Winemaker Notes
The nose combines aromas of cherry, cocoa, with notes of vanilla and blond tobacco. On the palate, this rich, dense and smooth wine offers delicious blackberry flavors. It is powerful, smooth and reveals extraordinary persistence thanks to a finish with perfectly ripe tannins.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Tasted out of barrel, the 2018 Coteaux Du Languedoc La Clape Porte Du Ciel is all Syrah coming from a single parcel of vines in the La Clape AOC that was planted in the early 1990s. Always brought up in new French oak, its dense purple color is followed by a world class bouquet of crème de cassis, olive tapenade, licorice, iodine, smoked meats, and baking spices. Incredibly complex, full-bodied, and concentrated, it shows the softer, more charming style of the vintage, has no hard edges, flawless balance, and incredible length. It’s another magical wine from this estate I wish every reader could taste!
Barrel Sample: 97-99
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.
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.