Vacqueyras Les Christins Red, Famille Perrin

Vacqueyras Les Christins Red, Famille Perrin is the house's cru in AOC Vacqueyras, a red of Grenache and Syrah aged a year in foudres, opulent and silky.

Les Christins comes from stony terraces resting on clay, sand and safres, south of the Dentelles de Montmirail. These safres, a soft sandstone, hold moisture and let the Grenache get through dry summers without stalling its ripening. Vacqueyras, next door to Gigondas, gives wines that are a little suppler and sunnier than its famous neighbour.

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 Vacqueyras
• Producer: Famille Perrin
• Cuvée: Les Christins
• Grape varieties: Grenache and Syrah
• Terroir: Stony terraces on clay, sand and safres, south of the Dentelles de Montmirail
• Winemaking: Hand harvest, grapes sorted, crushed and vatted on arrival at the cellar, long fermentation, extraction by hand punch-downs
• Ageing: One year in foudres and wooden tanks, after the malolactic fermentation and blending
• Colour: Red wine
• Bottle size: 75 cl

Tasting notes

• Appearance: Bright, elegant ruby red
• Nose: Complex, aromas of garrigue and red fruit
• Palate: Opulent and well balanced, fresh cherry and cocoa, a minty touch, a long silky finish

Serving and cellaring

Serve it between 15 and 16 °C. The house credits it with strong cellaring potential, so allow six to eight years in good vintages. Keep the bottle lying down, at a steady temperature, away from light and vibration.

Food pairings

The house suggests roast haunch of kid with juniper, alongside potatoes sauteed with onion, garlic and savory. More simply: leg of lamb, roast pigeon, or a risotto with ceps.

Read more

Read the story of Famille Perrin, what wood ageing changes in a wine and our explanation of tannins in red wine. 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

What is the difference between Vacqueyras and Gigondas?

The two appellations touch, at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail. Gigondas sits higher, on limestone and marl, and gives more structured wines. Vacqueyras, on stony terraces, sand and safres, gives suppler, sunnier reds that are approachable earlier.

What is a foudre?

A foudre is a large cask of several dozen hectolitres. The ratio between the volume of wine and the surface of wood is far lower than in a barrel, so the wine takes in oxygen gently without picking up marked oaky notes.

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.