Original bottle illustration — Bacchus Global
Vacqueyras, Southern Rhône
DOMAINE LE SANG DES CAILLOUXCuvée Azalaïs 2021
Each year, Domaine Le Sang des Cailloux releases its classic Vacqueyras red under one of three names, taken in turn from the daughters of winemaker Frédéri Férigoule. The 2021 vintage carries the name Azalaïs — a wine shaped by a frost-hit growing season on the estate's stone-strewn plots below the Dentelles de Montmirail.
- Wine type
- Red wine
- Grape
- Grenache 70%, Syrah 20%, Mourvèdre 7%, Cinsault 3%
- Appellation
- Vacqueyras AOC
- Origin
- Sarrians, Vaucluse, Southern Rhône, France
- Drinking window
- 2026–2035
- Recommended temperature
- 16–18°C
- Alcohol
- 14% vol.
- Bottle size
- —
About the Wine
Cuvée Azalaïs is the 2021 edition of the estate's rotating classic red, a Grenache-based Vacqueyras grown on plots covered in galets roulés — the rolled stones that give the domaine its name.
The 2021 growing season was marked by significant frost across the Vacqueyras appellation, a challenge the estate navigated to produce a wine noted for its violet, red-fruit and mint-inflected character.
Taste profile
In the glass
CUVÉE AZALAÏS 2021
Scale1–5
BG wine structure estimate
Comparative profile within the Bacchus Global wine range.
Violet petals mingle with ripe red and dark fruit — blackberry, plum and fig — alongside anise, liquorice and a hint of mint.
Fresh acidity carries ripe, well-present tannins and good concentration through to a long finish.
Deep ruby colour with a dark-hued core.
Before it reaches the glass
Temperature
16–18°C
Timing
A drinking window of 2026–2035; young, firm tannins soften with around 60–90 minutes of aeration.
Glassware
A large-bowled glass suited to Southern Rhône reds.
At the table
The wine's ripe dark fruit, fresh acidity and present tannins find natural partners across a range of cuisines.
From grilled meats to spice-forward dishes, the structure of Cuvée Azalaïs favours preparations with enough richness and seasoning to meet its fruit concentration and tannin.
Japanese
- Charcoal-grilled beef (yakiniku)
- Duck breast (kamo rosu)
- Sukiyaki with mild-sweet seasoning
Why it worksThe wine's ripe tannin and dark-fruit core stand up to the char and richness of grilled and pan-seared meats, while its fresh acidity balances sukiyaki's mild sweetness.
Thai
- Lamb massaman curry
- Yam nua (Thai beef salad)
- Other rich, umami-driven Thai dishes
Why it worksThe wine's ripe fruit and present tannin match the depth of massaman-style spicing and grilled beef salads, where concentrated, umami-forward flavours call for a red with equal weight.
Western
- Red meat
- Game such as rabbit civet or wild mushrooms
- Mushroom risotto
Why it worksClassic Rhône pairings of red meat, game and mushroom dishes echo the wine's own earthy, spice-laced fruit and firm tannic structure.
From cellar to bottle
Winemaking
Hand-harvested, fully destemmed grapes ferment with native yeasts in concrete tanks with daily pump-overs, then age for 12 months.
Product detail
Bottled unfined and unfiltered, at 14% alcohol by volume.
Origin
Vacqueyras was granted AOC status in February 1990, the same year the Férigoule family became sole owners of the estate.
Official producer website→Critical Recognition
Vinous
Awarded by Vinous critic Nicolas Greinacher, who called the 2021 Cuvée Azalaïs a success given the vintage's difficult, frost-affected conditions.
Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator rated the 2021 Cuvée Azalaïs 90 points.
Trade information
Contact Bacchus Global for product documentation, availability and trade enquiries.
