Domaine La Décelle "Reserve" Cotes du Rhone Villages 2020 - Valréas, France

91/100 James Suckling
92/100 James Suckling (2019 vintage)
Bronze - CellarTracker (2018 vintage)

1 Star - Le Guide Hachette des Vins (2018 vintage)

Silver - Concours General Agricole Paris (2019 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2019 vintage)
Gold - Concours General Agricole Paris (2018 vintage)
Commended - Decanter World Wine Awards (2018 vintage)

James Suckling "Seductive nose of dark fruit, olives, smoke, grilled herbs, cracked pepper and dried oysters. It’s full-bodied with sleek, integrated tannins. Deliciously savory and peppery."

Decanter World Wine Awards "Precise nose with black berries and a bit of spice. Palate with some prune and raisin flavours." (2019 vintage)

James Suckling "Really well done with sliced cooked-apple and dried-lemon character, as well as a hint of honey. It’s full-bodied with custard and pastry to the fruit character." (2019 vintage)

Decanter World Wine Awards "Damson, blackberry and plum nose, juicy red fruit and supple tannins to the palate." (2018 vintage)

Winemaker "Complex nose of red fruit, marzipan, spices and candied fruit ..... notes of cocoa when the wine opens up. Full and fresh on the palate, with notes of strawberry jam and chocolate overtones. Soft, silky tannins with a long, fruity finish.”

50% Grenache, 50% Syrah
Alcohol: 14%

Domaine La Décelle is located in the heart of the Enclave des Papes, south of the village of Valréas. Its particular latitude and altitude give it unique climatic conditions, conducive to the production of structured and complex wines with incredible freshness. Benoît and Frédéric Lavau literally fell in love with this terroir and acquired the Domaine in 2010. The 82 hectares of the Domaine extend over different sectors of the commune of Valréas at different altitudes and on varied clay-type soils. limestone or sand.

Originally from Bordeaux, the Lavau family has been involved with winemaking for generations, and have had vineyards ranging from Bordeaux to Tunisia. In 1964 they were seduced by the richness and quality of the Provencal soil, and settled down to make wine in the Rhone Valley.

Valréas is famous for its truffles, its lavender and its historic Papal treasures, but Domaine La Décelle’s treasure lies in the clay-rich and sandy soils of its wind-swept vineyards. A little further north than Gigondas or Cairanne and slightly higher in altitude, La Décelle produces a Valréas that is naturally fresher in style.