Stylish and refined, thanks to a Cuvée mainly on sands. The rustic touch of tannins fades, and silkiness overrides... Shows a real Class !
The vintage

A Vintage shaped for Grenache, in the first place. Intense, engaging, deep colors… Bright fruit, striking structures, with a singular quality of the tannin... And the more unreal, as this is the most unlikely feature in this table, the pH… pH which is astonishingly low...
All in all, 2016 solves the problem of squaring the circle in the world of wine ! Wines which are “easy”, absolutely delicious to drink young, fresh, yet with a structure, a fleshiness, a balance, which promise them an unprecedented destiny…

Terroir

Plateau de Sarrians, la Ponche, les Grès, les Pendants

Ageing

12 months in one and two vintages barrels. Allier et Tronçais. Then 10 months in foudre.

Vinification

1/2 non destemmed.

Serving

14°C
Decant 2 hours before service.

Tasting

Stylish and refined, thanks to a Cuvée mainly on sands. The rustic touch of tannins fades, and silkiness overrides... Shows a real Class !

Alcohol content

14,5%

Bottling

Without fining and filtration.

Cépages

Grenache : 70 %
Mourvèdre : 15 %
Syrah : 15 %

Raspberries and plums with darker-fruit nuances. Fine, chalky tannins carry freshness and plenty of flavor. This has attractive, pared-back purity. Drink or hold.

James Suckling , 92/100 , 2018-08-29

Lastly, the 2016 Vacqueyras Vieilles Vignes is a charmer that offers loads of fruit and texture, in a more forward, gulpable, balanced style. Plums, crushed rocks, violets, and pepper all emerge from the glass and it has medium to full-bodied richness, fine tannin and notable purity. It will drink nicely right out of the gate.

JebDunnuck.com , 89-91/100 , 2017-10-19

Mid crimson. Spicy, transparent nose. Broad and polished. Tastes somehow purple and sumptuous. Not short of alcohol but there is flavour here in spades too.

Jancis Robinson , 17,5/20 , 2017-12-01

black-tinted, dark robe. There’s a roll of fat blackberry fruit on the nose, which has a savoury depth, darkness, a little mystery, plenty of core. The palate runs with a free handout of sleek matter, sparky black fruit along its trail, blueberry prominent. The nish brings in some garrigue, herbs in uences. This has character, and will gradually come together, the nish still powdered and a little rocky. 14.5°. From late 2019. 2030-32 Feb 2018

John Livingstone , ****

A step ahead of the Rasteau, the 2016 Vacqueyras Vieilles Vignes shows genuine local character in its notes of raspberry-like Grenache fruit and garrigue shadings. It's full-bodied, plush and long on the palate, with ample concentration and less overt oak than expected. It's 70% Grenache, with the balance split between Mourvèdre and Syrah. Half of the fruit was vinified whole cluster and aged in concrete, the other half was destemmed and aged in barrel.

Wine Advocate , 91-93/100 , 2018-08-31

Solid, featuring a core of dark plum and blackberry paste flavors, inlaid liberally with anise, tar and roasted apple wood notes. Gutsy overall, but with enough polish to bring you back for more. The fruit reverberates on the finish. Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Drink now through 2025

Wine Spectator , 93/100 , 2019-03-27

Le Vacqueyras est bien plus solaire, sans pour autant perdre en cohérence.

La Revue du Vin de France , 15/20

Youthful violet. Ripe cherries and dark berries on the deeply perfumed nose. Shows impressive power and depth on the palate, offering ripe blackberry and candied cherry flavors complicated by hints of candied lavender and licorice. The smooth, youthfully tannic, smoke-tinged finish delivers solid punch and leaves sappy cherry and floral notes behind.

Josh Raynolds
Vinous , 91-93/100 , 2018-08-01

There's a regal, weighty feel to this powerful yet finessed red. Blackberry and cassis flavors are succulent and concentrated, with notes of granite, sandstone and dried mint. It's supple and soft but structured by fine, drying tannins. Immediately approachable, it should hold well through 2026

Wine Enthusiast , 93/100 , 2019-07-01