Winemaker Notes
#38 Jeb Dunnuck Top 100 of 2025
Aromas of black fruits, lavender, wild herbs, and soy. Flavors of black raspberries and baking spice. Smooth but present tannins.
Pair with red meat; charcuterie laced with black pepper and roasted pork with fresh herbs.
Blend: 45% Grenache, 41% Syrah, 14% Mourvèdre
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Ripe red and black fruits, leather, ground pepper, and crushed stone notes all emerge from the 2022 Vacqueyras, a rich, concentrated, age-worthy Vacqueyras that brings the ripe, sunny style of the vintage backed up by serious concentration and structure. Based on 45% Syrah, 41% Grenache, and the rest Mourvèdre, aged in a mix of barrels, demi-muids, and concrete eggs.
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Wine Spectator
A muscular red, with black pepper–dusted black cherry and toasted anise notes set against a wall of graphite. Starts off plush in feel, but black tea tannins gain steam toward the tightly coiled finish. Charred mesquite smoke wafts on the robust finish, which shows a firm grip. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.
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.