Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres Rouge 2018
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Raspberry, violet, licorice, peony, black pepper and gingerbread. Greatly textured with prominent saltiness and length in the finish.
Blend: 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre
The distinctive freshness and saltiness of this Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre blend makes it easy to pair with both rustic and sophisticated dishes. The smooth, red-fruit character of the wines make it a great choice for tomato-based dishes such as ratatouille, while the richness from the Syrah also allow it to pair with lamb, venison or beef.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Deeply perfumed and dazzling, this is a new project by Louis Barruol of Château de Saint Cosme in Gigondas. A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre sourced from 50-plus-year-old vines planted in limestone and marl, it offers scintillating blackberry and black-cherry flavors etched by violet, anise and clay. Fermented in whole bunches and matured 16 months in concrete vats, this fruity sip should improve through 2028. Editor's Choice
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Wine Spectator
Features a core of gently steeped plum and boysenberry fruit, laced with a mouthwatering anise note and gilded with sandalwood and violet hints throughout. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre, the 2018 Vinsobres features an intriguing mix of herbal, floral and fruity notes on the nose, with scents ranging from bay leaf and lavender to violets and purple raspberries. It's medium to full-bodied, silky and fine on the palate, with a finishing touch of licorice. It's a great debut—showing complexity and elegance, not raw power—from the property's new owner, Louis Barruol of Château Saint-Cosme in Gigondas.
Other Vintages
2020-
Jeb
Dunnuck -
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Jeb
Dunnuck
Château de Rouanne is a historic estate with a 12th century medieval castle, situated on a classified Roman site located in the southern Rhône Valley. The name of the estate comes from "Rugius", which is said to be the name of the original Roman owner. The estate totals 177 acres (72 hectares), including 153 acres (62 hectares) of vines. Château de Rouanne was purchased by Louis Barruol, owner and winemaker of Château de Saint Cosme, in May of 2019. Barruol sees enormous potential in Château de Rouanne, having worked with the previous owners for years as a source for some of his négociant wines. “It reminds me a lot of Saint Cosme when I took it over in 1992. It’s an unknown sleeping beauty waiting for a vigneron to truly love it.” Château de Rouanne is located in the appellation of Vinsobres, which was established in 2006. The appellation is situated in the northern part of the southern Rhône. Like Gigondas, it is a relatively cool-climate region thanks in part to the “Pontias”, a cold, nocturnal wind that blows down from the Alps into the valley through the town of Nyons and into Vinsobres. Vinsobres is particularly known for producing outstanding Syrah-based wines.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
One of the more established Rhône villages promoted to its own 'Côtes du Rhône Villages' appellation, Vinsobres produces uniquely styled Rhône Blends based on Grenache and Syrah in its relatively cool and elevated vineyards.