2021 Domaine de Beaurenard Rasteau, Southern Rhone

From sun baked slopes above the Rhône, this Rasteau shows the darker, more structured side of southern Rhône Grenache. Domaine de Beaurenard farms organically across a patchwork of limestone and clay terraces, where old vines dig deep for water and produce fruit with natural concentration. The estate has long focused on biodynamic principles and traditional blending, aiming to capture warmth, spice and savoury detail without tipping into heaviness. Rasteau sits stylistically between Côtes du Rhône and Châteauneuf du Pape, offering power wrapped in Mediterranean perfume.

The blend is Grenache led with supporting varieties adding structure and spice. Winemaking favours gentle extraction and patient ageing, allowing tannins to integrate while preserving aromatic lift. The result is a wine that feels generous yet grounded, built around fruit but anchored by earth and mineral.

In the glass it shows a deep ruby with purple edges. Aromas open with blackberry, plum and black cherry, followed by garrigue herbs, liquorice, pepper and warm stone. There is a wild, sun dried herbal character that speaks clearly of the southern Rhône landscape.

The palate is full bodied and mouth filling, with dark fruit wrapped in firm, ripe tannins. Acidity keeps the wine balanced, carrying flavours of berry, spice and savoury earth through a long, warming finish. The texture is rich but not heavy, combining depth with freshness.

It pairs beautifully with grilled lamb, slow cooked meats, game and Mediterranean dishes rich in herbs and olive oil. Drinking well now with air, it will cellar comfortably for eight to twelve years, gaining leather, spice and earthy complexity.

This is Rasteau in a classic voice, warm, herbal and structured, a southern Rhône red with both muscle and soul.