Domaine Alary, Côtes du Rhône Rouge, La Gerbaude, Southern Rhône, France, 2022

Producer Profile

Denis Alary’s wines are benchmark Southern Rhônes: spicy, rich and peppery with warm, juicy fruit, they are consistently appealing and a great representation of the region.

While Grenache makes up the majority of the vines planted on the 29ha of vineyards, Denis also has an old plot of Syrah that is used judiciously in the cuvée ‘L’Estévenas’. Despite increasing fame and demand, these wines remain great value. Since 2016, Denis has been joined on the estate by his wine-passionate son Jean-Etienne following the latter’s travels in Australia and in New-Zealand. Together, they handle the management and marketing, including sales directly from the cellar, along with the vinification and viticulture. Driven by Jean-Etienne, the estate is now also moving towards biodynamic cultivation.

Viticulture

Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan, sourced from organically farmed vines rooted in clay-limestone soils peppered with galets roulés on the La Gerbaude parcel. Since 2009, the estate has practiced sustainable viticulture with meticulous, low-yield, hand-harvested work. The Grenache-dominant vineyards cling to sun-drenched slopes cooled by elevation and Mistral breezes, preserving freshness and depth.

Winemaking

Fermentation follows a gentle style: mild and relatively short extraction in concrete vats to emphasise roundness and preserve brightness. Minimal oak is used, focusing on pure fruit expression and textural harmony. The result is a wine of balanced body and fine structure that reflects the winery’s philosophy of terroir-driven, expressive wines.

Tasting Note

La Gerbaude red is a full, vibrant garnet red. The expressive nose showcases ripe red berries—blackcurrant and strawberry—with an undercurrent of crushed pepper and a hint of bouquet garni spice. On the palate, it’s smooth, round, and juicy, with medium-to-full body. Flavours of jammy blackberry mingle with spicy herbal notes and gentle tannins, culminating in a velvety mouthfeel, persistent volume, and a softly sweet finish.

Food Matching

A versatile table wine. It pairs deliciously with grilled lamb chops or pork sirloin, thanks to its fruity character and soft tannic structure . For vegetarian options, a spinach-and-goat-cheese tart.