Vacqueyras 2016 Chateau des Tours

The Vacqueyras 2016 from Château des Tours is a Rhône red of rare finesse, made by Emmanuel Reynaud, the man who led the legendary Château Rayas. The same philosophy and the same style are found here, silky, deep and airy. Ten years after bottling, this Grenache from a very great vintage offers a luminous and complex expression of its terroir.

Terroir and vineyards
Château des Tours lies in Sarrians, at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail, in the southern Rhône Valley. The vines grow on sandy and clay soils mixed with pebbles, which give wines that are both generous and elegant. This Vacqueyras comes mainly from old Grenache vines, with a little Syrah, at very low yields and hand harvested. The 2016 vintage, one of the great years of the decade in the Rhône, produced ripe, healthy grapes of remarkable balance.

Tasting profile
The colour is a bright garnet with light tile coloured highlights. The nose opens on raspberry, candied cherry and wild strawberry, with notes of garrigue, faded rose, leather and gentle spice. The palate is silky and airy, carried by melted tannins and fine freshness. The finish is long, spicy and delicately floral. It is drinking beautifully now and will keep for several more years.

The estate
Château des Tours has belonged to the Reynaud family for several generations. Emmanuel Reynaud ran it before taking over Château Rayas in 1997, following the death of his uncle Jacques. He then led both estates for nearly thirty years, until his passing in 2025, keeping the same unique style: very low yields, ageing in old barrels and absolute respect for the fruit. This 2016 vintage, made under his hand, becomes all the more precious.

Food and wine pairing
Serve between 16 and 17 °C, after decanting for half an hour. It pairs beautifully with thyme roasted rack of lamb, a Provençal daube, pigeon with olives, shoulder of young goat or a gratin of summer vegetables. On the cheese board, it goes very well with a Banon or an aged sheep's milk tomme.