When blended, the grape varieties produce deep, strongly coloured red wines with red fruit aromas, powerful structure (with good alcohol/acidity balance) and plenty of freshness. They make the ideal choice for Provençal dishes (not too spicy) such as lamb, game, olives and truffle. These red wines can be aged for upwards of 5 to 10 years.
Freshness – the signature style of Vinsobres wines!
Wines from Vinsobres are characterised by their freshness and delicate tannins owing to the position of these terroirs on the edge of the Pre-Alps. The influence of eastern air currents coming from the mountains results in cool nights, which slows the ripening process. The wines possess an exceptional balance between tannins, acidity, spice and red fruit aromas which ensures good structure and ageing potential.
The grape varieties
Grenache is the predominant varietal in the Rhône Valley. It has a seductively warm and smooth character. Known for its perpendicular growth and strong shoots, it produces intense, full-bodied wines with spicy aromas of blackberry and blackcurrant. Its tannins soften out with age and the aromatic profile evolves towards deliciously fruity aromas complemented by the aromas of the surrounding scrubland, spice and fragrant pepper.
The Syrah vines thrive in the slightly cooler parcels. This rarer, low yielding varietal has a spicy character with delectable notes of violet, which are also detectable in the wines it produces: strongly coloured and aromatic with high alcohol levels and a delicate yet well-structured palate. After a few years in the bottle, its characteristic nose of violet evolves towards more complex notes of musk, truffle, leather, pepper and liquorice.
Long-considered as a blending varietal, Mourvèdre is now widely grown on the warm hillsides in the South. It produces robust, full-bodied, tannic, strongly coloured and very elegant wines with powerful structure. They disclose notes of pepper and black fruits combined with a touch of scrubland and bay leaf. After around 5 years in the bottle they begin to reveal notes of truffle, leather and jammy fruits as well as attractive gamey and spicy notes.
Sensorial analysis
The nose reveals notes of fresh and cooked fruits. “Cherry and blackcurrant” are often used to describe these wines in their youth. They develop notes of “blackcurrant and Morello cherry jam” combined with “spice, herbs and pepper” with age. The aromatic profile is dominated by “roasted, smoky” notes, often owing to oak ageing for certain wines.
The tasting profile is consistent from one vintage to the next which confirms the influence of the terroir on the wines from Vinsobres. The palate is well-balanced, fat and round with high alcohol and glycerol levels which coat the tannins and give an impression of volume and richness. These characteristics result in wines with exceptional aromatic persistence and ageing potential.