A classic Rhône red made for food, friends and the table

Made for the table and easy to settle into, this is the kind of red that feels right as soon as the food arrives.

From one of the Rhône Valley’s long-established family estates, Réserve Mont-Redon brings together ripe Mediterranean fruit, gentle spice and a soft savoury character without becoming overly rich or heavy.

Syrah leads the blend, giving the wine colour, pepper and structure. Grenache adds red fruit, warmth and generosity, while a small proportion of other traditional Rhône varieties contributes complexity.

In the glass, it is smooth, balanced and quietly expressive, with cherry, plum, blackberry, dried herbs and gentle earthy spice. Fine tannins give it enough structure to carry a meal, while its freshness keeps every sip inviting.

Easy to enjoy, but not forgettable.

What is Côtes-du-Rhône?

Côtes-du-Rhône is one of France’s best-known regional wine appellations, following the Rhône River through a large and varied landscape.

Although the appellation extends across both the northern and southern Rhône, most Côtes-du-Rhône is produced in the warmer south, where Mediterranean sunshine allows Grenache, Syrah and other traditional varieties to ripen fully.

The region’s wines are usually blends rather than single variety expressions. Each grape plays a different role, creating reds that combine fruit, spice, structure and freshness.

Côtes-du-Rhône AOC also establishes requirements governing where the grapes may be grown, which varieties may be used and how the wine must be produced.

The best examples deliver the warmth and character of the southern Rhône in a style that remains approachable, versatile and naturally suited to food.

Discover the Rhône blend

The 2023 Réserve Mont-Redon is led by Syrah, which accounts for approximately 60% of the blend.

Syrah contributes deep colour, blackberry, violet, pepper and fine tannic structure. It gives the wine its savoury backbone and gently spicy personality.

Grenache represents approximately 35% of the blend. It brings ripe cherry, raspberry, plum, warmth and a rounded texture that softens Syrah’s firmer edges.

The remaining 5% is drawn from other permitted Rhône varieties, adding subtle complexity and helping the final wine express the character of the wider region.

Together, these grapes create a balanced red: generous without becoming jammy, structured without feeling hard and warm without losing freshness.

The vineyard

The grapes come from vineyards in the southern part of the Rhône Valley.

This is a varied landscape where soils can change considerably from one parcel to another. Some vineyards are covered by rounded stones, while others are planted in sandier or limestone-influenced soils.

The region has a Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry summers interrupted by occasional storms.

The Mistral the strong, cooling wind that moves through the Rhône Valley plays an important role in the vineyard. It helps dry the vines after rain, reduces humidity around the fruit and supports healthy growing conditions.

The combination of abundant sunshine and cooling wind allows the grapes to reach full flavour maturity while retaining the freshness needed for balance.

The fruit is harvested in September once the winemaking team determines that each variety has reached the right level of ripeness.

The Château Mont-Redon story

Château Mont-Redon is one of the historic family estates of the southern Rhône.

The estate’s modern story began in 1923, when Henri Plantin acquired Château Mont-Redon in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. At the time, the property included only a small area of vines surrounded by scrubland.

Over successive generations, the family expanded and developed the estate, carefully matching grape varieties to its varied soils.

The domaine is now associated with the Abeille-Fabre family and produces wines across several southern Rhône appellations, including Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Lirac and Côtes-du-Rhône.

Although Réserve Mont-Redon is made to be enjoyed earlier than the estate’s grander wines, it follows the same central philosophy: balanced fruit, careful extraction and a style that works naturally at the table.

The family identity remains visible on the bottle through the eagle crest and the words “Famille Abeille-Fabre.”

A thoughtful approach in the vineyard

Château Mont-Redon works across a mosaic of vineyard sites rather than treating the southern Rhône as one uniform landscape.

Each parcel is managed according to its soil, grape variety and growing conditions. The objective is to harvest healthy, balanced fruit with sufficient ripeness, colour and flavour without losing freshness.

How is it made?

The grape varieties are vinified according to their individual character.

Fermentation and maceration are carefully controlled to extract deep colour and fine tannins from the skins without making the wine coarse or excessively firm.

After alcoholic fermentation, the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation. This natural process softens sharper acidity and contributes to its smooth, rounded texture.

The wine is then matured in tanks for approximately eight to ten months.

Using tanks rather than heavily toasted new oak protects the clarity of the fruit. Cherry, plum, pepper and Mediterranean herbs remain at the centre of the wine instead of being covered by strong vanilla or woody flavours.

The final blend is assembled to achieve balance between Syrah’s structure and Grenache’s generosity.

What does it taste like?

The colour is a deep, bright garnet.

The nose opens with red cherry, raspberry and ripe plum, followed by blackberry, violet and cracked pepper.

As the wine develops, it reveals dried Mediterranean herbs, subtle earth and a faint dark-chocolate quality.

The palate is medium-bodied, smooth and well structured. Ripe red and dark fruits are supported by fine tannins and balanced acidity, giving the wine warmth without heaviness.

The finish is savoury and persistent, with lingering cherry, spice, pepper and a gentle mineral character.

Is it sweet?

No. This is a dry red wine.

The ripe Grenache fruit gives it a rounded, generous quality, but the wine does not contain enough residual sugar to taste sweet.

Its fruit is balanced by pepper, herbs, fine tannins and refreshing acidity.

It is a particularly good choice for drinkers who want a red with flavour and warmth but prefer to avoid wines that feel excessively jammy, sweet or heavy.

Should I decant it?

Decanting is not essential, but giving the wine approximately 20–30 minutes to breathe will help its fruit and spice become more expressive.

If opening it for a meal, simply unscrew the bottle before preparing the food and pour a small taste.

Serve it at 16–18°C. Avoid serving it at a warm Australian room temperature, which can make the alcohol feel more prominent and reduce the wine’s freshness.

The 2023 is designed to be enjoyed for its youthful fruit, but it should also develop comfortably over approximately four to five years from vintage.

What should I drink it with?

This is a flexible, food-friendly red that works with both simple dishes and slower, more generous meals.

Its fruit and fine tannins pair naturally with grilled meat, while its pepper and herbal character suit rosemary, mushrooms, tomato and Mediterranean seasoning.