Winemaker Notes
Purple in color. Aromatic nose, with notes of violet flower, licorice, spices and fresh blackberry. The palate has a fresh and velvety texture, very balanced and very subtle, with aromas of strawberry, raspberry and violet flower, with a long and slightly peppery finish.
Serve with duck magrets and red fruit sauce, a Cajùn chicken or a pork with caramel.
Blend: 80% Syrah, 20% Grenache
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Mostly Syrah, the 2020 Ventoux Artemia reveals a Northern Rhône-like style in its darker fruits, bacon fat, leather, and iron-driven aromatics. I always find a Côte Rôtie-like style in this cuvée, and the 2020 is no exception. Medium to full-bodied and balanced, with fine tannins, enjoy bottles over the coming 10-15 years. This cuvée is mostly Syrah from higher elevation, cooler, gravelly limestone soils.
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Wine Spectator
Polished and sleek, with good density to the mulled cherry, plum and anise flavors. Reveals bass notes of tar, finely crushed granite and singed sandalwood as well as a whiff of smoke, all driven by savory acidity. Syrah and Grenache.
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.
Stretching across the slopes of the Ventoux mountain in the southeastern region of the Rhône River Valley, Cotes du Ventoux excels in the production of spicy and characterful red blends based on Grenache, Syrah, and other indigenous varieties. The region also produces rich and aromatic whites and rosés.