Famille Perrin Vinsobres Les Hauts de Julien Vieilles Vignes 2012
- Decanter
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Wine
Spectator -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Quite a good match with Mediterranean dishes, especially those with black olives.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
A powerful wine with fine, grippy tannins and some oak influence but it's well-integrated and doesn't dominate. There's a lovely sense of concentration and freshness with a long and tight, gently saline, tannic finish. From a plot of 90-year-old, co-planted Grenache and Syrah, 15% of which is aged for a year in barrel before release, unfiltered. Drinking Window 2020 - 2023
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Wine Spectator
An alluring ganache note pulls you in and the flavors of steeped plum and macerated blackberry hold you there. Velvety in feel despite the smoldering charcoal hint, this lets the fruit win out in the end, with spice and toast accents melding into the background.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
And last of the 2012 Famille Perrin releases, the 2012 Famille Perrin Vinsobres Les Haut de Julien Vieilles Vignes comes from 90-year-old vines from the northern part of the Southern Rhone. Aged 15% in barrel and a blend of Syrah and Grenache, it gives up rich, meaty Syrah-driven notes of smoky black fruits, licorice, cedar and earthiness, with an almost Cornas like rusticity. Medium-bodied, structured and tannic, give it a couple of years and enjoy it through 2022 or so. Drink 2015-2022.
Barrel Sample: 89-91
Other Vintages
2016- Decanter
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Wine
Spectator
Famille Perrin’s involvement in the wine trade can be traced back to 1909 with the purchase of Château de Beaucastel. Today the 5th generation of the family is involved in every aspect of the business. Famille Perrin’s range of wines enable you to discover the richness and diversity of the Southern Rhône Valley. It is no coincidence that Famille Perrin is the leading organic wine grower of the Southern Rhône Valley, where they occupy the region’s best terroirs. Their values have given them a worldwide reputation for excellence: absolute respect for the soil, a commitment to manual methods, and a deep belief that organic viticulture is the only way to express the true essence of the terroir. Nature and tradition are key to the Famille Perrin approach, which has continued seamlessly over five generations.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
One of the more established Rhône villages promoted to its own 'Côtes du Rhône Villages' appellation, Vinsobres produces uniquely styled Rhône Blends based on Grenache and Syrah in its relatively cool and elevated vineyards.