2013 Domaine Roche Cairanne Côtes-du-Rhone Villages Rhone Valley 750 ml

Opportunities to get a piece of a surging region before the world rushes in are rare, especially in France. Yet this 2013 Domaine Roche Côtes-du-Rhone Villages Cairanne is exactly that—a satiny library wine from a standout estate in one of the Southern Rhône’s need-to-know crus. 

This sultry and harmonious red shows the type of depth and complexity that earned Cairanne its own coveted AOC status in 2016. Its floor-to-ceiling list of aromas includes smoked plum, black fig, licorice, and rose petals, rivaling that complexity with a balanced, savory palate. Wine Advocate praised it as “a beautiful effort” with “a seamless, silky profile that's hard to resist,” while Master of Wine Jancis Robinson called it “a delight of authenticity.”

Named one of the “new stars of the southern Rhône” by the New York Times, Cairanne’s recent elevation to an official appellation puts it alongside Rhône stalwarts like neighbors Gigondas and Vacqueyras, as well as the inimitable Châteauneuf-du-Pape, whose top bottles easily breach three-digit prices. This official designation will inevitably hike prices among pillars like Domaine Roche, so getting in early is one of the savviest moves you can make. 

While the official designation is new, the winemaking quality is not. Years before the region received AOC status, Robert M. Parker, Jr. was touting Domaine Roche’s wines as “larger-than-life,” saying their quality “transcends the appellation,” and Rhône expert Jeb Dunnuck has raved “Don’t miss these wines!” This perfectly-cellared 2013 offers all of that esteemed Southern Rhône quality, without a sky-high price—until, that is, everyone else catches on.  

This is an exceedingly rare chance to get in before the boom, so buy with abandon, especially considering these library bottles come with perfect provenance, straight from Domaine Roche’s cellar.

The Roche family’s Cairanne roots reach back to the 17th century, when the family acquired some of the region’s prime plots, which have since been handed down from generation to generation. Romain Roche, who founded the Domaine in 2009, crafted this 2013 from vines with an average age of 50 years. The 70% Grenache draws elegance from red-pebble soil, while the 30% Syrah adds savory depth from limestone and clay.

After aging primarily in concrete tanks, with a smaller percentage in barriques, the wine has spent several years in the cellar, developing sophistication and polish, while maintaining freshness. It’s drinking beautifully right now, but will continue maturing for a few years to come.