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Welcome to another edition of ‘Tips from the Tasting Room,’ showcasing the wines that Laithwaites’ staff are getting really excited about right now. Today we take a look at the story behind an unusual Aussie red, RedHeads Coco Rôtie Shiraz Viognier chosen by our Senior Merchandiser, Chloe.
Behind the label
First there’s that name – Coco Rôtie. Then there’s the label – a monkey wearing a golden crown? You could be forgiven for wondering what it’s all about. Let me explain …
First up, the name is a nod to a famous French red, Côte Rôtie. The name Côte Rôtie means literally ‘roasted slope’ – after a tiny, very steep vineyard in the northern Rhône. Most northern Rhône reds are made purely from Syrah, but Côte Rotie is made with Syrah and a tiny splash of the local white grape, Viognier. Paradoxically, the addition of Viognier seems to make the wine taste even bigger and richer – and adds some lovely aromatic notes to the lush red and black fruit.
And the monkey? It’s all down to those quirky winemakers at the innovative eco-friendly RedHeads cellar. They thought it would be fun to name the wine after an ancient Monkey King who had an insatiable hunger for roasted coconuts (Noix de Coco Rôties). There, you see. It all makes sense now.
Who are the Redheads?
The Redheads winery is run by a group of talented winemakers who have all worked for the big names – but now want to focus on making their own high-end, no-compromise, small-project wines.
They built the RedHeads winery from scratch, putting sustainability firmly at its core – from the solar-panel roof and its water recycling system to the local sourcing of materials.
To date, they’ve won four major awards for their green credentials.
The Redheads only have one small vineyard – but they hunt down the very finest grapes from Australia’s top growing regions. Often from their mates, as they know the growers that supply all the iconic brands. They pick a row here, a row there, and craft them in small batches at the winery. They then blend the parcels together – like an artist with a palette of colours – to create amazing wines.
It’s clearly a winning formula. They’ve won eleven Trophies and over 240 Golds at last count, and fine wine guru Robert Parker says their wines “Must be tasted to be believed.”
Coco Rôtie is made in the same way as the northern Rhône classic of similar name. The Syrah and Viognier grapes are fermented together in open vats, and the wine is aged in top-quality oak barrels. But of course, the grapes are from top Aussie vineyards – from the premium McLaren Vale in this case. So, you have a similar style to Côte Rotie but with added Aussie exuberance.
Crimson red in colour, the wine has Turkish delight and ripe red fruit aromas. Rich and luscious in the mouth, it has bright fruit to start, followed by savoury mocha finish. Enjoy with a char-grilled T-bone steak, slow roasted lamb or other rich meat dishes.
About the author
Chris Larkin
A seasoned copywriter with over two decades experience, Chris has been part of the team since 2021. At Laithwaites HQ, you’ll find him either working on our latest catalogue or creating informative content for our website. Qualified to WSET Level 3 Wine, Chris is as geeky about wine as he is about copywriting. But when it comes to choosing a special bottle, he is a traditionalist, and loves a good Bordeaux or Mâcon Chardonnay.
