Villa Creek Rock & Flowers Paso Provencal Blend

The perfumed 2023 Rocks & Flowers wafts from the glass with lifted notes of violet pastille, crushed stone and citrus-laced blackberries. Juicy to the core, it sweeps across the palate with crisp wild berry fruit as nuances of baking spice mingle with crunchy tannins. A bump of residual acidity adds freshness through the close, while the 2023 leaves a tinge of balsam herbs to linger. Rocks & Flowers is a mix of 40% Grenache fermented with Mourvèdre, along with 36% Carignan and 16% Syrah.

A Grenache-led blend (40%) that announces itself immediately with a bouquet of flowers and vibrant red fruits. The palate echoes this, adding a sense of power and structure. Well-integrated, medium-grained tannins frame the wine, with an acidity that cuts right down the middle. A varietally-correct wine with intention.

The 2023 Rocks & Flowers is a lovely and overperforming encapsulation of the style at Villa Creek, opening with a pure, peppery and herbal bouquet bound by energetic dark fruits. The palate is slim and seamless yet has no shortage of textural intrigue, transitioning to a spice-driven, savory finish where chalky tannins, vibrant acidity and retronasal perfume intertwine. It's a blend of 40% Grenache, 36% Carignan, 16% Syrah and 8% Mourvèdre.