ROUSSILLON ‘COUP DE COEUR’ 2024: UK WINE EXPERTS PICK THEIR TOP 12 ROUSSILLON WINES
A panel of UK wine writers have selected the 12 Roussillon wines that made their heart ‘skip a beat’ at the blind tasting competition held in London on 27 March 2024.
This marks the very first edition of the Roussillon ‘Coup de Coeur’, a new initiative aiming to celebrate and recognize the very best Roussillon wines available to consumers in the UK.
UK wine writers Andrew Catchpole, David Williams, Heather Dougherty, Lisse Garnett, Matt Walls, Mike Turner, Natalie Earl and Tom Surgey assessed just under 100 wines from across Roussillon’s appellations. Overall quality was high, with 56% of wines scoring 16 pts or over.
The 12 winning ‘Coup de Coeur’ scored 18pts or above. Judges also highlighted a further 13 wines as worthy runners-up. All wines selected by our experts are readily available in the UK.
Judges picked their stand-out Roussillon wines from a selection of the famous styles and appellations that built the region’s reputation. From fresh, mineral, whites to powerful, complex, reds via the delights of Roussillon’s Vins Doux Naturels (fortified sweet wines), there is a bottle to seduce every palate.
‘We hope UK wine lovers enjoy discovering this expertly curated list of vibrant Roussillon wines, brimming with character and a sense of place. Each will reward the best tables and enhance those special moments, with family and friends.’ says Wines of Roussillon representative Eric Aracil. He continues: ‘As a whole, these 12 ‘Coup de Coeur’ provide a snapshot of what Roussillon is capable of and shows why our wine region is France’s best kept secret!’
The 12 ‘Coup de Coeur’ will be available to taste at the Wines of Roussillon Roadshow tastings in Edinburgh on 24 June and in London on 26 June. More information on these events is available from: winesofroussillon@otaria.co.uk.
Our top 8 journalists, from left to right: Andrew Catchpole, David Williams, Heather Dougherty, Tom Surgey, Natalie Earl, Mike Turner, Lisse Garnett and Matt Walls.
THE WINNERS – ROUSSILLON ‘COUP DE COEUR’ 2024
WINNING WHITES
Vieilles Vignes Blanc 2021, Domaine des Soulanes
IGP Côtes Catalanes / 50% Grenache Gris, 50% Carignan Gris/ RRP £27, Theatre of Wine
Le Soula Blanc 2018, Le Soula
IGP Côtes Catalanes/ 54% Vermentino, 22% Sauvignon Blanc, 14% Grenache Blanc, 6% Marsanne & Roussanne, 4% Maccabeu/ RRP £32, Christopher Keiller Fine Wine Services, Vintage Drinks
‘Clos des Vignes’ Blanc 2022, Domaine Gardiés
AOP Côtes du Roussillon/ 60% Grenache Blanc, 35% Grenache Gris, 3% Maccabeu, 2% Roussanne/ RRP £33.99, Corking Wines, Great Wines, Spirits24, Strictly Wine
Tremadoc Blanc 2022, Domaine Madeloc
AOP Collioure/ 60% Grenache Gris, 30% Vermentino, 10% Roussanne/ RRP £23.99, Corking Wines, Great Wines Direct, Noble Green Wines, Spirits24, Strictly Wine,
RUNNERS-UP WHITES
La Terre Promise 2022, Domaine Treloar
IGP Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon 80% Grenache Gris, 20% Carignan Blanc/ RRP £21.95, Leon Stolarski Wines
Bila-Haut Blanc 2022, M. CHAPOUTIER – Domaine de Bila Haut
AOP Côtes du Roussillon 70% Grenache Blanc, 20% Grenache Gris, 10% Maccabeu/ RRP £13.75, Amps Wine Merchants (shops in Peterborough), Christopher Keiller Wine Services, Taurus Wines (shop in Guildford), Xtrawine
Occultum Lapidem Blanc 2019, M. CHAPOUTIER – Domaine de Bila Haut
AOP Côtes du Roussillon 70% Grenache Blanc, 30% Vermentino/ RRP £20.00, Amps Wine Merchants (shops in Peterborough), Christopher Keiller Wine Services
Sélection Parcellaire Chrysopée Blanc 2020, M. CHAPOUTIER – Domaine de Bila Haut
AOP Collioure 90% Grenache Gris, 10% Grenache Blanc/ RRP £48.00, The Wine Society, VinQuinn
WINNING REDS
Le Soula Rouge 2015, Le Soula
IGP Côtes Catalanes/ 53% Carignan Noir, 37% Syrah, 10% Grenache Noir/ RRP £35, Tanners Wines
Motus 2019, Domaine Treloar
AOP Côtes du Roussillon/ 70% Mourvèdre, 30% Syrah/ RRP £19.99, Leon Stolarski Wines
Serral Rouge 2020, Domaine Madeloc
AOP Collioure/ 60% Grenache Noir, 30% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah/ RRP £23.99, Spirits24, Strictly Wine
Côtes du Roussillon Villages Organic 2021, Terres Fidèles
AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages/ 30% Grenache Noir, 30% Syrah, 40% Carignan Noir/ RRP £16.99, Cheers Wine Merchants, The Fine Wine Company
Château de Corneilla, Cavalcade 2020, Jonquères d’Oriola Vignobles
AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages les Aspres/ 50% Syrah, 25% Grenache Noir, 25% Mourvèdre/ RRP £13.50, The Wine Society
RUNNERS-UP REDS
Camí del Drac – Carignan Noir 2022, Terres Fidèles
IGP Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon 100% Carignan Noir/ RRP £13.99, Connolly’s Wine, Grape and Grind, The Fine Wine Company
‘Secret de Schistes’ 2018, Château de l’Ou
IGP Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon 100% Syrah/ RRP £44.50, Great Wines Direct, Strictly Wine
Authentique 2022, Domaine Lafage
AOP Côtes du Roussillon 50% Carignan Noir, 40% Syrah, 10% Grenache Noir/ RRP £16.50 Noble Green Wines
Château de Jau Côtes du Roussillon Rouge Organic 2021, Vignobles Dauré
AOP Côtes du Roussillon 60% Syrah, 20% Grenache Noir, 10% Mourvèdre, 10% Carignan Noir/ RRP £16.15, Ellis Wines
‘Les Millères’ 2020, Domaine Gardiés
AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages 30% Grenache Noir, 30% Syrah, 25% Mourvèdre, 15% Carignan Noir/ RRP £22.99, Spirits24, Strictly Wine, Vinatis
Chimères 2020, Château St Roch
AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages 40% Grenache Noir, 30% Syrah, 30% Carignan Noir/ RRP £17.75, 3-wines.com, The Great Wine Co
Latour de France BA 2021, Bruno Andreu
AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache Noir, 5% Carignan Noir, 5% Mourvèdre/ RRP £18.99, De Burgh Wine Merchants
Sélection Parcellaire V.I.T 2019, M. CHAPOUTIER – Domaine de Bila Haut
AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages Latour de France 65% Syrah, 35% Grenache Noir/ RRP £52.70, Laithwaites, Millesima, VinQuinn
WINNING VINS DOUX NATURELS (FORTIFIED SWEET WINES)
20 ans (NV), Sélection Parcé Frères
AOP Rivesaltes Ambré (Amber)/ 70% Grenache Gris, 15% Grenache Blanc, 15% Maccabeu/ RRP £25, The Wine Society
Rivesaltes 1982, Sélection Parcé Frères
AOP Rivesaltes Tuilé (Tawny)/ 100% Grenache Noir/ RRP £45, The Wine Society
20 Years Old, Mas Amiel
AOP Maury Doux – Tuilé (Tawny)/ 90% Grenache Noir, 5% Carignan Noir, 5% Maccabeu/ RRP £42.24, Georges Barbier Wines
RUNNER-UP VINS DOUX NATURELS
Ambré 2015, Domaine Fontanel
AOP Rivesaltes Ambré (Amber) 50% Grenache Blanc, 50% Grenache Gris/ RRP: £23.95, Stone, Vine & Sun
