Famille Perrin Vinsobres Les Cornuds 2018

For the longest time, The Perrin family has ruled the roost in the Southern Rhone Valley. For four generations now, dating back to their purchase of Chateau Beaucastel in 1909, it’s been the Perrin’s wines that others in the region hope to stack up against. And while their CDP sets the standard in the region, and their Homage bottling is often the single best bottle produced in many years (the 2018 is Decanter’s #1 wine in the region once again), the price tags are firmly set in the triple digits.

But tucked away amongst their Spanish Armada of Saturday nighters – is one of the absolute best values of the year. The Perrin Family’s ‘Les Cornuds’ from the commune of Vinsobres is always solid but as of late it’s been borderline spectacular.

In a difficult 2018 vintage, Decanter as well as a few other publications outlined the tough weather conditions that the Southern Rhone dealt with, but also noted that those who did it well, would get juicy and generous Reds.

Then they rated their five favorite wines of the vintage. Unsurprisingly, the #1 and the #4 spots went to the Perrin family and Chateau Beaucastel. With unrivalved winemaking experience and resources, the Perrin Family were able to create super intense wines, especially their ‘Les Cornuds’, an old-vine blend using the traditional mix of 50% Syrah, 50% Grenache that bursts out of the bottle with tension and energy.