Winemaker Notes
Blend: 50% Bourboulenc, 25% White Grenache, 25% Roussanne
Vegan-Friendly
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Remarkably sleek and barely medium-bodied in spite of the warm appellation and vintage, this revolutionary wine is very crisp and stony with plenty of pear fruit. Long, racy and refreshing finish that’s very precise. A cuvee of bourboulenc, grenache blanc and roussane from biodynamically grown grapes. Vegan.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A wine that needs a decant to show at its best, the 2021 Vacqueyras Mineral Blanc is an interesting blend of 50% Bourboulenc and 25% each Grenache Blanc and Roussanne. It starts out funky and earthy, yet builds nicely with air to show clean citrus and apple fruit as well as sappy herb, mint, and honeyed mineral notes. Medium-bodied on the palate, with good mid-palate depth as well as bright acidity, it's going to benefit from a year in bottle. This is a white I suspect will have an interesting evolution over the coming 7-8 years.
Rating: 90+
Full-bodied and flavorful, white Rhône blends originate from France’s Rhône Valley. Today these blends are also becoming popular in other regions. Typically some combination of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier form the basis of a white Rhône blend with varying degrees of flexibility depending on the exact appellation. Somm Secret—In the Northern Rhône, blends of Marsanne and Roussanne are common but the south retains more variety. Marsanne, Roussanne as well as Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul and Ugni Blanc are typical.
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.