Six seriously delicious reds from the Rhone. Easy drinking, full flavoured satisfaction.

• 2024 Domaine de Ferrand Cotes du Rhone Mistral
• 2024 Domaine Saint-Damien Plan de Dieu Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes
• 2024 Domaine du Seminaire Cotes du Rhone
• 2022 Domaine Tourbillon Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Du Grand Pere
• 2024 Domaine la Remejeanne Cotes du Rhone Un Air de Remejeanne
• 2024 Pierre Amadieu Cotes du Rhone Roulepierre Rouge

2024 Domaine de Ferrand Cotes du Rhone Mistral

Philippe Bravay is one of the unsung heroes of the Southern Rhône. His tiny estate, Domaine de Ferrand, sits in the sweet spot of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, rubbing shoulders with heavyweights like Beaucastel and Charvin. While his top-tier wines are hunted by collectors, the 'Mistral' offers a way to tap into that pedigree without the hefty price tag.

Think of this as a "Baby Châteauneuf" and you are pretty close to the mark. The fruit is sourced from organic vines bordering the appellation, with some plantings dating all the way back to 1945. It is a classic blend driven by Grenache, but with enough Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre to give it spine and complexity. Philippe is a staunch traditionalist, so you won't find any new oak here. He uses concrete tanks and natural yeasts - it's bare-bones CdR.

The 2024 release is a standout. It is astonishingly concentrated for the category, pouring a deep colour and offering waves of spicy cherry, raspberry and bramble fruit. The extra hit of Syrah in the blend really opens it up, adding a savoury, meaty layer to the soft, silky tannins. This is honest, delicious French red that over-delivers in a big way.

2024 Domaine Saint-Damien Plan de Dieu Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes

The Plan de Dieu from Domaine Saint-Damien is a seriously good Rhône red for the money.

Made from old vine Grenache and Mourvèdre grown on organic, low-yielding plots, it’s a wine that leans into tradition: concrete vats, no fuss, just beautifully expressive fruit and a touch of savoury depth. The Saurel family, with Romain now at the helm and the late Philippe Cambie’s guiding hand still felt, have built a reputation for overdelivering across their range - and this one’s no exception.

Expect red and dark fruit, some dusty spice, and that lovely wild herb kick that good southern Rhône always carries. It’s medium-bodied, fresh and already drinking well, but there’s enough grip and structure to tuck away for a few more years if you like.

2024 Domaine du Seminaire Cotes du Rhone

Great value Cotes du Rhone from the organic vineyards of Domaine du Seminaire in the east of the Rhone, on the way to Alps.

This is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Carignan, and it's open, warm and ready to drink. There's the signature richness of the region, tempered with a little more restraint from the cooler site where this family resides.

Value for money-wise this is a cracking all-rounder red, and fully organic to boot.

2022 Domaine Tourbillon Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Du Grand Pere

Founded in 2011 by Benjamin Tourbillon, this family estate in Lagnes has grown from humble beginnings into one of the most exciting names in the southern Rhône. The Tourbillon story began with Benjamin’s grandfather, who farmed five hectares in Gigondas before his grandsons took the reins, expanding into Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Plan de Dieu and Côtes du Rhône.

This cuvée comes mainly from old-vine Grenache with a small portion of Syrah, grown on the red clay and rounded pebbles of Plan de Dieu – a site that gives both depth and lift. Fermented and raised entirely in concrete, it’s made to show fruit purity and the character of the vineyard rather than oak.

It’s bright and generous, with red berry fruit, a touch of pepper and silky tannins carrying it through. Fresh, supple and effortless to drink, it’s a brilliant example of what Plan de Dieu does best – ripe southern warmth balanced by real finesse.

2024 Domaine la Remejeanne Cotes du Rhone Un Air de Remejeanne

If you are looking for the heavy, boozy style of Côtes du Rhône, keep walking. This is the exact opposite. As the name suggests, this is a wine of "air" and lightness, designed by Olivier Klein to capture the fresh, cool-climate essence of the rugged Sabran landscape.

Certified organic and sourced from the estate’s high-altitude sandy limestone vineyards, this is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. Olivier treats it as a true "vin de soif" (wine for thirst). He utilized 50% whole bunches in the ferment this year to lift the aromatics, followed by a short maceration and ageing in concrete tanks to preserve the primary fruit.

The result is a wine that feels like it has its own internal air conditioning. It jumps out of the glass with scents of just-picked raspberries, cherries and a bouquet of lavender, thyme and violet. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and crunchy, with a rocky, dusty texture and a gentle caress of tannins. It is supple, fragrant and bursting with energy. A "dee-light-ful" bistro red that is perfect for a light chill.

2024 Pierre Amadieu Cotes du Rhone Roulepierre Rouge

The Pierre Amadieu family has been a fixture in Gigondas since 1929, with quality in every wine they produce, down to their great value entry-level bottlings.

The Roulepierre 2024 isn't a heavy, overworked red; it’s a bright, stainless-steel-fermented blend of Grenache and Syrah that prioritises fruit purity and juiciness over oak influence.

Sourced from stony, clay-limestone soils, the wine is hand-harvested and vinified to keep things fresh. It’s got classic Southern Rhône generosity, dark blackberry and plum - but with a clean, supple palate and a light touch of liquorice on the finish.

It’s the kind of reliable, characterful red that works just as well with a casual mid-week roast as it does with rustic Mediterranean dishes. Drink it now or over the next few years.