Fruit is hand-picked from small vineyard plots rooted in clay-limestone soil. Simply de-stemmed and fermented by indigenous yeast, the wine goes through a long, slow fermentation. Ten months is spent unwinding in French oak vats and barrels to knit the complex layers together well.
“Brusset is based in Cairanne, but the 2019 Rasteau La Bastide is also a notable effort. While it lacks the liveliness and vibrancy of the Cairanne bottlings, it’s a broad, ripe, flavorful wine that should provide plenty of short term pleasure. Plum and chocolate nuances mark the nose and palate of this medium to full-bodied wine, while the tannins are plush and soft, leaving a creamy impression on the palate. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.”
90 points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Nov 2020
