The name “Bésoleil” is a marriage of a Spanish word and a French word meaning “kissed by the sun,” Beso and Soleil! It speaks to our long-held conviction that a profound expression of Grenache (and its Southern Rhône brethren) can emerge from Washington’s precise marriage of sun and soil. Modeled after Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the classic French Grenache-based gem, it is immediately enticing, richly scented, and seductively textured.

The 2018 Bésoleil shows what it’s made of from the moment it hits the glass, displaying a brilliant, bright ruby color.  The aromas are intense and complex: strawberry preserves, orange zest, raspberry, tellicherry pepper, fresh rose petals, and herbs de Provence.  The texture is silky and the palate expansive, adding layers of fresh spice and cedar. Freshness and delicacy are the names of the game here as it moves into a focused, lengthy, and saline finish that’s supported by a fine tannic structure.  Delicious.  The 2018 Bésoleil will continue to gain nuance over the next 8-12 years.