We love wines from the Rhone Valley, both the big Syrahs from the northern Rhone and the Grenache blends from the south. Here’s one of those southern Grenache based wines from the Vacqueyras AOC. We’ve opened a few of these over the past two or three years, and this was the best yet as the wine has deepened and integrated a bit over time. It’s drinking really well right now.
Wine: 2010 Domaine les Ondines Vacqueyras
Winery Location: Southern Rhone Valley, France
Tasted By: Neil & Cheri Date: Feb 2014
Tasting Notes: – we actually mentioned this over a year ago, but this bottle is much better with the extra year. The vineyard is farmed organically, although they are still waiting for their certification. Organic doesn’t necessarily mean good, but it can, and this is a good wine. It’s dark purple/red out of the bottle with a big nose of savory, herbaceous notes and spicy black fruits. It smells Southern Rhone. The palate is equally expressive and complex and the wine is very long. Somewhat tannic still, but very approachable, this is full bodied and nicely balanced. Really good, better than it was a year ago and built to maybe get a little better yet.
Price Point – we paid under $20. I saw the 2012 on wine-searcher for $25.
Would We Buy It? – anything under $25 is a good price for this quality Vacqueyras. We’ll be looking to put down another vintage or two for the future.
An excellent wine from a great region. We suggest you try it. If you get the 2012 let it rest for a few years. Better yet, get two, try one now and then wait two years on the second bottle.
A votre sante!
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