2011 Vacqueyras
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Tasting notes
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.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
(yes, this is the current release for this wine) Pale hazy red. High-toned red berry, floral and Asian spice aromas, along with hints of musk, earth and minerals. Vaguely stewy raspberry and cherry flavors pick up spicecake and anise notes on the back half. Finishes with repeating spiciness, building warmth and fine-grained tannins that shape lingering red fruit notes. I tried this wine three times and two of the bottles were distinctly volatile in character; this note is for the best example. It's a curious and disappointing showing compared to the example that I tasted from barrel at the domaine back in December 2013.
Bright red. Intensely perfumed aromas of red fruit preserves, smoky minerals and peppery spices, with a lively mineral overtone. Bright and sharply focused, offering intense red fruit and floral pastille flavors lifted by an exotic touch of blood orange. Finishes with sweet, silky tannins that fade quickly into the wine's juicy fruit. Distinctly elegant, in the style of the house and winemaker.
Broad and sweet. A bit medicinal and definitely pungent. Ambitious and much better than the vintage average. (JR)
About the producer
Domaine des Tours is a separate label to Ch. des Tours, however both ranges are made at the same Vacqueyras property. Part of the Rayas galaxy and made by Emmanuel Reynaud, the wines are a source of great value and offer a glimpse of the Rayas style.