Vacqueyras, with its 1200 hectares of vineyards, is still somewhat overshadowed by its more famous northern neighbour Gigondas, which may also be due to the fact that no local winery has yet managed to make a big name for itself with its Vacqueyras. This also has advantages for wine lovers, as even the best wines remain very affordable.
Christophe Grilhé
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The region has nothing to worry about in terms of quality. The red wines are usually somewhat more robust than those from Gigondas, often pleasingly strong in character, ideally firm, tart, quite complex and quite long-lived; the simple versions, on the other hand, tend a little towards the rustic. Really weak wines are rare, but as almost everywhere in the wine world, alcohol levels of 15% and more are usually not the best idea in Vacqueyras either.
On the other hand, it is a good idea not to overlook the local white wines, which can turn out surprisingly lively and fresh and precise. Even in the more powerful examples, herbal spice and minerality provide a certain coolness, so that the wines hardly ever seem heavy. As a sophisticated accompaniment to food, white Vacqueras are therefore extremely versatile.
We tasted around 70 Vaqueyras this year. We present the best ones here and as PDF here. Links to all wines with detailed tasting notes as well as their producers can be found by clicking on the respective headings.
- 88WP Vidal-Fleury
- 87WP Domaine Saint Laurent
- 87WP "Domaine de la Curnière", Artisans Vignerons
- 87WP "Ma référence", Chapoutier
- 87WP "Terroir Daronton", Artisans Vignerons
- 86WP "Gondran", Boissy & Delaygue
- 86WP Domaine de Verquiere
- 86WP "Fontimple", Artisans Vignerons
- 86WP "Domaine du Grand Prieur", Artisans Vignerons
- 90WP "Alpha-Omega", Domaine de la Verde
- 89WP "Cuvée Doucinello", Domaine le Sang des Cailloux
- 89WP "Ora", Domaine de la Verde
- 88WP "le Poète", Domaine la Fourmone
- 88WP Mas des Restanques
- 88WP "Domaine Pertiane", Artisans Vignerons
- 88WP "Boiseraie", Antoine Ogier
- 87WP "Saint-Barthélémy", Gabriel Meffre
- 87WP Domaine de l'Obrieu
- 87WP "Cuvée des Templiers", Le Clos des Cazaux
- 87WP "Oratorio", Antoine Ogier
- 87WP "Prelude", Domaine de la Verde
- 86WP "Domaine de la Soléiade", Artisans Vignerons
- 86WP "Pavane", Guy Daniel
- 86WP Cellier des Dauphins
- 86WP "Vieilles Vignes", Domaine le Couroulu
- 90WP "Prince-Lapin", Fontaine du Clos
- 90WP "Cuvée du Château", Château des Roques
- 89WP Domaine Saint-Pierre
- 89WP Maison Lavau
- 88WP "Signature", Domaine des Amouriers
- 88WP "Castillon", Fontaine du Clos
- 88WP "Grenat Noble", Le Clos des Cazaux
- 88WP "Création Grand Vin", Artisans Vignerons
- 88WP "Marius & Co", Grappes & Terroirs
- 88WP "Oliver Ravoire", Ravoire & Fils
- 88WP "Les Genestes", Domaine des Amouriers
- 88WP Domaine de la Pigeade
- 88WP "Ora", Domaine de la Verde
- 87WP "Les Hauts de Castellas", Artisans Vignerons
- 87WP "Garrigues", Montirius
- 86WP "Terroir Daronton", Artisans Vignerons
- 86WP "La Ballade des Angés", Domaine du Bois de Saint Jean
- 88WP 2016 "Création Grand Vin", Artisans Vignerons
- 88WP 2018 "le Fleurantine", Domaine la Fourmone
- 88WP 2018 "Minéral", Montirius
- 88WP 2018 "Reflets de L'âme", Fontaine du Clos
- 88WP 2018 "Odyssey", Domaine de la Verde
- 88WP 2011 "Minéral", Montirius
- 88WP 2018 "Les Clefs d'Or", Le Clos de Cazaux
- 87WP 2017 Domaine des Amouriers
- 86WP 2017 "Thomas & Co", Grappes & Terroirs
- 86WP 2018 "Royal Sunset", Domaine de la Verde
