French wine regulators elevated red Beaumes-de-Venise, an attractive village sitting at the feet of the picturesque Dentelles de Montmirail in the Rhône Valley, from a Côtes de Rhône-Villages appellation to a stand-alone cru appellation, like Gigondas or Châteauneuf-du-Pape, in 2005. This gorgeous wine shows why. The vineyards sit on terraces at between 750 and 1500 feet of altitude, which mitigates the heat and helps explain why the wine has such a fresh and lively profile amplifying its succulent black fruit and mineral-y aspects. The wine’s real charm — and why Beaumes-de-Venise deserves cru status — is its graceful balance and elegant texture supporting its layered complexity. There is a bit of everything — power, dark fruit, minerals — and not too much of anything. Made from organically grown grapes, this beauty is ready to drink this summer.
94 Michael Apstein – July 9, 2025