Winemaker Notes
Shining ruby in color, the Chateau L'Hospitalet Grand Vin Rouge has an intense nose dominated by aromas of spices and red fruits (strawberry). Silky and fine tannins highlight a fruity freshness on the palate.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of mulberries, dark plums, chocolate, tapenade, Mediterranean herbs and cloves. Full-bodied with nicely chewy tannins. Structured, with juicy black fruit on the mid-palate and a flavorful finish with excellent length.
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Wine Spectator
For fans of the modern style, this is big and brooding, with concentrated ripe blackberry and cherry preserves. White pepper, fresh mint and roasted garigue add nice range and savory energy. Silky tannins cruising through the finish. Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre.
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.