Vineyard and winemaking
Les Hauts d’Acantalys is drawn from Lirac vineyards on the Rhône’s right bank, where flat limestone slabs and rounded river pebbles absorb the day’s warmth and release it gradually after sunset. Grenache Noir, Syrah, Carignan and Mourvèdre are hand-harvested from these sunlit, wind-swept sites.
The varieties are handled separately to respect their different ripening patterns before blending. The wine is then matured in barrel for 12 months, building depth and savoury complexity around Lirac’s naturally generous fruit while retaining the cru’s characteristic poise.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Deep, brilliant purple-red with a youthful crimson rim.
Nose
Ripe blackberry and damson are layered with liquorice, a touch of caramel, black pepper and a restrained toasted note.
Palate
Rich and composed, with dark fruit and sweet spice framed by firm, polished tannins. The barrel maturation adds breadth without obscuring the fruit, and a savoury thread of liquorice and dried herbs carries the wine through a long, structured finish.
Food pairing
Its depth suits slow-braised beef cheek, roast shoulder of lamb with rosemary, venison sausages with juniper gravy, or a chestnut and mushroom Wellington. A piece of well-matured farmhouse Cheddar is another excellent match.
Background story
Lirac was recognised as an appellation in 1947 and remains one of the few Rhône crus to produce red, white and rosé wines. On the less densely planted western bank of the river, its limestone and pebble-strewn vineyards give reds that combine Mediterranean ripeness with structure and freshness.
Vignerons de Tavel & Lirac was formed when the neighbouring Tavel and Lirac cooperatives united in 2018. Les Hauts d’Acantalys is the producer’s more ambitious expression of red Lirac, shaped by hand harvesting and extended barrel maturation rather than simple fruit-forward immediacy.
