Description
Rasteau
Some of the best value red wines coming out of France come from the Southern Rhône. The quality has improved enormously in the past 20 years, and these village wines offer the best value of all, in terms of quality/price. It is here that one finds wines on a par with the best from Châteauneuf-du-pape but at a fraction of the price.
The vineyard has been in the family since 1920, and Robert Charavin took over from his father in 1976. There are 10 hectares in Rasteau, and another 4 hectares in the adjacent village of Cairanne. In 2017, they acquired 30 hectares in the adjacent appellation of Massif d’Uchaux, a Côtes du Rhône Villages.
We have been visiting the vineyard since 1982, and have shipped their wines regularly since the 1988 vintage. The wines are delicious young, but age extremely well. We recently opened and enjoyed a bottle of the 1989!
In the hierarchy of the Appellation system the Cairanne and Rasteau wines have now been awarded their own appellation (AOP) in recognition of their sustained higher level of quality.
The family has continued to make great strides avoiding chemicals, fertilisers and artificial additives whenever possible, and as a result the vineyard was officially registered as “Bio” (organic) since 2010. Since 2018 they have been fully registered as “Biodynamique” – a wine process that relies on the moon and stars as much as it does on natural remedies for the vineyard!
In 2016 Robert’s children, Marine and Paul, returned home, making this the 4th generation to produce wine in the family vineyard and they now work full time supported by their father.
This Spring we were very impressed by their new range. We’ve have chosen three great reds to import – the Villages wine – Massif d‘Uchaux and two wines from Rasteau – Les Travès and La Mondona.
We are offering a Mixed Case of two bottles of each of these three wines :
Domaine des Côteaux des Travers Les Lauzes 2023
AOP Côtes du Rhône Villages – Massif d’Uchaux
This vineyard is on a red sandy soil full of flat stones (les lauzes).
It is a deeply coloured wine, made from 60% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre. There is a fresh, mouthwatering blackberry nose which leads into soft black blackberry and bilberry fruit with elements of chocolate, pepper and liquorice. It is beautifully balanced with soft tannins and a long aftertaste.
Delicious now!
Domaine des Côteaux des Travers, Les Travès 2023
AOP Rasteau
Les Travès come from a clay and limestone terroir. It is made from 30-year-old vines – 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 20% Mourvèdre. It is aged for 6 months in enamel-lined stainless steel to preserve the fruit.
Deep purple in colour, there is a complex nose of plums, black cherries and the garrigue. In the mouth it is rich, concentrated, full of dark cherry flavours with hints of spice and wild herbs. There are supporting ripe tannins and it is very elegant with a liquorice aftertaste. Although lovely now it will develop further over the next three years.
Domaine des Côteaux des Travers, La Mondona 2021
AOP Rasteau
From another calciferous/clay site this is made from 50% Grenache (100-year-old vines), 30% Syrah and 20% old vine Carignan. Yields in this vintage were only 15hl/ha (normally 35hl/ha)!
It is deeply coloured. The nose is complex with aromas of black fruits and liquorice. On the palate, the concentration is superb almost like a strawberry coulis! It is richer than the first two wines, more structured, more complex and bursting with flavours of figs, dates, tobacco and eucalyptus, supported by soft, ripe tannins.
It is surprisingly elegant for all its power, and finishes with the flavour of the stony terroir of the Rasteau slopes. Drink now and over the next five years.
