Montirius Le Clos 2016
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Robert
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Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Its color is dark ruby. The nose is very expressive of fruits and spices. The mouth is powerful, the tannins silky. The whole is in harmony, with freshness, volume and body. It has a very beautiful keeping potential.
To accompany truffle-omelet, lamb in curry, subtle salty, spicy and baked combinations.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Vacqueyras Le Clos offers more fruit as well as purity and is one of the finest wines I’ve tasted from the estate. Awesome notes of black raspberries, violets, cedary spice, and hints of barrique flow to a medium to full-bodied, silky, seamless effort that has a polished, long, elegant style. Based on equal parts Grenache and Syrah brought up in tank (this estate doesn’t own any barrels), it’s going to have 10-15 years of prime drinking. Bravo!
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah, the 2016 Vacqueyras le Clos is even better than the excellent Garrigues. Herbal, peppery notes accent mixed berries and black olives in this full-bodied, creamy-textured beauty. Complex and complete, it finishes with supple tannins and tremendous length.
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Wine Spectator
Quite ripe, with mouthfilling boysenberry and blackberry confiture notes that show good energy throughout, carried by anise, bramble and apple wood accents through the finish. This will have lots of fans for sure.
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Decanter
A deep, intense and herbal expression on the nose, with a faint background whiff of bonfires. Intense concentration and very fresh, it has a polished, seamless effect across the palate with very fine, silky tannins and a long finish.
Other Vintages
2017-
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Robert
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Robert
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Robert
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Eric and Christine Saurel began bottling wine under the Montirius label with the 1996 vintage (the name is a contraction of their childrens’ names: Manon, Justine, and Marius). Eric is the fifth generation to assume the mantle of vigneron in the Saurel family. His grandfather was instrumental in the development of the Vacqueyras co-op after WWI and the Saurels remained important members until 2002, when Eric and Christine pulled out.
The Montirius vineyards have been organic since 1990 and certified biodynamic since 1999. The Saurels make the following wines with a decided emphasis on purity--they are made entirely in large cement vats without any wood influences.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
This charming appellation within the Côtes du Rhône Villages was second only to Gigondas to earn its own village appellation status. Its wines may be red, rosé or white—though hardly any is white. Its high winemaking standards follow many of the same rules as Chateauneuf-du-Pape. But for Vacqueyras red wines, half of the grapes have to be Grenache and the remainder is usually a combination of Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault.
While they can be robust and rustic in style, typically a great Vacqueyras red combines delicate aromas with intense fruit and a bright, crisp texture. They certainly don’t lack any character and show an abundance of black cherry, wild berry, plum, fig, baking spice, and a touch of game or smoke.