The 2022 Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres reminds me a lot of a wine many of you probably remember fondly -- Domaine de Piaugier's Sablet Rouge. Unfortunately, we can no longer get that one, but this scratches a very similar itch.
It's a wonderfully aromatic, refined, and balanced Southern Rhone red that offers tremendous value, and it comes from one of the region's most exciting revitalized estates.
The story starts with Louis Barruol, owner of the legendary Chateau de Saint Cosme in Gigondas and one of the most talented winemakers in the Rhone Valley. In 2019, he purchased the historic Chateau de Rouanne, a beautiful estate centered around a 12th-century castle with vineyards dating back to Roman times. Having long admired the property and sourced fruit from it for some of his negociant wines, he finally made it his own. Today, the vineyards are farmed organically and biodynamically, and Barruol is applying the same philosophy that has made Saint Cosme one of the Rhone's benchmark producers.
Located in one of the northernmost villages of the Southern Rhone, Chateau de Rouanne enjoys a cooler climate and higher elevations than many of its neighbors. The result is a fresher, more elegant style, and the outstanding 2022 vintage earned 93-point ratings from both Jeb Dunnuck and Wine Enthusiast.
The blend is 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvedre, and it delivers everything I want from a Southern Rhone red. Raspberry, violet, licorice, peony, black pepper, and gingerbread all emerge from the glass, backed by beautiful texture, a distinctive salty minerality, and a long, energetic finish. It's equally at home with grilled lamb, beef, and game, but it's just as satisfying alongside rustic favorites like ratatouille, pizza, or pasta with a rich tomato sauce.
If you're looking for a Southern Rhone that punches way above its price point, get some while we've got it. I think you're going to love it.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville
