Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Another smoking effort, the 2016 Coteaux Du Languedoc La Clape L'Ancely is a Mourvèdre-dominated blend that includes 10% of Syrah and Grenache that was brought up in new demi-muids and foudre. Complex notes of spiced meats, sandalwood, black currants, and loamy soil all flow to a full-bodied, silky, balanced effort that has plenty of tannins, a rock-solid mid-palate, and a great finish. It’s certainly worth drinking today, but I’d recommend 2-4 years of bottle age. It’s a brilliant wine and I’d wager the finest to date.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The final blend of the 2016 La Clape L'Ancely is about 85% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache and 5% Syrah. It's perfumed and floral on the nose, with additional notes of ripe raspberries and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, ripe and supple, it's not as dense as the la Porte du Ciel, with redder fruit and a more forward personality. Hints of cocoa show up on the long, silky finish.
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.