2023 Vacqueyras Les Christins, Famille Perrin ‘Les Crus’

• Style: Structured Southern Rhône red
• Taste: Ripe cherry, black pepper, liquorice, garrigue lift
• Food: Roasted duck, braised beef, lamb, grilled meats
• Occasion: Weeknight; Sunday lunch
• Serve: 16–18°C, now through 2028

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Ripe red and dark cherry fruit carry silky tannins and savoury depth—black pepper and liquorice aromas lift into garrigue, that Mediterranean herb quality that marks the wine's Southern Rhône soul. The 2023 vintage achieved perfect phenolic ripeness on 50-year-old Grenache and Syrah vines while retaining the acidity that gives this wine presence without heaviness. At 14.5% alcohol, it balances power with remarkable restraint.

The Winery — Famille Perrin

One of the Southern Rhône's most recognised names, now steered by the fifth and sixth generations, Famille Perrin commands extensive vineyard holdings and grower partnerships spanning the region. Their 'Les Crus' range celebrates the distinctive soils and characters of Southern Rhône appellations. This Vacqueyras comes from the Château de Beaucastel team's meticulous eight-hectare site on clay and sandstone terraces south of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Hand-harvested fruit underwent co-fermented extraction before a year in foudres and barrels—traditional cellar work that shapes everything in the glass.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Roasted duck, stewed beef, lamb, and herb-forward grilled dishes all find their match here. The wine's grip and structure suit roast dinners and game equally well. Whether you've been exploring our Grenache & Garnacha selection and want to discover how the variety excels in a structured blend, or you're deepening your collection of Vacqueyras bottlings, this 91-point wine deserves a place in your cellar. It drinks beautifully now and will develop over the next five years. Serve at 16–18°C alongside weeknight suppers or Sunday lunch centrepieces. Explore more from this remarkable corner of France and the broader Rhône region.