Ep 425: Cairanne of the Southern Côtes du Rhône with Jean-Etienne Alary of Domaine Alary

<p>Cairanne is an 877 ha/2,167 acre appellation in the southern Rhône Valley that has been farmed since the time of the Greeks. It is not just a regular appellation, it is a cru of elevated status in the Côtes du Rhône. It doesn’t get the credit it deserves! After tasting much of it at a wine fair in the southern Rhône, I found it unbelievably delicious. A cru with acidity and a lighter profile but still so much character? YES.</p> <p><img style= "display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/45638/france-southern-rhone.jpg" alt="" width="407" height="292" /></p> <p>And after speaking to a few of the other producers in the appellation, I found <a href= "https://www.domaine-alary.com/en/home/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Jean-Etienne Alary and his father, Denis</a>. Jean-Etienne has a worldly view, after spending time in Australia and New Zealand, and <a href= "https://www.domaine-alary.com/en/home/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Domaine Alary's</a> wines are some of the best Cairanne out there. Combining old techniques and newer ideas, <a href= "https://www.domaine-alary.com/en/home/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Domaine Alary</a> makes spectacular wines, with Jean-Etienne taking over the main winemaking duties from his father, Denis, who helped lead the charge to make Cairanne a Cru.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href= "https://www.domaine-alary.com/en/home/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener"><img src= "https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/show/45638/D97430A4-7F9F-460B-80F5-FD3A3DD0FAEA.jpeg" alt="" width="403" height="302" /></a><br /> <span style="font-size: 8pt;"><em><a href= "https://www.domaine-alary.com/en/home/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Photo: Denis and Jean-Etienne Alary</a>. ©Wine For Normal People</em></span>  </p> <p>Here's a quick look at the topics we discuss in the show: </p> <p>1. Jean-Etienne gives us a full education on Cairanne. We cover:</p> <ul> <li>Cairanne’s location and its proximity to places like Gigondas, Châteauneu