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Cotes du Rhone "Cuvee Sabrine", Andre Brunel, Rhone Valley, FR, 2024

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Article code: JS 92 Pts

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$22.95

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Overview

2024 André Brunel Côtes du Rhône Villages “Cuvée Sabrine” earned 92 pts (James Suckling): textured and medium-bodied, with sweet cherry, dried herbs, spice and fine tannins. Drink now or cellar 2-5 years.

Details

Critic	Score	Review
James Suckling	92/100	“This textured red showcases sweet cherries, dried herbs, meat and baking spices. Medium-bodied, it’s round and densely fruited with fine tannins and a flavorful finish. Drink or hold.”

Wine details

The 2024 Cuvée Sabrine is a Southern Rhône blend of approximately 50% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre, and 10% Cinsault, sourced from vineyards north of Orange in the Rhône Valley. The wine is tank-aged for at least 12 months before bottling.

Producer tasting profile

According to the winery, the wine shows:

Red fruit aromas
Violet and pepper notes
Fresh, complex, elegant character
Cherry-toned color with good freshness and balance

Drinking window

The estate suggests:

Drink now with decanting, or
Cellar for 2–5 years for added complexity
Peak maturity expected around 5 years after vintage

Value assessment

At roughly $20–25 retail in the U.S., a 92-point score from James Suckling places it among the stronger value-oriented Côtes du Rhône Villages wines of the vintage. The tasting note suggests a fruit-forward, approachable style with enough structure from Syrah and Mourvèdre to handle short-term aging.

The Brunel family's winemaking history reaches back to the 17th century with the purchase of a vineyard plot to the north of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation from the Bishop of Avignon. Numerous generations followed, all working in the vineyards, but it was in 1954 that Lucien Brunel created the name "Les Cailloux" or "The Pebbles" to promote the Domaine's wine qualities and special geological characteristic of the large oval stones covering his vineyards.

In 1971, Lucien's son André Brunel took the helm at Domaine Les Cailloux. In 1989 he launched the now coveted Cuvée Centenaire and continued to improve the vineyard management practices. André was one of the first in Châteauneuf-du-Pape to practice a non-chemical approach to farming his vineyards.

In 2012, André's son, Fabrice Brunel, joined the team to ensure the family's history and passion would continue. The pursuit for quality; the utmost respect for the land; and the drive to produce beautiful wines, which are both enjoyable in the immediate present as well as in future years with excellent aging potential, the Brunel family is meticulous in cultivating vineyards, sourcing quality grapes, and winemaking style.

90+ Points Andre Brunel Cotes du Rhone WL