Rasteau L'Andéol Red, Famille Perrin

Rasteau L'Andéol Red, Famille Perrin is the house's cru in AOC Rasteau, a red from two hectares of south-facing slopes, on cocoa and fresh strawberry.

L'Andéol comes from a two hectare vineyard held on a lease, on slopes facing south and slightly sheltered from the Mistral. The soil is made of old gravel terraces resting on sandy marl and Pliocene clay. Rasteau is best known for its fortified sweet wine, but the appellation has also covered dry reds since 2010, and that is the category this cuvée belongs to.

Famille Perrin is based at Château de Beaucastel, in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where the family has worked for several generations. A pioneer of organic and then biodynamic growing, it belongs to Primum Familiae Vini, the circle of the world's leading wine families. Over the years it has extended its work to the other appellations of the southern Rhône, each cuvée coming from identified plots that are vinified separately.

Key facts

• Origin: France, Rhône Valley, southern Rhône
• Appellation: AOC Rasteau
• Producer: Famille Perrin
• Cuvée: L'Andéol
• Grape varieties: Grenache and Syrah
• Terroir: Old gravel terraces on sandy marl and Pliocene clay, slopes facing south
• Winemaking: Part of the grapes vinified as whole bunches, the rest destemmed, temperatures controlled throughout, extraction by punch-down or pump-over
• Ageing: 90 % in stainless steel tanks and 10 % in foudres, then one year of ageing before bottling
• Colour: Red wine
• Bottle size: 75 cl

Tasting notes

• Appearance: Purple red, velvety and elegant
• Nose: Enticing aromas of cocoa and fresh strawberry
• Palate: Powerful and well balanced, notes of red fruit and black olive, delicately chalky tannins

Serving and cellaring

Serve it at 18 °C, in an INAO glass or a burgundy glass. The house gives a cellaring potential of six to seven years. Keep the bottle lying down, at a steady temperature, away from light and vibration.

Food pairings

Rustic, savoury cooking: slow-cooked shoulder of lamb, civet, pieds et paquets, polenta with mushrooms. Its black olive notes are a treat with a pissaladière or a tapenade.

Read more

Read the story of Famille Perrin, our guide to cellaring wine and our tour of the red wines of the Rhône Valley. Find the whole range in our Famille Perrin collection, and the rest of our selection in the Vins collection or among our red wines.

Frequently asked questions

Is Rasteau a sweet wine or a dry wine?

Both exist. Rasteau is first known for its fortified sweet wine, but the appellation has also covered dry reds since 2010. L'Andéol is a dry red.

What do whole bunches bring?

Keeping part of the stems during fermentation brings freshness, a little tension and more floral aromas. It is a choice that demands perfectly ripe stems, otherwise the wine turns green.

How long can it be kept?

The house gives six to seven years. Beyond that the chalky tannins melt away but the fruit fades. If you like the cocoa and fresh strawberry on the nose, drink it within the first four years.

How is the bottle shipped?

Shipping within France is free on orders over 300 EUR. Every bottle is carefully packed and sent with tracked delivery.