Winemaker Notes
Deep red color with black highlights. The aroma evokes ripe red and black fruits
such as blackcurrant and also white pepper. Smooth, fruity and balanced wine, structured by delicate and silky tannins.
Nicely complements cold cuts, red grilled meats or in sauce, cheeses and everyday meals.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A solid and compact red with notes of blackberries, dark plums, tar, leather, chocolate and hazelnuts. Medium- to- full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Structured at this stage with volume and texture on the mid-palate. Excellent length in the finish. Best after 2025.
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.
Essentially a mountain on France’s Mediterranean coast, La Clape's vineyards vary in elevation by as much as nearly 1,000 feet. This tiny region also boasts some of France’s highest total hours of sunshine and produces aromatic whites from the Bourboulenc variety as well as full-bodied red blends from the usual Rhône suspects.