Vieilles Vignes is Marcoux’s tiny, old-vine selection—predominantly Grenache from very low-yield parcels rooted in classic CdP terroirs of galets roulés, sand and limestone/clay. It’s the domaine’s most concentrated red, yet it stays true to the house signature of finesse and freshness. Expect a soaring nose of kirsch, wild strawberry and blackberry, layered with thyme, bay and dried flowers, plus liquorice, white pepper and warm stone. The palate is full but composed: a plush, velvety mid-palate carried by long-grained tannins and a cool, stony line that keeps the finish dry and precise.
Viticulture is organic/biodynamic and parcel-specific; fruit is hand-picked at perfect ripeness. In the cellar, extraction is gentle and measured to favour silk over bulk; élevage leans on concrete, stainless steel and large foudres, with only a modest seasoning of barrels to polish texture—oak as cadence, not flavour. The result is Grenache that reads luminous and pure, with depth that builds in layers rather than weight.
Serve at 16–18 °C in large Burgundy stems; young bottles benefit from a 60–90-minute decant to unfurl the mid-palate and lift the perfume. Pair with roast lamb and rosemary, venison with juniper, daube Provençale, duck with cherry jus, porcini risotto, or firm cheeses such as aged Comté—the wine’s freshness and fine tannins balance richness effortlessly.
Cellaring is part of the promise. While seductive on release, Vieilles Vignes typically hits its stride from 6–8 years after harvest and cruises comfortably for 15+ in strong vintages, gaining notes of fig, cocoa nib, leather, balsamic and dried orange peel while the garrigue and mineral thread stay vivid. Warmer years bring plusher black fruit and broader shoulders; cooler seasons emphasise red fruit, spice and extra lift—always unmistakably Marcoux: powerful, poised, and brilliantly clear.
