originally posted by robert ames:
originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
originally posted by robert ames:
year after year--decade after decade, sang des cailloux vacqueyras offers up glorious soprano-trumpet grenache, like vivaldi was still alive. currently the 2020 doucinello. vacqueyras at the top of its game. (biodynamic since 2011.)
I heard last Spring that the son (Frederi) had officially taken over the reins from his father (Serge) a couple of years ago but that Serge was still deeply involved in the winemaking. I haven't noted any change in the 2019 or 2020 vintages, except for the obvious difference between the vintages. So I think we are OK for this wine to remain consistent, probably for my lifetime.
I see at least three cuvées: Doucinello, Lopy VV, and Oumage, in ascending order of price. Any word for the (un)wise about their differences?
rather than try to answer your question, i present the straight poop, direct from jll:
"Top name, organic for years, biodynamic since 2011. Lopy is the top wine, made every year, and is the first selection from his cellar. It is always between **** and *****, the latter the case in 2010, 2016 and 2019. There is also Oumeto, 100% old Grenache (mainly 1940s), produced in limited 1,500-2,000 bottle amounts, to show that a pure Grenache can age well.
The title of the principal volume red wine rotates as Serge names it after his three daughters, one year at a time. So Floureto was the title in 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2004, 2001 etc. The other two are Doucinello (2020, 2017, 2014 etc) and Azalaïs (2018, 2015, 2012 etc). Serge officially "retired" on 1 October 2015, having arrived on the domaine in 1979.
His son Frédéri is very enthusiastic about the vineyard, and is working well. He is gradually reducing the old Syrah for the Lopy wine, stating, quite correctly, that the Plateau de Garrigues is too hot for it. He has also started to harvest slightly earlier than usual, with a bit less ripeness, meaning a little green in the first picked Grenache stems which are therefore destemmed; this then backed by a slightly shorter maceration.
The white has always been a wine of character, depth, very much geared to la table. Frédéri is interested in varieties that are not in the regulations as yet, including Picardan, Picpoul gris and blanc and Carignan blanc - varieties that give direct, fresh, lower degree wines. The area for the white has risen from 1.29 ha to 2.09 ha, two plots on sandstone, two plots on garrigue, galet stones.
This is very much in the top two domaines of Vacqueyras, and the wines can be cellared for a couple of decades."