Cairanne Cuvée Maximilien, Domaine Les Grands Bois 2019

Cairanne is with Rasteau the best of the 21 Côtes-du-Rhône Villages (Hugh Johnson ranks it above the Villages category) and this wine made with grenache, syrah, mourvèdre and carignan is a wonderful example of a lovely Rhône red.

How does the wine taste?
Steady colour with tints of purple, an intense nose with ripe red fruit notes including raspberries, wild strawberries and a hint of pepper.

What do the critics say?
"...from one of Robert Parkers favourite southern Rhône producers. The 2018 Domaine Les Grands Bois Maximilien is from Cairanne and vineyards at the foot of mighty Mont Ventoux, notorious for comprising the toughest leg of the Tour de France. Richly flavoured with warm, spicy, ripe fruit, it boasts both the sweetness of Grenache and the dark plumminess of Syrah and is hugely enjoyable." 
Jonathan Ray, The Spectator Magazine

"Consistently one of my favourite estates in the Southern Rhône, Les Grands Bois produces Côtes-du-Rhône that consistently over-perform their appellation and modest prices."
Robert Parker