Le Sang des Cailloux - Vacqueyras Lopy 2023

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

A leading figure in Vacqueyras, we owe a great deal to Serge Férigoule, whose wines have been an integral part of this appellation’s history. Starting out as a vineyard worker, he has been the owner of Sang des Cailloux since 1990. About twenty hectares scattered between Vacqueyras and Sarrians are harvested at peak ripeness and aged for an extended period. In an uncompromising style that almost turns its back on modernity, this estate produces five red cuvées, whose concentration and delicate texture would benefit from greater aromatic precision. Come on, just a touch of progress, and the blood of the stones will continue to flow down the throats of many wine lovers!

Decanter

About the wine:

Peppery herbs, certainly more robust in style, yet just as easy to drink. A lovely hint of saltiness, with pleasantly lively tannins. Well-balanced, it possesses the intensity of old vines. It displays a classic character and is slightly less concentrated and full-bodied than some recent vintages from hot years. Less than 15% whole clusters.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2023 Vacqueyras Cuvée Lopy proved to be magnificent, offering a deep, complex, and fragrant bouquet of black berries, violets, lavender, rose petals, and peonies. Medium- to full-bodied, ample, and enveloping, it is harmonious and complex, with a concentrated core of ripe fruit, velvety tannins, and a long, penetrating finish that lingers on the palate. More full-bodied and textured than the Doucinello, this blend of 80% Grenache Noir from old vines and 20% Syrah, planted on clay-rich soils, is one of the highlights of this year’s lineup.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

This Vacqueyras estate boasts a magnificent terroir on a plateau of rounded pebbles. Certified organic since 2010 and biodynamic since 2012, with strictly controlled yields, the estate produces powerful Vacqueyras wines that require time to reveal their full potential. These structured, highly mature wines, however, tend to refine over recent vintages. The Lopy cuvée can be so rich and dense that, in certain vintages, we may prefer the balance of the entry-level wines. The white, not released in 2022, stands out as a fine benchmark in the region.

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

A bit reserved on the nose at the moment. The palate is firm, with round but chalky tannins—a bit more power, body, and structure here. For now, the palate is marked by a hint of oak, but this comes solely from old barrels, and it will integrate over the years. A structured palate and a ripe finish, with notes of graphite.

Vinous