2022 La Jassine Rhone Red, Côtes Du Rhône-Villages AOC, France

La Jassine Red Blend has aromas of raspberry, black cherry, garrigue (rosemary, thyme), chocolate, and tobacco which builds and concentrates on the palate. The mouthfeel is rich without being heavy and maintains freshness thanks to the hilltop fruit and northern latitude. Tannins are soft, round and inviting; they present a remarkably supple and rounded structure, coating the palate in a silk-like layer that feels both elegant and weightless.

This structural refinement is largely achieved through careful winemaking choices, specifically the use of concrete tanks for fermentation and aging. By limiting heavy wood contact and utilizing only a brief finish in old, neutral oak barrels, the winemakers allow the grape tannins to soften naturally through gentle oxygenation without absorbing harsh wood flavors. The result is a beautifully integrated framework where the soft, approachable tannins seamlessly cradle the wine’s vibrant core of dark plum, blackberry compote, and savory baking spices.

This Côtes du Rhône-Villages mirrors the plush, seductive texture of a Languedoc Syrah-Viognier blend, using concrete-aged Grenache instead of a white grape to effortlessly soften the natural grit of its Syrah component. The palate delivers that same deceptively light yet velvety mouthfeel, where structural tannins are rounded out into a seamless, creamy layer rather than a drying or rustic grip. Aromatically, it trades the typical heavy, dark profile of traditional Southern French reds for a lifted freshness; the high-elevation lavender, white pepper, and garrigue notes perfectly mimic the exotic, floral-and-stone-fruit lift that Viognier usually brings to a red blend. Unburdened by new oak, it captures that exact modern Languedoc style—a wine defined by pure, juicy blackberry fruit, a supple frame, and an elegant, fragrant freshness that makes it instantly approachable. 100% of the fruit is from vineyards owned and farmed by the Lavau family in the Village of Valréas in the Southern Rhône Valley. As such, the wine can be called Côtes du Rhône Villages, as opposed to simply Côtes du Rhône.

60% Grenache, 40% Syrah