A blend of 80% Grenache and 10% each Mourvèdre and Syrah, the full-bodied 2018 Rasteau reflects the slightly less-ripe style of the vintage, offering up scents of raspberries and blackberries instead of plums and dark chocolate. Despite the wine's power (15.5% alcohol on the label), it's reasonably fresh and drinkable, with silky tannins and a lively finish.

A nice contrast to Fond Croze's Cairanne, the 2017 Rasteau is plusher and richer, with an expansive, full-bodied mouthfeel but similar flavors of raspberries and cracked pepper. It's 80% Grenache and 10% each Mourvèdre and Syrah, with a finish that's plush, warm and chocolaty, truly evocative of the appellation. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.

The 2016 Rasteau from Domaine Fond Croze is a dark, plummy wine with cola-like spice nuances. It's full-bodied and tannic, so lay it down for a couple of years and then drink it over the next few.

I loved the 2015 Rasteau, and this Grenache-dominated blend (there’s 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre) was brought up all in demi-muids. It possesses a beautiful bouquet of jammy black raspberries, blueberries, incense and crushed flowers. Medium to full-bodied, rounded and supple, it has lots of fruit, the tannin is sweet and integrated and it has beautiful purity of fruit. Rasteau excelled in this vintage, and this should end up being an outstanding wine.

Made from 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre, the lightly colored 2014 Rasteau offers charming, simple notes of blackberries, raspberries and garrigue to go with a medium-bodied, short profile on the palate.