Wines from the Vacqueyras appellation

This week, we want to offer you some wines from the Vacqueyras appellation, located in the Southern Rhône, right below Gigondas and not too far from its bigger sibling, Chateauneuf-du-Pape to the south-west. The wines are created using the usual suspects of the area, i.e. Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, with the other Rhône varietals allowed, except for Carignan.

Today, we have two wines from a cooperative, Vignerons de Caractère. For those of you not familiar with the term "coopérative", it is a group of winemakers who decide to put their assets and knowledge together to be more cost effective. This particular one was created in 1957. Robert Parker calls is "a well-run cooperative that admirably displays the talent involved." He adds that wines such as today's offer "should change the mind of anyone with an anti-cooperative prejudice." We hope you will be one of them as it would be a shame to pass these up and miss out on such wonderful offerings.

2009 Seigneur de Fontimple Vacqueyras

A classic Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre blend that is vinified with carbonic maceration and aged totally in tank prior to bottling. The result is a front end-loaded, richly fruity Vacqueyras offering oodles of peppery garrigue notes intermixed with black cherry and strawberry fruit. Ripe and dense with no hard edges, it is meant to be consumed over the next 4-5 years. Consumers will find it to be irresistible.

Rated 90PTS by The Wine Spectator.

Philippe's Everyday Price: $19.99 - Vintage Service Price: $17.75

2009 Les Hauts de Castellas Vacqueyras

A Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre blend aged in wood barrels for 12 months that exhibits classic Provencal characteristics of garrigue, lavender, pepper, kirsch, and spice. Big, chewy, robust, pure, exuberant, and medium to full-bodied with silky tannins, it should drink well for 5-6 years.

Rated (90-93)PTS by Robert Parker.

Philippe's Everyday Price: $24.99 - Vintage Service Price: $22.00

Please reply to this email if you wish to reserve some of these beautiful expressions of the South of France.