2015 Domaine des Escaravailles La Ponce Rasteau

Rasteau's 880 hectares of vines are planted on marl and red and yellow clay soils over sandstone with rounded stones covering some sectors, which in heatwave vintages act like health insurance against hydric stress. By law, the Grenache component in the dry red blends must be 50% minimum, with Syrah and/or Mourvedre 20% minimum and other grape varieties of the appellation tolerated up to 20%. In 2010 the Rasteau AOC was created allowing the wines to be named after the village, dropping the Cotes-du-Rhone tag and joining the likes of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas at the pinnacle of the wine hierarchy in the Southern Rhone.

Part of the success of Domaines Des Escaravailles is due to the input of French oenologist, Philippe Cambie. As well as acting as a consultant winemaker for other Southern Rhone estates like Domaine Grand Nicolet, Cambie also consults to many of the top wines in Chateauneuf du Pape, including Pegau and Vieux Donjon.

A stunning Rasteau – rich, structured and peppery with a seemingly never ending finish.

Totally opaque black dark red core with a bright dark red purple hue. Peppered aromatics of ripe dark raspberries and liquorice are followed by some dried meats with more spice and pepper aspects as end notes. Medium to full bodied, rich and powerful with delicious juicy dark to black raspberry and liquorice flavours infused with blackpepper completely filling the mouth over a meaty crushed rock back drop. The spice and pepper carrying right through to the very long finish. A robust tannin structure and an enlivening freshness give the wine some grip and provide an excellent framework which bodes well for longer term cellaring. Long pepper infused conclusion of ripe dark to black cherries, meaty characters, crushed rock and spice.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc 15%

Other Reviews….
Still in tank, the 2015 Rasteau la Ponce sports a deep ruby color as well as full-bodied richness, sweet tannin and notes of caramelized cherries, black raspberries and flowers. This cuvee is 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, with the Grenache brought up in tank and the Syrah in barrel.
91-93 points
Jeb Dunnuck – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate