The Inopia Rouge 2020 Côtes du Rhône Villages from Rotem & Mounir Saouma is a rare fusion of Burgundy and Rhône. The renowned quality of the red wines of the Rhône Valley, the exceptional balance of red fruit and spices, and of course the names behind it, will impress you. Read on.

In 1999, Rotem and Mounir Saouma founded the famous and highly selective négociant house Lucien Le Moine in the heart of Burgundy. There, they purchased freshly fermented wines from local growers, nurtured them, aged them, and bottled them with their own signature. The quality of their wines quickly gained international recognition, especially through unique bottlings of 1er and Grand Cru wines that stood out. This marked the beginning of their brilliant journey in the world of wine.

In 2009, they decided to take a new step and engage in vineyard cultivation. They moved to the Rhône Valley, specifically to Châteauneuf, where they acquired neglected plots through auctions. This is how Clos Saouma was born.

The Inopia Rouge 2020 Côtes du Rhône Villages comes from Orange (where Châteauneuf‑du‑Pape is also produced), another once‑abandoned plot purchased by the Saoumas in 2011. There, they planted and cultivated—using minimal intervention—varieties destined exclusively for the Inopia range, whose name means “made from nothing.”

Whole‑cluster fermentation of Grenache Noir (the majority), Mourvèdre, Counoise, Syrah, and Cinsault lasted 15 days. The wine was then transferred, along with its lees, into a combination of foudres, French oak barrels, concrete eggs, and 500‑liter barrels. Its 18‑month maturation gave it depth and complexity while preserving the freshness and expressiveness of the varieties’ aromas.

The Inopia Côtes‑du‑Rhône Villages Rouge 2020 was bottled unfiltered and shows tremendous finesse and balance. It is silky, elegant, with pure flavors and aromas of red fruits. But it’s best if you discover it yourself with a tasting. Its price certainly won’t leave you indifferent.