2012 Rasteau, Domaine La Soumade

Mature, generous and warmly savoury, this Rasteau has settled into the kind of southern Rhône richness that feels instantly comforting. Blackberry, plum and dark cherry sit beside pepper, dried herbs, leather and a little earthy spice, giving the wine both depth and rustic charm. The palate is full-bodied and rounded, with Grenache bringing warmth, Syrah adding silk and Mourvèdre lending a darker, firmer edge.

With age, the fruit has moved into a softer, more mellow register, letting savoury notes of garrigue, tobacco and sun-baked earth come forward. It is a wine for hearty food and slow evenings, rich without being overblown, with enough structure and freshness still holding the finish in place.

For when: the evening calls for something mature, generous and full of southern French comfort.
Pairs with: roast lamb, slow-cooked beef, duck, sausages, ratatouille, mushroom dishes or aged hard cheeses.

Domaine La Soumade was founded by André Roméro in 1979, with Frédéric Roméro joining the estate in the 1990s after studying viticulture and oenology. Based in Rasteau, the domaine works vineyards on clay-limestone soils, a setting known for naturally powerful wines with real ageing potential. Its story is one of family, precision and deep Rhône character, rooted in a village whose dry red wines gained cru status in 2010.