A salmon color in the glass, this ’16 Vacqueyras Rosé wafts with berries, figs, underbrush, orange peel and crushed rocks. Grippy and vibrant, this wine uncurls on the palate to reveal a mineral-laden, vibrant palate that builds to a sneakily powerful finish laden with herbs and fruit. This rosé is an AOC Vacqueyras made by Éric Bouletin, a rising star in the appellation, and to make this wine, Bouletin blends Grenache and Mourvèdre, both saignée method, with Syrah aged in demi-muid, direct-press Carignan, and some direct-press Grenache, all without skin contact. This is a serious wine that you can drink alone or with a variety of heftier summer dishes.
- Country: France
- Region: Rhône Valley
- Commune/Village: Vacqueyras
Just 7.4 acres at the foot of the Dentelles, Domaine Roucas Toumba is poised for greatness. For years, Vacqueyras has lived in the shadow cast by Gigondas to the north and Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the south; however, all of that is changing due to the work of Èric Bouletin, whose three beautifully wrought Vacqueyras wines are raising the profile of this under-the-radar Provençal region. While Roucs Toumba has been in the Bouletin family since the eighteenth century, Èric’s decision to stop selling the domaine’s grapes and to make his own wine has changed everything. Planted to Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and a mixture of lesser-known indigenous grapes, the vineyards of Roucas Toumba sport very old vines that Èric tends using sustainable agriculture. He is no less painstaking in the cellar, coaxing the best from his grapes with meticulous fermentation protocol. The resulting wines speak for themselves--and they say volumes about the region’s unique rocky terroir. A definite rising star, Domaine Roucas Toumba is redefining the Vacqueyras appellation.
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