Sunday, August 30, 2026 red wine review is a lovely Côtes du Rhône blend of Grenache and Syrah that arrived at the LCBO at the beginning of the month in the LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.
It is produced by Xavier Vins, a Rhône wine producer that was established in the late 20th century by Xavier Vignon, a renowned and pioneering Rhône oenologist. Xavier caught the wine bug after a chance encounter with an oenologist while studying in the faculty of pharmacy in the Champagne capital of Reims. This led to Xavier gaining valuable experience at several Champagne houses and marked the beginning of his journey into wine. In 2002, Xavier Vignon began making and marketing his own wines under the name Xavier Vins.
The philosophy at Xavier Vins is based on a creative approach that is original, unusual, and daring. Having spent time in both Champagne and Bordeaux, Xavier developed strong values around the freedom of blending and the notion of beginning with an idea before embarking upon the creation of a wine. Naturally, each year will be different and a source of surprise. The combination of different grape varieties in a blend can impart complexity while also enhancing the expression of terroir. To create a faithful expression of wine, Xavier works with a wide range of ingredients, including grapes, terroirs, parcels, exposures, altitudes, vintages, wooden vessels, and stainless-steel vessels. With his in-depth knowledge of each and every part of the Rhône Valley, Xavier uses this knowledge to select the soil, parcel, and varietal combinations needed to create a loyal and harmonious wine.
Xavier believes that wines are always the result of contrary or complementary unions, and that bringing together these different entities can give the best possible result. Therefore, each cuvée is a unique experience and an expression of a vintage, varietal, or terroir. The wines of Xavier Vignon are a source of emotion, guided by the pleasure of sharing, and an invitation not only to dream but also to better understand the landscapes of the Rhône Valley, which he holds so close to his heart. Xavier strives to capture this little part of the southern Rhône in the bottle, encapsulating its aromas, colours, and textures, with the ultimate aim of making people happy!
I last enjoyed the 2020 Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône nearly four years ago, when it was a blend of primarily Grenache, with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support. This vintage is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, elaborated from very old vines ranging from 45 to 100 years of age, and the wine is from Xavier Vins' "The Originals" collection. The grapes were selected from more than 250 parcels, mainly located in the southern Rhône, from a diverse range of terroirs consisting of clay, pebbles, limestone, and sandy soils. To craft this wine, the grapes were manually harvested, with harvest dates determined by daily berry tasting. It was fermented at moderate temperatures to favour gentle diffusion of aromatic compounds. 80% of the blend underwent a short period of ageing in concrete vats to enhance the aromas, while the remainder was aged in wooden truncated-cone vats.
The growing season in 2023 began with a very dry start from January to March, which resulted in a relatively late budburst in early April, while the Mistral winds blew frequently during the period between budburst and flowering—precisely when growers would have preferred calmer conditions. Welcoming rains fell in May and June, followed by a warm and arid summer, which climaxed at 43°C in late August and led to some grapes suffering from sunburn and maturation issues. However, rainfall at the end of August allowed the vines to recover and the grapes to resume ripening. In September, the weather cooled with substantial diurnal temperature variation, which helped retain aromatics and acidity, while harvest took place during an Indian summer and continued into mid-October for the red varieties. Coming from a good vintage for vines grown on clay soils beneath rolled pebbles in the southern Rhône, let's see how the 2023 Côtes du Rhône red is tasting tonight...
A 70/30 blend of Grenache and Syrah from very old vines ranging from 45 to 100 years old. This has a lovely, fragrant, medium-high intensity nose of both black & red fruits, white pepper spice, black raspberry, dark red cherry, garrigue, plum, and savoury herb aromas with meaty undertones and touches of scorched earth and stony mineral in a complex profile. On the dry, medium to medium-full bodied palate it has lovely black raspberry, dark red cherry, garrigue, meaty, peppery spice, savoury herbs, scorched earth, and mineral flavours supported by fresh and juicy acidity. Smooth, supple, and elegant tannins have a very gentle grip on the back palate. Savoury herbs with black raspberry, scorched earth, and mineral notes linger on the long, well-balanced finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 4–5 years! Score: 90 pts
A few wines by Xavier Vignon are available in various quantities, while the full range be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.
It is produced by Xavier Vins, a Rhône wine producer that was established in the late 20th century by Xavier Vignon, a renowned and pioneering Rhône oenologist. Xavier caught the wine bug after a chance encounter with an oenologist while studying in the faculty of pharmacy in the Champagne capital of Reims. This led to Xavier gaining valuable experience at several Champagne houses and marked the beginning of his journey into wine. In 2002, Xavier Vignon began making and marketing his own wines under the name Xavier Vins.
The philosophy at Xavier Vins is based on a creative approach that is original, unusual, and daring. Having spent time in both Champagne and Bordeaux, Xavier developed strong values around the freedom of blending and the notion of beginning with an idea before embarking upon the creation of a wine. Naturally, each year will be different and a source of surprise. The combination of different grape varieties in a blend can impart complexity while also enhancing the expression of terroir. To create a faithful expression of wine, Xavier works with a wide range of ingredients, including grapes, terroirs, parcels, exposures, altitudes, vintages, wooden vessels, and stainless-steel vessels. With his in-depth knowledge of each and every part of the Rhône Valley, Xavier uses this knowledge to select the soil, parcel, and varietal combinations needed to create a loyal and harmonious wine.
Xavier believes that wines are always the result of contrary or complementary unions, and that bringing together these different entities can give the best possible result. Therefore, each cuvée is a unique experience and an expression of a vintage, varietal, or terroir. The wines of Xavier Vignon are a source of emotion, guided by the pleasure of sharing, and an invitation not only to dream but also to better understand the landscapes of the Rhône Valley, which he holds so close to his heart. Xavier strives to capture this little part of the southern Rhône in the bottle, encapsulating its aromas, colours, and textures, with the ultimate aim of making people happy!
I last enjoyed the 2020 Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône nearly four years ago, when it was a blend of primarily Grenache, with Syrah and Mourvèdre in support. This vintage is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, elaborated from very old vines ranging from 45 to 100 years of age, and the wine is from Xavier Vins' "The Originals" collection. The grapes were selected from more than 250 parcels, mainly located in the southern Rhône, from a diverse range of terroirs consisting of clay, pebbles, limestone, and sandy soils. To craft this wine, the grapes were manually harvested, with harvest dates determined by daily berry tasting. It was fermented at moderate temperatures to favour gentle diffusion of aromatic compounds. 80% of the blend underwent a short period of ageing in concrete vats to enhance the aromas, while the remainder was aged in wooden truncated-cone vats.
The growing season in 2023 began with a very dry start from January to March, which resulted in a relatively late budburst in early April, while the Mistral winds blew frequently during the period between budburst and flowering—precisely when growers would have preferred calmer conditions. Welcoming rains fell in May and June, followed by a warm and arid summer, which climaxed at 43°C in late August and led to some grapes suffering from sunburn and maturation issues. However, rainfall at the end of August allowed the vines to recover and the grapes to resume ripening. In September, the weather cooled with substantial diurnal temperature variation, which helped retain aromatics and acidity, while harvest took place during an Indian summer and continued into mid-October for the red varieties. Coming from a good vintage for vines grown on clay soils beneath rolled pebbles in the southern Rhône, let's see how the 2023 Côtes du Rhône red is tasting tonight...
Tasting Note:
XAVIER VIGNON CÔTES DU RHÔNE 2023 - AOP, France (#297317) (XD) - $19.95A 70/30 blend of Grenache and Syrah from very old vines ranging from 45 to 100 years old. This has a lovely, fragrant, medium-high intensity nose of both black & red fruits, white pepper spice, black raspberry, dark red cherry, garrigue, plum, and savoury herb aromas with meaty undertones and touches of scorched earth and stony mineral in a complex profile. On the dry, medium to medium-full bodied palate it has lovely black raspberry, dark red cherry, garrigue, meaty, peppery spice, savoury herbs, scorched earth, and mineral flavours supported by fresh and juicy acidity. Smooth, supple, and elegant tannins have a very gentle grip on the back palate. Savoury herbs with black raspberry, scorched earth, and mineral notes linger on the long, well-balanced finish. Enjoy this highly recommended buy over the next 4–5 years! Score: 90 pts
A few wines by Xavier Vignon are available in various quantities, while the full range be ordered through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.
Blogarama
