Cultivated on the robustly clay and stony soils of the Ouveze valley, Grenache, the grape that forms the heart of this wine, develops power and depth. Its characteristic aromas of chocolate, cherry and fig marry perfectly with those of the Syrah.
Presentation
Presentation
Our Vacqueyras Les Christins is a great example of a Grenache based wine from the Southern Rhône, with remarkable aromatic expression, immense structure, and huge ageing potential.
The vintage
The 2023 vintage is characterised by a beautiful climatic balance, which is reflected in the cellar. The mild winter was followed by a dry spring then a hot summer, particularly in August and September. Despite a slight lack of rain, these conditions allowed ideal ripening and the harvest began on August 22nd in perfect conditions. Under a warm and radiant sun, the harvest went perfectly, even if it was necessary to work quickly to prevent the juices from oxidizing in the heat, particularly the rosés. The harvest ended on October 4, with the last devatting on October 23. The first tastings reveal very balanced wines: they are rich, powerful and have good concentration, while having retained a beautiful freshness. A vintage that shows great potential.
Location
Situated south of the Dentelles de Montmirail, our tenant farmed 8 hectares of vines at Sarrians are managed by the Beaucastel team. They are old vines of an average of 50 years of age.
Terroir
Stony terraces of clay, sand and sedimentary safres, with particularly good sunshine exposure.
Ageing
The Grenache and Syrah vines are planted together, which is fairly unusual and quite difficult since the difference in maturities between the two varieties can be some 5 to 10 days. The harvest date is therefore based on the maturity of the Grenache, with the Syrah being harvested very ripe. They are picked by hand and on arrival at the cellar they are sorted, crushed, and vatted. Fermentation is quite long and extraction is obtained by manual cap punching. Vinification is quite classic, with little use of wood. The grapes are all vinified together, which allows for a certain synergy in extractions – the wine develops a good concentration of aromas but without any harshness, with lovely spicy notes from the Syrah. Following malolactic fermentation and blending, the wines are aged in foudres and barrels for one year.
Varietals
Grenache
Syrah
Syrah
Advice
Serving
Serve at 15-16°C.
Ageing potential
5 to 10 years
Tasting
Deep, dense ruby-red colour. The intense nose reveals a complex aromatic expression with notes of dark chocolate and cocoa, combined with notes of spices. The palate opens with a soft attack, supported by a strong tannic structure, before revealing notes of leather, tobacco and ripe black fruit such as cherries. The beautiful balance between aromatic power, tannic richness and softness gives this wine an elegant harmony, offering good drinkability now and solid aging potential.
Food pairings
Duck breast with figs, osso buco Milanese, Saint Nectaire cheese
Reviews
"A blend of 50% Grenache Noir and 50% Syrah sourced from purchased grapes, the 2023 Vacqueyras Les Christins opens with a lovely, gently reductive bouquet of lilac, iris and dark wild berries. Medium-bodied and round, it’s juicy and elegant, built around velvety tannins and concluding with a fresh, perfumed finish. It's a graceful and refined expression of the appellation."
