Chateau Redortier, Beaumes de Venise, France 2023

The Wine.

An unoaked blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah, made from the family vines around the village of Suzette. Clean and cool with blackberry aromatics, a silky smooth texture and a long finish. The wine is completely delicious now but will benefit from a couple of years in the cellar. An excellent match for hard sheep's cheeses, roast chicken and barbecued steaks.

N.B. for those who bought the Ventoux 'Côté Suzette' from me earlier this year, this is the next level up from the same estate. A serious southern Rhône with greater complexity and the capacity for ageing.

The Estate.

Château Redortier was established in 1956 by Etienne and Chantal de Menthon, grandparents of Isabelle and Sabine who run the estate today. It sits in the shadow of the Dentelles de Montmirail with Mont Ventoux not far to the east. The vines are up to 60 years old and benefit from the altitude of the estate vineyards. The grapes are hand harvested and the juice is fermented using wild yeasts.

The Appellation.

Beaumes de Venise is an up-and-coming appellation in the southeast Rhône. It offers much of the quality of the more established appellations of the area (Gigondas, Châteauneuf-du-Pape et al), but at much more manageable prices. Château Redortier is one of the region's most respected small producers.

Available for immediate delivery.

"Benchmark estate high in the Dentelles de Montmirail deserves broader recognition among wine consumers seeking elegance in the Southern Rhône." - www.robertparker.com.

92 points, Decanter Magazine.