Xavier Vignon Arcane XV Le Diable 2015

Drink it now or cellar for up to 20 years. It is recommended to decant it for an hour.

Renowned winemaker Xavier Vignon started his own label in the 2000s. His winery, located in Chateauneuf du Pape, in the Rhône Valley, makes wines of exceptional quality that have a unique character, strongly expressive of the extraordinary terroir of this region.

Produced under the Vin de France appellation to have greater freedom of production from the specifications, Arcane XV Le Diable is a monovarietal wine based on Mourvedre. The grapes are selected from 17 different plots located in the Vaucluse region and characterized by different types of soil including red and blue clay, rolled pebbles, Urgonians, and sands. After manual harvesting and vinification with pre-fermentation maceration, the finished wine rests partly in concrete tanks (70%) and partly in Austrian oak barrels (30%).

In the glass, the wine reveals a dark and dense color with red tones and purple nuances. Its aromatic profile is broad and fascinating with intense notes of black fruits, and hints of Mediterranean herbs, licorice, and garrigue. On the palate, it is concentrated, complex, round, and characterful with a medium-full body and a well-balanced acidity. The tannins are velvety and the finish is long with fruity and licorice hints. Try it with a beef filet with green pepper or grilled duck breast.