Winemaker Notes
Ruby red color in the glass. The nose is of garrigue scrubland, spice and ripe
fruit. On the palate, this wine is intense and powerful, well-balanced with
long-lingering aromas.
This wine is ideal with lamb cooked with “herbes de provence” or other Mediterranean dishes.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A textural, well-rounded and dense blend of grenache and syrah. It offers aromas of cassis, dark cherries, grilled herbs and baking spices. Medium- to full-bodied with fine tannins. Generous berry character here, with a dense core of spice to the compact finish. Try from 2025.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Based on 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah and aged 12 months with half the cuvée in 450-liter barrels, the 2022 Rasteau offers juicy, fresh blackberries and black cherry fruits intermixed with spice, peppery garrigue, and sandalwood. It's medium-bodied, has a pure, layered mouthfeel, ripe, polished tannins and a great finish. It's a serious, impeccably made Rasteau with tons of complexity and charm.
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Wine Spectator
A lot of wine, with blackberry pate de fruit and lavender woven with an earthy dimension of warm soil, black pepper and bacon fat. Density builds, powered by a salty vein of graphite mineral notes. There's a sultry edge to the finish, which shows grilled sandalwood smoke and singed anise. Drink now through 2028. 3,000 cases made, 900 cases imported.
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.