Ogier Heritages Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2024

Ogier Heritages Cotes du Rhone Rouge is a Grenache-led red from the southern Rhône, blended with Syrah and a splash of Mourvèdre for lift. Deep ruby in the glass, it opens with violet and liquorice over crushed strawberry and raspberry, then settles into riper, darker territory - fig, plum and a dusting of pepper, carried on silky, well-integrated tannins. Ogier has been working these terroirs since 1859 from its historic cellars in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and the Héritages range distils that experience into an easy-drinking, well-made everyday red rather than anything showy. Good glassware not required - just something to pour generously alongside a Sunday roast or a wedge of hard cheese.

What the winery says:

Ogier's Héritages range draws on the house's century-and-a-half of experience across Côtes du Rhône terroirs, made predominantly from Grenache with Syrah and Mourvèdre. About 95% of the fruit is destemmed, and gentle handling lets whole berries begin fermenting naturally before pressing, preserving fruit character. The wine is aged mainly in concrete vats, with a portion resting for a few months in large wooden tuns. Expect a deep ruby colour, an expressive nose of violet, liquorice and crushed red berries with notes of pepper and juniper, and a palate led by ripe fig and plum flavours with silky tannins.

What the experts say:

Cameron Douglas MS, 91/100 (2024 Vintage)
“Great colour and a bouquet of earth and stone, with a mix of smoke, clove, vanilla and baked red berry fruits. Dark plum and baked raspberry flavours are supported by firm tannins and a medium acid line, combining to deliver a wine of completeness, texture and satisfaction. Balanced, well made and ready to drink. Best drinking from day of purchase through 2030”