the winter vine pruning to the spring ploughing all the way till harvest. All stages from winemaking to bottling are made with passion at the Estate. In order to protect and preserve their terroir, they have been operating low-impact winemaking since 2016, reducing their use of chemicals. In 2019, they started the certification process to comply with the European organic agriculture standards. Their wines will be certified organic by 2021.

Cotes du Rhone

Cotes du Rhone is a renowned wine region located in the Rhône Valley of southeastern France. It is one of the largest and most diverse wine-producing areas in the country, known for its wide range of red, white, and rosé wines.
The appellation covers a vast area along the Rhône River, encompassing both the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône regions. Each region has its own distinct terroir, grape varieties, and winemaking traditions, resulting in a rich diversity of wines.
In the Northern Rhône, Syrah is the dominant grape variety, producing powerful and elegant red wines with characteristics of dark fruits, pepper, and floral notes.
In the Southern Rhône, the Grenache grape is the primary player, often blended with other varieties like Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault. These blends create a wide array of red wines, ranging from easy-drinking Côtes du Rhône Villages to the more prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
White wines here are typically made from varieties like Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne. They are known for their floral aromas, stone fruit flavours, and often a rich and oily texture.
The Cotes du Rhone appellation offers excellent value wines suitable for everyday enjoyment, as well as exceptional high-end wines sought after by collectors. The region’s Mediterranean climate, with warm summers and mild winters, contributes to the grapes’ ripeness and overall quality.