Beaumes-de-Venise exploration: Rhonea
I met with Fabien Cabezas and Sophie Steinloff to explore the wines of Rhonea, a cooperative. Fabien has 112 hectares that he farms with his brother, and he provides the coop with 16 hectares of vines. Sophie (who works for Rhonea) explains that the coop is open to the new generation of growers, and allows them to do their own wines as well as sell to the coop.
Rhonea is a union of wine producers who have the option of doing Rhonea brands, or they can make single estate wines, too. The winegrowers get a ranking based on quality, which the cooperative is keen on fostering.
It’s based in Beaumes-de-Venise, but they also make Vacqueyras, Ventoux and Gigondas, from 1300 hectares of vines owned by 142 families. They make half of the Beaumes-de-Venise wines, and 60% of the Muscats.
I was really impressed with the work they are doing here.
Rhonea Confidence Beaumes de Venise 2023 France
14.5% alcohol. Grenache and Syrah raised in used oak. This is fresh and supple with sweet raspberry and cherry fruit. Floral and expressive with a slight saltiness. This has lovely purity of fruit with nice texture. Quite lovely. 94/100
Rhonea Confidence Beaumes de Venise 2024 France
15% alcohol. Half/half Grenache and Syrah. Juicy and sweetly aromatic with nice depth to the liquorice-laced berry and cherry fruit. Ripe but still in balance with a touch of warmth on the finish. Stylish. 92/100
Rhonea Trias Beaumes de Venise 2023 France
15% alcohol. From Trias: gypsum and red clay soils at 300 m, that become very hard like concrete. Lovely aromatics of pepper-laden cherry fruits. Nice weight on the palate, which is rich and concentrated but well balanced with lovely sweet cherry and berry fruit. Quite textured. A bit of warmth on the finish, but overall really good – and it’s great to see the soils taking centre stage. 94/100
Rhonea La Beaume Beaumes de Venise 2023
14.5% alcohol. Grey Jurassic clays. Rich, sweetly fruited, spicy and peppery on the nose. Enticing. The palate is very bold with some chocolate, herbs, meat and spice as well as dense cherry and berry fruits. Forward and enticing, with some structure, too. 93/100
Rhonea Carte Or Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 2024
15.5% alcohol. Fresh, minty and fruity on the nose. Lively palate is sweet and textured with nice weight and a good balanced. Finishes warm and spicy, but also quite fresh. 92/100
Rhonea Muscat de Beaumes de Venise Bois Doré Age 6 Years
15% alcohol. Full golden colour. Aged in a new barrel, this is very woody and spicy, with a minty, cedary edge to the sweet fruit. It’s an unusual take on Beaumes de Venise, and I’m not sure about it: the wood really dominates. But some might really love this style! 88/100
BEAUMES-DE-VENISE
- Introduction
- Petitjean family: Domaine de Cassan and Château Les Croix des Pins
- Xavier Vignon
- Domaine La Ligière
- Domaine Saint Amant
- Domaine de la Ferme Saint-Martin
- Domaine Raboly
- Rhonea
- Domaine de Durban
- Domaine De Fenouillet
- Domaine Saint Roch
- Domaine Les Bernardins
- A big tasting of Beaumes-de-Venise wines
