Winemaker Notes
Medium bodied red from a region known for full bodied, hearty wines. This is a great introduction to the producer's style - roasted aromas, red and black fruits, spice and underbrush with cassis and black currant.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Caressing and densely packed, with seductive ripe fruit backed by fine-grained tannins. Smoked apple wood and ganache drift on the finish, grounded by iron and acid verve. Grenache and Syrah.
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Vinous
The 2023 Vacqueyras kicks off with intense strawberry jam, ripe black cherries, licorice and garrigue. Touching the full-bodied palate with a succulent core of red fruit, the 2023 is a delicious Vacqueyras that delivers complex pleasure right out of the gate. Balanced and refreshing, the 2023 is my slight preference over the almost equally enticing 2022 I tasted last year.
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.