Maison Lavau Vacqueyras 2023 – powerful Rhône wine with elegance, depth and classic southern French character

Maison Lavau Vacqueyras 2023 is an impressive red wine from the Southern Rhône, where intense fruit, elegant spices and silky tannins come together. This Vacqueyras is made for wine lovers looking for an authentic Rhône wine with richness, finesse and great complexity.

The wine comes from west-facing plots on the plains surrounding Vacqueyras, where the average 35-year-old vines thrive in well-draining alluvial and sandy soils. The combination of the area’s warm climate and unique terroir produces grapes with concentration, balance and great aromatic depth.

The cuvée is composed of 50% Grenache Noir, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. All grapes are completely destemmed and fermented in temperature-controlled tanks over approximately 24 days. During fermentation, both rack-and-return and daily pump-overs are performed to extract maximum color, structure and aroma.

After vinification, 60% of the wine is aged in tank to preserve freshness, while 40% is aged in 450 liter barrels previously used for one or two vintages. The result is a harmonious and elegant wine where the ripe fruit is beautifully balanced by fine spices and soft tannins.

Maison Lavau Vacqueyras 2023 is ideal with grilled beef, entrecôte with herb butter, lamb and hearty French dishes. The wine does not require decanting and opens beautifully directly in the glass.

Tasting notes

The aroma is elegant and complex with notes of red berries, ripe figs and soft southern French spices. The taste is rich and refined with layers of red fruits, spices and silky tannins, giving a beautiful structure and long, harmonious finish.

The history of the house

The story of the Lavau family began in Saint-Émilion in the 19th century with a passion for wine, terroir and craftsmanship. Later, the adventure continued in Tunisia, where René Lavau and his son developed a small estate with vineyards and orange trees into the country’s largest wine producer.

In the 1960s, Jean-Guy Lavau, René Lavau’s grandson, and his wife Anne-Marie returned to France where they took over a small winery in Sablet in the heart of the Rhône Valley. This became the foundation of Maison Lavau in 1965.

Some 30 years later, the next generation, Frédéric and Benoît Lavau, joined the family business. They further developed the house’s expertise and established Maison Lavau as a recognized name in the Rhône. The family has since acquired vineyards in Rasteau, Valréas and Côtes du Rhône, as well as partnering with Bénédicte and Charles Bonnet of the prestigious Château Maucoil in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Product information

• Region: Vacqueyras, Rhône, France
• Grape varieties: 50% Grenache Noir, 40% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre
• Vine age: 35 years on average
• Aging: 60% steel tank and 40% in 450L barrels for 12 months
• Serving: Entrecôte, ribeye, lamb and hearty meat dishes
• Serving temperature: 17-18°C
• Quantity: 75 cl
• Contains: Sulfites
• Alcohol content: 14.5%