The Vache family of Domaine Le Clos des Cazaux has a history that goes back to the very founding of the village of Vacqueyras, and their domaine reaches back to even further: to the 12th century when the property was owned by the Knights Templar, the historical order that lends this cuvée its name. In the 19th century, the family planted vines in their poorest soils of the property for the purpose of making wines for their own consumption. Eventually, their ancestor Gabriel Archimbaud became the first man to sell wine labeled with the Vacqueyras name. In the ensuing decades, the village became increasingly known for its full-bodied and rich wines, and in 1956—when frosts wiped out nearly all the olive and fruit trees—wine became the village’s sole focus.

A pitch-perfect vintage in which Grenache and Syrah soaked up the warmth of the vintage to develop a tour de force seduction. This 50/50 blend has a saturated plum hue with a nose that is perfumed and assertive, mixing red berry, black cherry, and raspberry—with savory notes of lavender, wild herbs, licorice, olive, cured meat, and crushed stones. The cherry-candy red fruit of the Grenache plays well with the exotic pepper spice and meaty backbone of Syrah. A powerful and mouthcoating experience!