Val Des Rois
Côtes du Rhône Le Petit Roy 2021
Val des Rois’ calling card for red wines is to omit the use of oak, preferring the freshness and vitality of concrete. Le Petit Roy is a blend of equal parts Syrah and Grenache, giving it a uniquely high level of Syrah for the appellation. The wine has a garnet color with aromas of black cherry, blueberry and chocolate. There is a great balance between freshness and power with finessed tannins.
Vineyard
The vines are planed on clay-limestone slopes with beautiful south-east exposure and are about 40 years old. They sit at around 1,300 feet above sea level.
Winemaking
Closed concrete tanks are fed via gravity. The Grenache maceration is fairly short and slightly longer for the Syrah to obtain the right tannins.The vinification process is fully protected from oxygen, performed under nitrogen gas, and the equipment is systematically sterilized. Fermentation is carried out by indigenous yeast. The wine ages in concrete and is bottled without any sulfur addition.
Vintage
2021 was a tough vintage in the Southern Rhone that was marked by cold weather (frost in some cases) and rainy conditions. That said, producers who focused on freshness faired much better than those who tried to make opulent, oak driven wines.
Tasting Note
Intense garnet color with aromas of black cherry, blueberry and chocolate. Great balance between freshness and power with finessed tannins.
Color
Red
