Château Pesquié Ascensio Rouge 2020

Château Pesquié sits at the foot of Mont Ventoux in the southern Rhône, where the Chaudière family farm their AOC Ventoux vineyards biodynamically. The estate works limestone and clay soils on the cooler western slopes of the mountain, and the altitude brings a wide diurnal swing that slows ripening and preserves freshness even in a warm Provençal climate. Ascensio Rouge blends Grenache, which carries the ripe red and black fruit and the high alcohol, with Syrah, which adds colour, pepper and structure. The wine is raised for around 24 months in concrete tanks rather than oak, a vessel that allows slow micro-oxygenation and rounds the tannins without adding wood flavour, so the fruit and the stony character of the site stay in the foreground. It pours a deep ruby. The nose shows blackberry and blackcurrant lifted by cocoa, dried thyme and liquorice, with a peppery edge from the Syrah. The palate is full and warm at 15 percent, with ripe dark fruit, fine grippy tannins and a savoury, herbal finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanting an hour ahead. It suits roast lamb, grilled beef and game.