Domaine de la Monardière 'Les 2 Monardes' Vacqueyras AOC 2021

The Vache family farms 22 hectares in the renowned Rhône village of Vacqueyras. Their plantings of grenache date to 1945; recent years have seen them plant a range of other varieties, both red and white. The dry Mistral wind blowing through the property makes adhering to organic principles easier by naturally minimizing the risk of mildew and pests. All vineyard work is done by hand, and fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts. This classic Rhône blend of grenache (70%) and syrah, plus a splash of cinsault and mourvèdre, aged half in steel and half in barrel before being bottled without fining or filtration. Named after the wildflower called “bee balm” in English, ‘Les 2 monardes’ evokes the delicate floral aromas of a meadow in summer, along with the earthy, spicy accents one expects for a bold red from the southern Rhône. Violets and leather lead to black cherry, plum, and unsweetened cocoa. Fine tannins emerge with a few minutes of exposure to air. Certified organic, low-intervention/natural wine.