“Sporting a deep purple hue, the 2017 Vaucluse is based on 50% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, and the rest Counois, Carignan, and other southern Rhône varieties. Incredible notes of plums, blueberries, jammy blackberries, lavender, and ground herbs emerge from this full-bodied, massive wine that stays light on its feet and graceful. I've no doubt the alcohol is north of 16%, and I suspect there's 3-5 grams of residual, which puts this in the same realm as the iconic Cuvée Spéciale from the late Henri Bonneau. Exotic, port-like, and super-intense, it nevertheless has remarkable purity, ripe tannins, and a thrilling finish. This will be a controversial wine in some circles, as it doesn't conform to any type of typicity, but it's no less great. It should have 20 years of prime drinking.” (Dunnuck : 96 p)
“ A blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Conoise, Vaccarese, Cinsault, Syrah and Muscardin from tiny yields of just 12 hl/ha, this wine is aged for 30 months in large oak barrels before release. It’s a relatively dark-fruited, ripe vintage, powerful and brooding with intense damson and a touch of black cherry compote on the palate. It’s very full and rich but retains a sense of freshness, and although it’s generously tannic they’re soft and melt into the whole. The alcohol is raised but the wine is nonetheless extraordinary, with a very long finish” (Matt Walls : Decanter 97 p)
