From: Southern Rhône, France
Varietals: 75% Grenache, 25% Syrah
Tasting Notes: "A step up, the 2017 Vacqueyras Vieilles Vignes (75% Grenache and 25% Syrah) offers a deeper ruby/plum color as well as more richness in its black cherry, melted licorice, garrigue, and crushed rock-like aromas and flavors. A rich, full-bodied, powerful wine, it has enough structure to warrant 2-3 years of bottle age and will cruise for a decade. I'd be happy to have a case of this in the cellar." –Jeb Dunnuck, 92-94 points
"Tasted blind. Dark, dense style with rich black fruit and loads of spice on the palate. Thick, syrupy fruit but without over-extraction of flavour and good balance of tannin and acid. Gradual, smooth fade on the finish. Lovely spicy persistence." –Richard Hemming MW, 17/20 points
Pairing: We'd suggest Molly O'Neill's recipe for Old-Fashioned Beef Stew.
Richard Hemming MW featured this wine in a "wine of the week" article on Jancis Robinson's website in 2018: "Le Couroulu delivers the WOW holy trinity: affordability, availability and dependability. ... [it is] savoury, gastronomic and satisfying, with the full weight and muscular structure of the southern Rhône, but effortless balance too, and a sense of freshness that is frequently missing from a region that too often pursues power above all. [It is] as thoroughbred as good Châteauneuf-du-Pape without trying so hard to impress, and come at much better prices. ...authentic, traditional styles that will tick all the boxes for lovers of southern Rhône reds."
