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More than any other wine region of France, the Cotes du
Rhone is the land of the long hot summer sun. This mighty
river, flowing through its narrow river valley begins its
long trek from the Vienne in the north to Avignon in the
south. Some of the Rhones most remarkable wines are from the
steeply terraced granite soil vineyards of the northern
appellations, which produce deep coloured, long lived
powerful reds of which the expressive Crozes Hermitage is a fine examples.
In the south, vines are planted
on sloped 'beaches' of alluvial chalky soil, topped with
large pebbles, which store then radiate the benefit
of the days sunny warmth. A greater mix of grape varieties
are permitted here, with the Grenache predominating to give
softer, earlier drinking wines, well displayed by the plummy Cotes du Rhone
Ch de l'Estagnol or the fuller Gigondas with the famous Chateauneuf du Pape
showing its powerful robust pedigree.
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