Dauvergne Ranvier Vin Rare Vacqueyras 2014 Rhône, France 75cl

Founded in 2004 by two experienced Rhône winemakers, Dauvergne Ranvier has built a name for wines that speak clearly of their appellations. The Vin Rare label marks the smaller, more concentrated cuvées, drawn from carefully chosen parcels and lower yields.

Vacqueyras is a neighbour of Gigondas in the southern Rhône, a warm, stony appellation whose Grenache-based reds lean towards spice and savoury depth. This wine follows that character, robust and rooted in its Mediterranean landscape, with the herb-scented signature the locals call garrigue.

The 2014 growing season in the southern Rhône was cooler and more testing than the run of warm years around it, rewarding patience with fresher, more classically proportioned reds. That freshness gives this Vacqueyras welcome balance and lift.

The nose turns on dark plum, black olive and dried herbs, with a hint of pepper and earth. The palate is medium to full, savoury and firm, finishing on garrigue spice. Decant it, then serve at cool room temperature with roast lamb, grilled sausages or a rich tomato-based ragù.

For anyone who enjoys Gigondas or Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Vacqueyras is the quietly rewarding cru next door, often offering more character for the money. A dependable, food-loving red with more grip and savour than its price suggests, and enough structure to see out a few more years in the rack. Where its Gigondas sibling leans to power, this Vacqueyras trades on savour and freshness, a red for those who like their southern Rhône with a little restraint. It is a fine everyday choice for cooler months.