Domaine les Aphillanthes Cuvée 1921 Côtes du Rhône Villages Rasteau Red Rhone Blend 2017

Tom Casagrande

This old-vine (mostly) Grenache is really elegant and good. Gorgeously pure nose of framboise and warm crushed rock dust (sandstone and granite?). A bit of sweet baking spice. Mouthfilling but not in the least heavy in the mouth, it’s got a soft texture framed with a bit of fine-grained tannin. There’s a pure fruit note that clings on the finish. Acids are medium low but the balance is there, calibrated on the sultry side. I have been down on the Southern Rhône of late but this makes me feel more optimistic.