Rasteau Domaine la Soumade 2021

Rasteau Domaine la Soumade, Southern Rhone, France, 2021

Grapes: A blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah & 10% Mourvedre, vine age 10 to 30 years, clay/limestone soils, agriculture “raisonée”  (organic practices), hand harvested, 38 hl/ha yield, 18 months’ maturation on fine lees in stainless-steel tanks, unoaked

Soumade's entry-level Rasteau offers rich preserved black plums and cherries speckled by espresso bean, sweet spice and earth. A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre sourced from young vines and vinified and matured entirely in stainless steel, it's concentrated but juicy, framed by a fresh mineral lift and soft, furry tannins.

Critic's Tasting Note:

"Tasted blind. Earthy nose, dark fruits and liquorice. A note of black pepper, chewy tannins and a creamy blueberry-compote mid palate. Dense and ripe, earthy and spicy. Quite taut at the moment"  Drink 2025-2029

15/20 points, Alistair Cooper MW, JancisRobinson.com, November 2022

Domaine La Soumade was founded by André Roméro in 1979. A new modern winery was built in 2002, the same year that the partnership with wine consultant, Stéphane Derenoncourt, began. The estate covers 26 hectares in the commune of Rasteau and an additional hectare in Gigondas. 

Food Match: Lamb stew, sausages, cottage pie, liver paté