From the Rhône valley in France we try Domaine des Pasquiers Plan de Dieu, 2022, which is spicy and herbal with notes of blackberries and liquirice as well as some violet notes on the nose.

In the Rhône valley, and like this Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages in its southern part, red wines are often made from the so called GSM-blend meaning 3 grape varieties typical of this region. This specific wine is made of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre – GSM.

In southern Rhône, 20 villages have the right to add the village name. Plan de Dieu is one of them. Domaine des Pasquiers was founded in 1935 by Paul Lambert and is now run by Paul’s grandsons, brothers Jean-Claude and Philippe. Jean-Claude and Philippe replanted the vineyards in the 2000s, partially replacing the cultivation of Grenache with growing more of Syrah and Mourvèdre. The brothers have been farming organically since 2010.

Alcohol 14,5 %. Price in Sweden at Systembolaget 159 SEK, nr 2298. Serve at 16-18°C with dark meat dishes, like venison roast and grilled lamb with a creamy sauce.

We find this wine very well-balanced and a good representative from this region with its dark berry notes and spiciness. It has a long and pleasant finish and a full body. It gets 85/100 points, well worth its price and so easy to match with many food dishes!