The Domaine de Trévallon Rouge 2018 is an iconic Provençal red blend, renowned for its elegance and age-worthiness. This vintage is a pioneering red blend from the Vin de Pays des Bouches-du-Rhône appellation, famous for using a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon and traditional long élevage in old oak barrels, creating a structural, age-worthy style. The 2018 vintage saw a very rainy spring and a significant difference in ripeness between Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, with harvest starting on September 10th and ending on September 27th. The blend is typically 50% Syrah and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. 【Known for its atypical blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, rarely associated under this latitude】. Tasting notes describe an intense carmine red color with violet reflections. The nose is powerful and elegantly marked with ripe red and black fruits, on a background of spices like white pepper and licorice, very characteristic of Trévallon. The palate is smooth, extending towards a finish with high-quality, well-ripened tannins and great nobility, with a balance of freshness, tannins, and richness that predisposes this wine to age for at least twenty years. Other notes mention blackcurrant, blackberry, violet, olive tapenade, herbs, graphite, and spice, leading to a structured palate with refined tannins and a long, mineral-driven finish. Some tasters also found notes of plum, dark chocolate, cassis, iron, and violets. 🍴 Food pairing suggestions include roast lamb, venison, duck breast, grilled ribeye, mushroom dishes, aged hard cheeses, grilled or roasted beef, lamb chops with herbs, rack of lamb en croûte, wild boar civet, Provençal daube, seven-hour leg of lamb, lamb tajine with figs and mild spices, game birds like palombe or roast pigeon, cep risotto, or creamy polenta with chanterelles. 🥂 This wine is excellent for a sophisticated dinner party, a special occasion celebrating fine French wines, or as a gift for a collector who appreciates age-worthy reds. Decanting is advisable if the wine is young (less than 10 years old) to open up its aromatics.