Walls: The best new Côtes du Rhône wines under £20

Could a Côtes du Rhône ever score 100 points? There’s no reason why not.

In fact, Domaine Gramenon scored 97 points in the recent 2023 Rhône vintage report.

Score inflation? No; the wine deserved it on merit. 

Scroll down to see 16 of Mat Walls’ top 2023 Côtes du Rhône under £20

It’s easy to be prejudiced against wines bottled under this rather lowly appellation. After all, they can come from any of 172 different villages (or communes, more accurately) across the sprawling Rhône – and, let’s be honest, not all of these have the most exciting terroir.

It’s true that not all Côtes du Rhône is made with a watchmaker’s attention to detail, or by genius winemakers. 

And yes, some are made in titanic quantities, blended from all four corners of the region. In fact, in 2023, 44% of all AP wine produced in the entire Rhône Valley was bottled under this appellation. 

But among these 172 villages, there are some exceptional sites that are yet to be officially recognised. Some are home to ancient vines. Many are farmed with great care, often organically or biodynamically.

And they are often very affordable – so this can be a smart place to look for wines that punch above their weight.

A category for all

Also, if you’re eager for a taste of the new Rhône vintage, it’s usually the Côtes du Rhône wines that are first on the market as they’re typically matured for shorter periods than more hyped appellations. And for those who aren’t keen on barrel ageing, use of oak is relatively rare.

You can dive into the 2023s straight away – this hot, dry vintage produced juicy and approachable wines, suited for early drinking.

All of the recommended wines below can be opened without delay, and most will continue to offer drinking pleasure for a good two or three years – some even longer. 

What’s more, producers have difficulty charging high prices for wines bottled under this generic appellation, no matter the quality.

There are a few cult Côtes du Rhône wines with high price tags: Château de Fonsalette is typically around £350 a bottle by the time it reaches UK retailers. The top wines of Domaine Gramenon can hit £60 per bottle. But these estates are the exceptions. 

All the wines listed below are under £20 per bottle in UK retail, or are expected to be by the time they arrive on our shores over the coming months. 

They might not score 100 points, but these are all wines of place, mostly organic, and they all have something to say.

These are solid options for those on a budget – and at the end of January, who isn’t?

16 of Matt Walls’ top 2023 Côtes du Rhône under £20

Related articles

• Rhône 2023 vintage report
• Laudan becomes the 18th cru of the Rhône Valley
• 30 premium Côtes du Rhône wines to try