Winemaker Notes
Garnet color, violet hues, the nose is marked by black and ripe berries. Little woody touch. The palate is intense and generous, wrapped by an aromatic palette of red and black fruits, spice notes. Very balanced finish.
Blend: 70% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 8% Mourvedre, 2% Carignan
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Tête De Belier shows the changing style at this estate and offers a more Northern Rhône vibe in its green olive, bacon fat, smoked herbs, and meaty black fruits. Based on 70% Syrah, 20% Grenache, and the rest Mourvèdre and Carignan, aged in barrel, it’s medium to full-bodied, has a concentrated yet focused texture, and a great finish. It’s going to benefit from a year or two of bottle age. Range: 93-95 points
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Languedoc Saint Drezery Tête de Bélier is a sexy blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 5% each Carignan and Mourvèdre. Smoke, garrigue and black-cherry scents all combine on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is spicy, rich and concentrated, offering plenty of substance to chew on and adding hints of licorice on the long finish.
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Wine Spectator
Nicely crafted, this red sports bright raspberry notes cut with anise, cola and dried floral flavors. Welcoming savory undertones of olive, garrigue and hot stone accentuate the savory spice details on the long finish. Muscular tannins. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Carignan. Drink now through 2026. 8,200 cases made, 336 cases imported.
Nestled on the shores of the Mediterranean and the foothills of the Cevennes region of southern France, Chateau Puech-Haut’s vineyards span 625 acres in Côteaux du Languedoc AOC, including 230 acres in Saint Drézéry and 55 acres in Pic Saint Loup. The estate’s vineyards are mainly planted to Syrah, Grenache, Carignan (50-60-year-old vines), Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne.
The history of Château Puech-Haut is above all the story of Gérard Bru, a visionary man who built his vineyard just as he built his own life: starting from nothing and creating and achieving a dream without question. In 1980, Bru bought a parcel that was planted to olive trees and wasn’t part of the Languedoc A.O.C. classification. Bru was impressed with the area’s unique terroir and believed it was ideal for growing premium grapes, with its clay and limestone soils topped with a layer of rounded pebbles. The property was converted from olives to grapes and the property’s farmhouse evolved to Château Puech-Haut, producing its first wines a few years later.
The wines of Château Puech-Haut are all full of history and endowed with a singular identity with strong character. In summarizing the Estate’s philosophy, Gérard Bru states, “Our objective is clear: produce the greatest wines by respecting and captivating various terroirs is the philosophy of Puech Haut.”
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.
Approved for both red and rosé wines, Saint-Drézéry sits between Montpellier and Nîmes at the eastern end of the Languedoc, deep in the hot, dry lowlands along the Mediterranean coast. Comprised of the great southern French grapes, Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre, with traditional Languedoc favorite Carignan blended in for rustic grip, the wines are robust and full-bodied, but retain acidity due to low rainfall and cool nights. Tending toward the meaty, roasted style of Languedoc red, the region’s wines show fig, stewed plum, and blackberry fruit, with licorice and pepper spice. The product of a wine tradition which traces its roots to the Romans, the quality of Saint-Drézéry reds have been recognized for centuries. Learn about Barossa wine, common tasting notes, where the region is and more ...