2007 Rasteau-Côtes du Rhône Villages, L'Andéol, Domaine Perrin

A serious wine from a serious vintage, L’Andéol is a five hectare vineyard, located on the gentle south-facing slopes of Rasteau which are protected from the worst excesses of the Mistral. This is a great expression of Grenache, with peppers, figs, dark chocolate and spices in the ascendant, and a finely-wrought tannic structure discrete in the background.

More chocolaty, fatter, and mouth-staining is the 2007 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Rasteau l’Andeol, which is composed of 85% Grenache and 15% Syrah. Grenache grown in Rasteau typically possesses a big, dark chocolate flavor profile, but the rustic tannins that can sometimes be found have been tamed in this cuvee. This is a full-bodied, solidly made, impressively endowed wine to drink over the next decade.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Apr-2009)