Wines Côtes du Roussillon Villages Rombeau - Ceramista - 2024

Viniou Reviews

Domaine Rombeau’s Cuvée Ceramista 2024 from the Côtes du Roussillon Villages AOC is an expressive red wine, typical of its southern origins. Made in the heart of the Roussillon, this cuvée is generally composed of a blend of traditional Mediterranean grape varieties such as Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan, prized for their capacity to express both the heat and the minerality of the vineyard. The 2024 vintage, being a recent release, would likely display vibrant, youthful fruit with fine tannins and fresh acidity. Vinification at Domaine Rombeau often highlights gentle extraction to favour aromatic complexity and elegance over sheer power, making this red approachable even in its youth while promising some potential for short-term ageing.

The Roussillon is a sun-soaked region at the southern tip of France, bordered by the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean Sea. Its climate is hot and dry, but with cooling influences from mountain breezes and sea winds, resulting in concentrated but balanced wines. The soils are diverse—schist, clay, limestone, and gravel—giving rise to profound and characterful reds. Côtes du Roussillon Villages is a historic appellation, respected for its tradition of robust, full-flavoured blends, tracing its roots back to Roman times. The combination of warm days and cool nights preserves freshness in the grapes despite the region’s generous sunshine.

This wine’s generous fruit, structure, and spicy undertones make it a superb partner to grilled or slow-cooked lamb, duck breast with black olives, or a classic cassoulet, echoing regional cuisine. For a vegetarian pairing, consider a wild mushroom ragout or roasted aubergine with Mediterranean herbs. Originating from an area celebrated for its charcuterie and mature cheeses, the Cuvée Ceramista also matches well with aged Comté or Spanish Manchego.

For an ideal tasting experience, serve this red at 16-18°C. Decanting for 30 minutes beforehand will help to open up its bouquet and soften youthful edges, revealing the complexity and warmth distinctive of Roussillon terroir.