If memory serves me correctly, I picked this same wine some years ago as my “Pick Of The Month.” I am a huge Cotes Du Rhone fan, and I’m happy to see the sales of this wine finally taking hold in my department. I have been touting its virtues for years with very little success. However, persistence pays. My pick for the start of 2026 is from Charles Bieler, who, along with his family, produces wine in the Rhone Valley. He is a gifted winemaker who is well known for working alongside Charles Smith in Washington state. He has his fingers in a lot of pies, so to speak. His 2024 La Jassine is stellar and is once again making its appearance as my “Pick Of The Month.”
2024 Bieler Pere & Fils Côtes-Du-Rhône Villages (Rhone Valley, France)… $14.
Strawberries and cherries on the nose with hits of earth and spices. Smooth, structured tannins support notes of dark cherries and ripe strawberries with a good dose of spices riding underneath into the lingering finish, where a splash of minerality joins the palate party. This wine will convert many people to Cotes-du-Rhone once they try it. The price is stupid considering the quality of this juice. That’s a good thing for us! The fact that it’s designated “Villages,” which indicates a step up in quality and is still under fifteen bucks, is quite amazing if you ask me. (B+/A-)
Cheers!
Stan The Wine Man
