Winemaker Notes
Ruby red in coloring with a distinguished brick rim, this wine offers alluring notes of marion berries, blue fruits, compote, garriuge, and a touch of dried lavender.
Rich, concentrated dark fruits are immediately noticeable upon entry which transition effortlessly to a piquant mid palate of plum tart, dried spices, and mountain herbs.
Persistent acidity juxtaposes the generous core and finishes with a lengthy coda.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Not far behind its big brother, the 2015 Côtes Catalanes Others checks in as a blend of 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah and the balance Carignan, Mourvèdre and Lladoner. Currants, black raspberries, spices and chocolate all emerge from this rich, supple, beautifully textured effort that has classic Maury flair. Brought up in 30% new barrels, drink it anytime over the coming 4-5 years.
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Wine & Spirits
As bold as you would expect from a wine by Dave Phinney, the Californian who launched The Prisoner, this is a huge red, lush with superripe berry flavors. A blend of grenache, carignan, mourvèdre and syrah, it succeeds in the style by backing that fruit with firm, nutty tannins to balance the sweetness. It ends cleanly, lasting on fragrance, a sumptuous red for thickcut steaks.
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.
A northern point in France’s far southern Roussillon region, Maury is dominated by steep limestone cliffs and the castle of Queribus, which the French used as a defense outpost against the Spanish until 1659. Today it remains an important symbol of the presence of both cultures in the region.
Though Maury is famous for vins doux naturels (a style of fortified wine), Maury dry red wines are quickly becoming more in vogue and received their own appellation designation in 2011, called Maury Sec. As is the case in most of Roussillon, Grenache plays a key role here. The region’s schist-dominant vineyards, which climb up to 1,300 feet, are excellent for the production of Grenache of all styles.
For Maury dry red wines, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Syrah act as blending partners with Granche Noir. In the production of vins doux naturels, Grenache Gris and Blanc play a subsidiary role. The latter are characterized using the same terminology as that in Riveslates with those named as grenat or tuilé based on Grenache Noir and those described as ambré or blanc containing more Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris.