Vacqueyras has always played second fiddle to Chateauneuf but the wines are finally starting to get the credit they deserve and this full bodied, deep and complex red is an excellent expression of this appellation. 

Sang des Cailloux means “blood of the stones,” and the galets ridden nature of the soil comes across in the mineral, stony aspect of this wine which is deep and full of energy and with notes of lavender, red and black fruit and olive. It is ready to drink now but will age gracefully for at least ten to fifteen years.

This wine is made from grapes grown on the elevated Plateau des Garrigues, where the vines are planted on a mixture of red clay, limestone and galets roule - or pudding - stones that are famously found in Chateaunuef.

Produced from an assemblage of different plots in the commune of Ampuis, the white Cotes du Rhone from Domaine Jamet is northern in character. Mainly produced from Marsanne and Viognier grapes, this wine is fresh, with minerality, and provides immediate enjoyment.

Appelation - Cotes du Rhone
Geology - Schist and clay-limestone soil
Grape varieties - 60% Marsanne, 30% Viognier, 7% Roussane, 3% Grenache Blanc
Vinification - Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation partly in barrels and partly in tanks
Maturation - 50 % oak barrels and 50 % stainless steel tanks
Plot - Lezardes, Cognet, Plomb, Tartaras, Champrond.

This Vacqueyras from the Southern Rhone is composed of 55% Grenache 35% Syrah 10% Mourvèdre. It is aged in Foudre with a final blend in demi muid & concrete (15/20%). 

Lovely dark purple, pure. Sweet black fruits, dark cherry, raspberry, dark fruit pastille, big flavours, with aniseed and mineral tone, sweet and juicy, vibrant and juicy, the tannin is well supported by the acidity, very long, blueberry and soft plum, touch of soy.

This is the top wine of this old estate in Chateauneuf du Pape, produced from a single block of their oldest vines, many of which being over 100 years old.  Very concentrated and hedonistic wine.  100% Grenache,  undergrowth, truffle, toast, light notes of vanilla; red fruit: redcurrants, raspberries, sour cherries, maintaining a fresh acidity and endless length. The complexity of a fine Pinot Noir but the power of a mighty Rhone wine.

Chateauneuf du Pape is definitely the most famous and arguably the most prestigious of the Southern Rhone 'Cru' wine appellations, covering 3,200 hectares of vines across 5 communes (about three times the size of Martinborough).

Wine was made here from Roman times, but became famous with the Papacy in town and beyond to royal courts. The best vineyards are on gentle hill slopes, with deep clay & limestone soils with large rounded river stones 'galets' on top. By rules inacted in the 1920s, no vineyards were to be planted on land that was not arid enough to support plantings of both lavender and vines.

Domaine Juliette Avril is a family winery of four generations in the heart of Chateauneuf town - growing for centuries in the region and helped to create the rules of the appellation in 1928.  The vineyards are the classic mix of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and small amounts of the other 10 grape varieties permitted. An impressive half of the vines are over 50 years old.

Winemaking

Temperature controlled ferment in steel, aged in high quality demi-muid (600L) barrels for 12 months, with a light filtration.  The top wine of the estate - from a single estate of old vines.

This is a stunning new addition to our southern French wine range and comes from winemaker Xavier Vignon. Xavier has become internationally known for being the winemaker of several of the best domaines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the Rhone, such as Le Nerthe, Marcoux and Grand Veneur.

This Cotes du Rhone is his own take on the traditional southern French theme with its smooth, spicy, juicy flavours, over delivering on style, quality and price - as is typical of the best Cotes du Rhone reds.

50% Grenache- 40% Mourvèdre - 5% Cinsault - 5% Syrah