Circus Shiraz 2003
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Winemaker Notes
Well-structured and complex, with notes of ripe fruit and toast leading to long and elegant finish.
Enjoy with hearty pasta dishes, grilled salmon, veal, pork and beef.
All three Circus wines originate at L'Ostal Cazes, a 370-acre property in La Livinière purchased by the Cazes family in 2002. The estate, which includes 150 acres of vines, extensive olive groves and a state-of-the-art winery, represents a fruitful conclusion to years of careful searching on the part of Jean-Michel and Jean-Charles. Winemaking is overseen by family friend and colleague, Daniel Llose, who has worked alongside Jean-Michel Cazes for over 30 years as managing winemaker at Chateau Lynch-Bages, Ormes de Pez and other Cazes family estates.
With Circus, Jean-Michel, Jean-Charles and Daniel Llose have set out to create quality wines that reflect the character of local grape varieties and terroir. Vineyards are planted primarily with Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache and Carignan.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
An extensive appellation producing a diverse selection of good quality and great values, Languedoc spans the Mediterranean coast from the Pyrenees mountains of Roussillon all the way to the Rhône Valley. Languedoc’s terrain is generally flat coastal plains, with a warm Mediterranean climate and frequent risk of drought.
Virtually every style of wine is made in this expansive region. Most dry wines are blends with varietal choice strongly influenced by the neighboring Rhône Valley. For reds and rosés, the primary grapes include Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. White varieties include Grenache Blanc, Muscat, Ugni Blanc, Vermentino, Macabéo, Clairette, Piquepoul and Bourbelenc.
International varieties are also planted in large numbers here, in particular Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The key region for sparkling wines here is Limoux, where Blanquette de Limoux is believed to have been the first sparkling wine made in France, even before Champagne. Crémant de Limoux is produced in a more modern style.