Winemaker Notes
Deep ruby appearance with bright aromas of ripe damson, wet stone, black chocolate and a touch of espresso. Dense, broad and intense with gentle tannins and a very long, mineral finish, with fruit characterized by black plum, blackberry and black fig with background elements of earthy minerality and cacao powder. Very much full–bodied but with plenty of energy.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
This blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah comes from old vines planted in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains, which border France and Spain. The label is from Dave Phinney and his Department 66 project in Maury, France. This is a ripe, powerful, full-throttle, hedonistic red wine with a depth as striking as the painted scars on the man's body depicted on the front label. The image was taken from a page in a 19th-century anatomy book. Mexican tattoo artist Dr. Lakra (a.k.a. Jeronimo Lopez Ramirez) used microfibre brushes to apply his iconic tattoo art to the man’s skin. Phinney, a fan and collector of Dr. Lakra’s work, chose this artwork for its captivating details. You could easily get lost in the eyes of the owl or the woman’s gaze on his right-hand forearm; such is the mesmerising quality of the piece. Similarly, you can get lost in this wine and its captivating intensity. A deep ruby-purple in the glass, with magenta tears staining the rim, boasts abundant ripe boysenberry and elderberry aromatics, complemented by lavish new cedar wood. Full-bodied and expansive on the palate, the powerful tannins resolve into refined grains, while plush, satiny blueberry and black cherry fruits are washed away by an intensely iron-like mineral and crushed stone finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
The nose on this bottling from the foothills of the Pyrenees is well integrated with aromas of black plum, Christmas spices and dark potpourri. The palate is creamy in texture and dense with rich black plum and currant flavors, all layered in wild fennel and light clove flavors that create a licorice-like finish. The acid hangs through the 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.
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.