CHÂTEAU DE ROUANNE, VINSOBRES

RHÔNE VALLEY, FRANCE 2019


 

If the name Château de Rouanne isn’t immediately familiar, you’re not alone. A lot of people didn't know it either, before Louis Barruol, the driving force behind Château de St.-Cosme, bought it four years ago and turned it into a pet project -- transforming what he called a "sleeping beauty" into an estate that is now putting out old-school wines of great power and finesse.
 

Wine Spectator has dubbed Barruol "The Genius of Gigondas” for the superlative work he has done at St.-Cosme, turning a winery known for entry-level wines into the pre-eminent estate in Gigondas and showing connoisseurs that the region need no longer live in the shadow of nearby Châteauneuf-du-Pape. He was drawn to Château de Rouanne primarily for its old vines, planted in the 1960s. He told Wine Spectator that the vineyards were just "waiting for a vigneron to truly love it." That he has done, converting to all-organic farming, modernizing the cellar, and limiting yields.
 

The results have been eye-opening -- for us and for many others in the industry, too. These are wines of terroir-driven beauty that harken back to an older-style, more classical style of winemaking.
 

We are thrilled to have acquired four from Barruol's 2019 portfolio: the 93-point Vinsobres Château de Rouanne Rouanne et Les Crottes; the 93-point Vinsobres Château de Rouanne Les Côtes; the 92-point Vinsobres Château de Rouanne Guerin; and the 92-point Vinsobres Château de Rouanne.
 

Wine Spectator reviewed all four, and was just as enamored as we are by these wines, and the way they leave their mark on your memory.
 

It called the Vinsobres Château de Rouanne Rouanne et Les Crottes 2019, a blend of Grenache and Syrah, "a wine with a smoldering intensity," writing: "Rich and well-built, this offers up a serious dark core of black currant and plum reduction flavors supported by graphite, humus and cast iron notes, with sweet bay leaf, violet and tobacco notes filling in the background." 
 

Of the 350 cases made, only 200 were imported -- same as the Vinsobres Château de Rouanne Les Côtes, a blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache. "Winey and muscular," wrote Wine Spectator, "with cassis and bitter plum reduction notes leading the way, while baker's chocolate, tobacco and warm humus fill in behind. Grippy and dark on the finish, with an old-school edge lingering."
 

Only 157 cases of the Vinsobres Château de Rouanne Guerin 2019 were imported (out of 315 made). Here again we find a Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre blend, albeit in a more lyrical vein, as Wine Spectator noted: "Rich and warm in style, with a velvety flow to the mix of violet, plum paste, black currant compote and licorice root notes, while a tarry edge flows underneath. Ends with grippy texture and extra hints of bay leaf and tobacco amid the fruit."
 

Last but not least we have the Vinsobres Château de Rouanne 2019, their entry-level wine and an inarguably great bargain at a best price of less than $23 a bottle. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre mix and mingle to "deliver," wrote Wine Spectator, "a nice saturated feel without being heavy, letting cherry and plum paste notes unfurl slowly, along with violet, licorice root and warm humus accents, which all blossom steadily through the savory finish."
 

Though you may, if you wish, cellar them through the end of the decade, all four are ready to drink right now, and will be absolute assets at your table, able to pair with all manner of braises, roast meats, and chops.
 

And when you want to kick back for a while and get away from it all, just you and a glass and no one else around, you'll find them to be more than capable companions.
 

We hope you'll take advantage of our special Concierge Family pricing to discover this shooting star estate. But hurry; our allocations are limited.

 



 

 
 

*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Summer 2023. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in MI, NY, or TN. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Sunday, March 19th, 2023.

*Due to limited storage space for pre-ordered product, we can only hold orders for 30 days from the first notification that your order is ready for pickup. If you are unable to pick up your order within 30 days, please contact Concierge Sales at (855) 841-2752 or conciergesales@totalwine.com to make an arrangement. A store associate may reach out periodically to notify you of your order. Unfortunately, if no arrangements have been made, after 30 days, the order will need to be cancelled and we will provide a full refund.  No orders will be cancelled without multiple communication attempts.