Chateau des Tours (Reynaud) Vacqueyras 2011

  • 91 Robert
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Chateau des Tours (Reynaud) Vacqueyras 2011  Front Bottle Shot
Chateau des Tours (Reynaud) Vacqueyras 2011  Front Bottle Shot Chateau des Tours (Reynaud) Vacqueyras 2011  Front Label

Product Details


Varietal

Region

Producer

Vintage
2011

Size
750ML

Features
Boutique

Green Wine

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Somm Note

Winemaker Notes

80% Grenache, 20% Syrah. Grenache planted in 1955, Syrah planted between 1981-1996 on a sandy, west-facing vineyard. Only the oldest parcels, almost entirely planted to Grenache, are bottled as Vacqueyras. The rest are blended and bottled as Côtes-du-Rhône. Grenache is aged in concrete vat and Syrah in used 600 L oak casks for 24-26 months.

Professional Ratings

  • 91
    The pale ruby and bricking 2011 Vacqueyras is a silken wonder, weaving together gossamer notes of dried cherries, stone fruit, leather and spice. It weighs in at a labeled strength of 15% alcohol, yet seems light and airy on the palate, adding hints of salted licorice and orange zest on the long, intense, yet delicate finish. Given its slightly advanced color and rather delicate style, I suggest drinking it over the next few years, although these wines often show an uncanny ability to remain at their plateau of maturity much longer than you might expect.
Chateau des Tours (Reynaud)

Chateau des Tours (Reynaud)

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Chateau des Tours (Reynaud), France
The spirit of Jacques Reynaud, the godfather of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, is always present at the storied estate of Château Rayas. When this legendary founder died suddenly in 1997, his wife asked their nephew, Emmanuel Reynaud, to take the reins at both Château Rayas and Château de Fonsalette. Already making wines at his father’s Château des Tours, Emmanuel agreed. Somewhat reclusive and to be found working his vineyards at most any time of day, every day, Emmanuel does not revel in the fame and notoriety that come with making such sought-after and acclaimed wines. Instead, he continues to quietly but successfully carry the mantle of his famous forebears, producing hauntingly aromatic wines at his three estates: Château Rayas, Château des Tours, and Château de Fonsalette. Located in Sarrians, just outside Vacqueyras, the Reynaud family purchased Château des Tours in 1935. Tall towers flank the old house on both sides (hence “des Tours”). This is Emmanuel’s family estate, which he took over from his father, Bernard, in 1989. Emmanuel is at heart a farmer, and here he grows food for his family — olives, grains, and, importantly, grapes. Like all Reynaud vineyards, these are tended with the same organic methods, manually plowed, all hand-harvested much later than other producers, and centered around a reverence for old-vine Grenache. With 40 hectares of vineyards surrounding the house, Emmanuel produces Vacqueyras, Côtes du Rhône, and Vin De Pays, all from estate fruit. His wines are made with minimal to no sulfur during vinification. Whole cluster fermentation commences naturally without the inoculation of yeasts in underground concrete tanks and the wines are aged partly in oak casks. The parcels are vinified separately before assemblage takes place in enamel-lined tanks and bottled. The resulting wine is unfined and unfiltered. There is a clear throughline in all the wines produced by Emmanuel — a unique weighty, aromatic, complex, and savory signature of all the wines that ranks them among the most well-regarded, sought-after bottles of the appellation.
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With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.

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Vacqueyras Wine

Rhone, France

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This charming appellation within the Côtes du Rhône Villages was second only to Gigondas to earn its own village appellation status. Its wines may be red, rosé or white—though hardly any is white. Its high winemaking standards follow many of the same rules as Chateauneuf-du-Pape. But for Vacqueyras red wines, half of the grapes have to be Grenache and the remainder is usually a combination of Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault.

While they can be robust and rustic in style, typically a great Vacqueyras red combines delicate aromas with intense fruit and a bright, crisp texture. They certainly don’t lack any character and show an abundance of black cherry, wild berry, plum, fig, baking spice, and a touch of game or smoke.

MTEREYEV11_2011 Item# 1193731

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