Indies Roussillon Top 20

UK independent merchants have their fingers on the wine drinking pulse of the nation. As the second biggest wine selling country to the independent sector, France is a source of timeless classics and value regional offerings.  So where does that leave Roussillon and its fiercely independent winemaking style?

Wines of Roussillon and The Wine Merchant set out to answer that question by teaming up to organise a tasting of Roussillon wines destined for the independent sector.

A panel of 10 merchants blind tasted their way through a selection of 95 wines, put forward by 42 producers across 7 AOP and IGP appellations. Roussillon’s dry whites, reds and rosés were tasted alongside a selection of Vins Doux Naturels.

Their mission: to select their Indies Roussillon Top20. The results: an impressive line-up of IGP Côtes Catalanes in white, orange, rosé and red styles; Grenache Gris playing a star role in stunning Côtes du Roussillon blends; Syrah shining in both lead and supporting roles; Grenache and Carignan noirs stunning in the AOP Côtes du Roussillon Villages; Maury seducing with structured dry reds alongside its Vin Doux Naturel.

Roussillon’s whites and rosés were the biggest discovery for most on the panel, who were surprised by the diversity of what they tasted. From fresh zingy whites to spicy, aromatic orange wines all the way to fresh, delicate fruity and herbal rosés.

When it came to the reds, judges were quick to pick up on Roussillon’s hallmark characters in their tasting notes:  ‘…lots of fresh ripe fruit and authentic whiffs of guarrigue’, ‘…this just screams Mediterranean, savoury and lush with layers of ripe dark fruit’, ‘… fruit, spice and earthiness. Everything you would want from Roussillon’.

You can read the full report and discover the 20 winning wines and 14 runners-up in our digital booklet or read the associated article in The Wine Merchant April magazine here.