Olivier & Lafont Cotes du Rhone Rouge

Located in the Rhône Valley, Olivier & Lafont was founded in 2011 by two top consultant winemakers, Baptiste Olivier and Gerald Lafont. Friends first and foremost, winemaking runs in the blood for Baptiste and Gerald, both born into winemaking families, giving rise to a natural passion for wine from the offset.

Both obtained their National Diplomas of Oenology and went on to gain ample experience working as consultant winemakers across France and beyond. Ten years of which were spent working individually for top estates in Châteauneuf du Pape and various areas of the Rhône, making invaluable connections, and forming partnerships with some very prestigious clients, giving them access to some of the best fruit of the region.

With the Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre varieties being vinified separately, and the maceration taking around 3 to 4 weeks with gentle cap punch-downs and pump-overs, 15% of the wine is then aged in 228L Burgundy oak barrels for one year to soften the tannins and bring more length to the mid-palate – the rest is aged in concrete tanks to preserve the fruit purity.

Tasting notes: Lovely nose of raspberry liqueur, blackberry jam, herbal tones, and liquorice. Intensely pure, full-bodied mouthfeel, good freshness, and a lengthy finish. This wine will continue to drink well for another 3-4 years and will pair brilliantly with braised or stewed red meat and root vegetables.