St Damien Cotes du Rhone Villages 'Plan de Dieu' 2024

Coming from red clay soils with stones and ancient alluvium, the 2024 Cotes Du Rhône Villages Plan De Dieu Vieilles Vignes is based on 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre and aged 10 months in concrete tanks and foudre. Black cherries, peppery herbs, flowers, and mineral notes all emerge from this broad, layered, and round effort. It's medium-bodied, supple, and wonderfully textured, with velvety yet still building tannins. It's another gem that readers will love. Drink 2026-2031. 91 points. Jeb Dunnuck.

The Grenache vines are over 70 years old and come from two sites, one planted on red clay and the other on galets (smooth river-worn pebbles). The younger Mourvèdre vines are planted on sandy soil. The wine is fermented for 30 days in concrete vats, then matured for 10 months in a mix of concrete tanks and large old 50 hL oak foudres. The wine is bottled without fining or filtration.