At the east of the city of Orange lies Rasteau, a magical terroir gazing at the Dentelles de Montmirail. Situated atop a hill, this village boasts a varied vineyard, sheltered from the mistral winds, sprawled over rugged terrains. The unique geology combined with the Mediterranean climate crafts characterful red wines, blending strength and subtlety (making up 97% of the production), as well as premier natural sweet wines (VDN) (accounting for 3%), spread across nearly 1200 hectares.
The geological diversity here is splendid: to the north, a landscape of gentle hills and valleys form the renowned spurs, emergences reminiscent of a rake's teeth (from which Rasteau gets its name); to the south, ancient terraces unfold, adding diversity to the topography. The Ouvèze River meanders between these two regions. In this fruitful land, wine is a natural narrative, a symbol of prosperity and culture; until the 14th century, the Church and the bishops of Vaison-la-Romaine notably considered Rasteau, their primary wine supplier. However, vineyards weren't the only cultivated areas: cereals (wheat, rye, oats, spelt) and olive trees once occupied the slopes, rivaling viticulture, which was more challenging and less profitable. Woods and wild shrubs enhance the region's natural richness, and the silkworm, introduced in the Comtat in the 13th century, brought prosperity. It wasn't until the early 20th century after the phylloxera pest devastated the vineyards, that Rasteau's wines re-emerged, heralding the rise of modern viticulture.
Promoted to a Côtes du Rhône Cru status in 2010, dry Rasteau predominantly features the grenache grape, which is mandated to make up at least half of the blend. This hardy grape, resistant to wind and drought, thrives on Rasteau's prime, dry, and barren slopes. Often partnered with Syrah and Mourvèdre, it's also complemented by Carignan or Cinsault. Additionally, white grape varieties can be included, but they're limited to a maximum of 5%.
These plants thrive on rocky and clayey soils, where the vines stand resilient against drought. The pervasive presence of clay and pebbles throughout its landscape makes Rasteau unique in southern Rhône. However, this geological bedrock is more intricate than it seems; the various types of clay and pebbles contribute to the wine style diversity: blue marls, red lacustrine marls, as well as sandy marls and safres, traditional pebbles, and limestone gravels. Altogether, 6 terroirs have been identified.
During tastings, wines from Rasteau's alluvial region come across as more supple and fruity; those from hilly sides on the blue, gray, and yellow marls, mingled with pebbles, exhibit a more elegant profile with silkier tannins. In contrast, the higher hills, richer in pebbles, provide a sunny, wind-exposed environment, yielding more spirited and taut wines.
Lastly, older and officially recognized in 1944, the VDN appellation of Rasteau is available in three colors (white, red, and rosé) and has significantly contributed to the village's fame. Black, gray, or white grenaches form its backbone (at least 90%).
Recommended: Arcane le Bateleur for originality and 2019 Rasteau for tradition.