2015 Chateau des Roques Vacqueyras Rhone Valley 750 ml

Vibrant Rhône Red’s Sun-Kissed Concentration

In the Rhône Valley’s stellar 2015 vintage, this old-vine Château des Roques Vacqueyras delivers sun-kissed concentration and a lavish bouquet of crushed raspberry and strawberry fruit. One of the superstar estates of Vacqueyras, the chateau’s handpicked 40-year-old vines eke out small berries that are sweet and succulent, with firm acids. Magically floral and vibrant Grenache combines with terrifically concentrated Syrah, all buttressed by rich, old-vine Mourvèdre. Situated just 12 miles from the galets roules moonscape of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the soils here share much the same composition—large caillou (pebbles) blanketing a light, fine mix of limestone and clay—lending vibrancy and freshness to this plump Southern Rhône red. This is absolutely the bottle you want for the summer grilling season. 100-case U.S. exclusive.

For the new school in Rhône—those that favor rich, juicy wines, showing off almost New World density and suppleness—2015 was the vintage they’d been waiting for. Quality was through the roof, with the region’s godfather, Marcel Guigal, declaring it the best vintage of his lifetime. A wet winter doused the soil, building up a bank of moisture that deep vines could tap through a long, hot, dry summer that one winemaker called “almost too perfect.”

Owner Corine Seroul and winemaker André Fregière were inclined to use similar language in describing the harvest at Château des Roques, one of the superstar estates of Vacqueyras. Set in the shadow of hundred-year-old plantain trees, the estate comprises 93 acres, all set on a cobblestone shelf above the bustling little village of Vacqueyras. Firmly situated in the modernist camp, owner Corine Seroul pushed the envelope on maturity while lowering yields, abetted by 2015’s torrid sunshine.

The chateau’s handpicked 40-year-old vines would eke out just a few tons per acre by the end of harvest. The small berries were sweet and succulent, the acids were firm. This was a vintage chock-full of treasures, especially for those willing to pay top dollar. But how many others can hold a candle to this bottle for the price? Precious few—if any—in our opinion. Stock as much as your cellar will hold will our supply lasts.

Jonathan Cristaldi

Editor-in-Chief, Wine Access

Contributing Writer, Food & Wine