Winemaker Notes
Enjoy this Vacqueyras with red meats such as grilled ribeye “à la fleur de sel” (high hand sea salt). You can also enjoy it with turkey, BBQ, sweet potatoes, roast beef or lamb with thyme. Best if decanted.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Tasted out of bottle, the 2019 Vacqueyras is a deeper, richer wine than the 2020 (which is common) offering loads of Provençal charm in its darker strawberry fruits as well as peppery garrigue, spice, and sandalwood aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has terrific tannins, notable balance, and is just loaded with character. I’d be thrilled to drink a bottle any time over the coming decade. The 2019 is 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre.Best after 2022.
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine is rich, with a concentrated core of fresh and sappy cassis, black currant, licorice, rhubarb, eucalyptus and baking spice over warm earth. The mouthfeel is round, with a long-textured finish. Notes of red berries are sprinkled with crushed black pepper. An easy, winning match with barbeque
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.
This charming appellation within the Côtes du Rhône Villages was second only to Gigondas to earn its own village appellation status. Its wines may be red, rosé or white—though hardly any is white. Its high winemaking standards follow many of the same rules as Chateauneuf-du-Pape. But for Vacqueyras red wines, half of the grapes have to be Grenache and the remainder is usually a combination of Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault.
While they can be robust and rustic in style, typically a great Vacqueyras red combines delicate aromas with intense fruit and a bright, crisp texture. They certainly don’t lack any character and show an abundance of black cherry, wild berry, plum, fig, baking spice, and a touch of game or smoke.