The 2012 Olivier Gras Prat Sura Vacqueyras La Cuvée is certainly more giving on the second day—this structured Vacqueyras wants to unfurl slowly, no surprise, because the vines are around 35 years old, and are grown in an arid climate, and in stony limestone-galet soil. Prat Sura is a single vineyard bottling, and a small one at that, at roughly 1,000 cases total. Tight on opening, but when revisited the second day, it reveals dense, bordering-on-brooding layers of blackberries steeped in fresh thyme, black raspberries and violets. Texturally, there’s a lot going on, I feel that it will evolve with a bit of patience. Plum skins and fleshy black fruit at the core, trussed in firm tannins, accentuated by cinnamon bark, creosote and and the merest hint of juniper berries on the finish. Tuck this one into your cellar for five to ten years. 14.5% ABV | Sample
9.1 Points