Winery: Beaurenard
Region: Rhone - Sud (Southern Rhone)
Locale: Chateauneuf du Pape, France
Appellation:  Cotes du Rhone Villages Rasteau
Designation: AOC

Site: From the higher vineyard parcels in the 25 Ha in Rasteau, as always cultivated organically/biodynamically. Soils are clay and calcaire with an underlying component of blue clay. South facing slopes are 2-400 M in elevation. Vines are now about 40 years old and yields are very low.

Grapes: 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah (the AOC requires a minimum of 20% Syrah).

Fermentation and Aging: Fermentation is spontaneous with indigenous yeast; macerated for 20-25 days in stainless steel fermentors. Aged mainly in stainless steel deposits but 25% or so is aged in foudre.

Notes: The first vintage of Cotes du Rhone Village Rasteau was 1993. Beaurenard’s Rasteau is a southern-Rhone lover’s dream – generous and shapely with lots of rich concentrated fruit and firm tannins. Production of around 40,000 bottles Rasteau, plus an additional 8,000 bottles of the super-cuvée “Argiles Bleues”.