Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge 2017, Domaine des Tours: The Warmth of an Exceptional Year
2017 was a year of contrasts and surprises in the southern Rhône. Devastating spring frosts decimated yields across France — but in Sarrians, on the well-exposed, pebble-strewn clay-limestone soils of Emmanuel Reynaud’s Domaine des Tours, the damage remained limited. What followed was a long, warm summer with perfect ripeness — warmer and more direct than the cool, tense 2016, but bearing Reynaud’s unmistakable fingerprint: finesse where others seek power, elegance where others aim for volume. Grenache, Merlot, Counoise, Cinsault, Syrah — on gravel and clay-limestone soils in Sarrians, organically farmed, harvested late. A wine that seduces from the very first sip.
What’s it Like?
In the glass, a clear, luminous ruby — quintessentially Reynaud. The nose is open and inviting: red fruits, cherry, blackcurrant, pomegranate, delicate garrigue, a hint of licorice and black pepper. On the palate, round, soft and caressing — the warmth of the 2017 vintage gives the wine an immediate accessibility and an almost velvety texture that makes it fully delectable today. Fine, fully integrated tannins, fresh acidity, a long aromatic finish. Compared to the slightly more austere 2016, the 2017 is the more open, convivial brother — without losing any depth.
Serving temperature: 16–17°C ·
Drinking window: now through 2025, optimal today
Perfect For
A relaxed dinner with good friends. Its open, fruit-forward profile pairs beautifully with a herb-roasted chicken, a kid goat stew with vegetables, a grilled leg of lamb, or a creamy, spiced cheese like Reblochon or Banon.
The Critics Agree…
The Domaine des Tours Vaucluse Rouge earns an average of 89 to 91 points from Wine-Searcher critics — consistently remarkable for a country wine from the hand of one of France’s most respected winemakers. Connoisseurs worldwide describe it as the most fascinating entry point into the Reynaud universe: accessible, complex, unforgettable — and at a price that, given its origins, is frankly unjust.
- What is it? A warm, opulent vintage of France’s most fascinating country wine — by Emmanuel Reynaud, the creator of Château Rayas.
- From? IGP Vaucluse, Southern Rhône, France.
- Grapes? Grenache, Merlot, Counoise, Cinsault, Syrah — old vines, organically farmed.
- Tastes Like? Cherry, blackcurrant, pomegranate, garrigue, licorice and black pepper.
- Critics score? 89/100 Wine-Searcher critics average.
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