Domaine La Monardiere Vacqueyras Les 2 Monardes

70% Grenache and 30% Syrah from vines of an average age of 40 years, planted in chalky grit and sandy clay. The fruit is hand-harvested, with rigorous sorting; 100% de-stemmed. Fermented with natural yeasts, with a maceration of 20 days with punch-downs. Aged 1 year in a combination of tanks and barrels. Bottled without fining or filtration.

The 2019 Vacqueyras Les 2 Monardes is a powerful, yet balanced wine that has an old-school edge in its meaty, peppery, leather, and nutty aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has some firmer tannins, good overall balance, and outstanding length. It just needs a handful of years of bottle age and should have a solid decade of prime drinking.