Winemaker Notes
A wine with strong Mediterranean accents, both in terms of its aromas of garrigue scrubland, spice and ripe fruit on the nose, and in terms of its power and intensity on the palate. A generous yet well-balanced wine with long-lingering aromas.
Enjoy with lamb cooked with “herbes de provence” or other Mediterranean dishes.
Blend: 50% Syrah, 50% Grenache
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Lots of black fruit with violets and berries. Spicy. Charcoal character, too. It’s full-bodied, chewy and polished. Very pretty.
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Wine Enthusiast
This blend of equal parts Syrah and Grenache balances Syrah's sharper, bramblier edges and piercing cassis flavors against the richness and suppleness of Grenache. An intensely ripe wine pure in black fruit, it is lifted by a spine of crushed-stone minerality
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.
A highly successful southern Rhone village promoted to Cotes du Rhone Villages status because of its intense and heady red wines, Rasteau is also recognized for its fortified wine, Vin Doux Naturel. Grenache is responsible for both styles. Rasteau also produces refreshing white and rosé table wines.