Winemaker Notes
Each vineyard plot as well as each grape variety is vinified on its own and undergoes a long, gentle maceration in a concrete vat. There is no oak aging. A deep purple color, this wine has intriguing aromas of violets, plum and blueberry. It is elegant and seamless with amazingly pure fruit.
Recommended by its creators with Gnocchi alla Sorrentina.
Blend: 55% Grenache, 22% Syrah, 13% Mourvèdre and 10% Cinsault
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
Lots of spicy, old-school, garrigue, and peppery herb aromatics emerge from the 2019 Vacqueyras Prelude, a dense, powerful, medium to full-bodied wine that benefits from plenty of air. A blend of 55% Grenache, 23% Syrah, and the rest Mourvèdre and Cinsault, it’s going to benefit from a few years of bottle age and drink nicely through 2029.
Rating: 90+
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.