Region: Vacqueyras, France (AOC)
Composition: 50% Syrah, 50% Grenache
Background: This was a wine we had with dinner, out at Geranium. At the time I didn't know much about the producer but I like wines from Southern Rhone in general (Vacqueyras is a little bit northeast of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and directly south of Gigondas) and that the straight Syrah I was also eyeing on the menu was probably too much for what we were eating. Some investigation shows that the original proprietor, Gabriel Archimbaud, was the first bottler in Vacqueyras, and now the property is run by his daughter, Monique, and her son. They make a handful of AOC Vacqueyras wines as well as an AOC Gigondas and a few general AOC Cotes du Rhones.
Notes: This wine has a nose of rose and dust, with some red berries and some geranium and spice/pepper. In the mouth it starts out soft and strawberrylike, and you can tell the Grenache is in control, but on the finish the Syrah shows a little more (especially as it opens up). The soft tannins echo the dust in the nose. Right on the finish, in with the spice, there is a slight perk of berry, but not so much as to be jarring. Overall, it was pleasant and went well with the food we were having.
Cost: It looks like you can pick this up for a little more than $15 a bottle.
Overall: B
Comments