Château Pesquié - Artemia 2020

Decanter World Wine Awards

Wine Spectator

La Tulipe Rouge

Since 2012, syrah has dominated the blend, accounting for between 70 and 90% according to the vintage. With vines at 400 meters altitude, it shows a northern Rhône style that is remarkably elegant, both silky and concentrated and full of flavours of violets, blackberries and a hint of chocolate. This is a fine wine that can be enjoyed now or cellared for a good while.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The terrific 2020 Ventoux Artemia—a blend of 75% Syrah and 25% Grenache from a single gravelly limestone plateau—was aged in a combination of demi-muids, barriques and concrete. Concentrated and intense, with strong overtones of licorice and cracked pepper, it delivers waves of ripe cherries and purple raspberries. Full-bodied and creamy-textured, with a long, velvety finish that adds hints of smoked meat, it manages to be complex and elegant yet hearty and powerful. Tasted three times, with consistent notes.

The accompanying wine reviews include notes taken over the past couple of years, either during visits to the region, or—on one occasion—when I met in the United States with the property's long-term American importer, Eric Solomon. Pesquié is one of Ventoux's benchmark estates, consistently turning out wines that for many years were great values. Now, the Chaudière family is making even greater strides in their pursuit of quality. The Château Pesquié wines are certified organic, while the Le Paradou line of Vin de France wines are not. As in the rest of the Rhône, the 2021 vintage is easily eclipsed by the 2020 and 2022 vintages, but it shouldn't be discounted entirely.

Jeb Dunnuck

Mostly Syrah, the 2020 Ventoux Artemia reveals a Northern Rhône-like style in its darker fruits, bacon fat, leather, and iron-driven aromatics. I always find a Côte Rôtie-like style in this cuvée, and the 2020 is no exception. Medium to full-bodied and balanced, with fine tannins, enjoy bottles over the coming 10-15 years. This cuvée is mostly Syrah from higher elevation, cooler, gravelly limestone soils.

James Suckling

Aromas of dark plums, peppercorns, stones, black olives, dried thyme and bitter chocolate. Medium body with creamy tannins. Round and fruity with wild herbs and cherries. Flavorful finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Vegan. Drink now.