Winemaker Notes
The softness of Grenache is balanced by the mineral backbone extracted from the schistous soils. The Syrah and Carignan add pronounced spicy and peppery components. Intense yet subtle…
Enjoy with the richest and most intricate of meals.
Blend: 60% Grenache, 28% Syrah, 12% Carignan.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Also tasted as a barrel sample, the 2016 Maury Sec Serge & Nicolas checks in as a blend of 63% Grenache, 23% Carignan and 14% Syrah, from 35- to 70-year-old vines that had the Grenache brought up all in tank and the Syrah and Carignan in demi-muids. Notes of strawberries, spice-box, licorice, violets and dried herbs all emerge from this beauty, and it’s medium-bodied, silky and polished, with beautiful purity, solid mid-palate density and building depth and length. There’s just a little over 1,000 cases and is going to be a smoking value.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Maury Sec Serge & Nicolas will be another terrific vintage from this estate. Checking in as a blend of 63% Grenache, 23% Carignan and the rest Syrah, it has lots of fruit, yet also a clean, crisp, pretty style on the palate. Notes of peppery, sappy herbs, violets and red and black fruits all emerge from this nicely balanced red that’s going to drink nicely on release.
Range: 91-93 -
Wine Enthusiast
A blend of 65% Grenache, 23% Carignan and 14% Syrah, this opens with delicate earthy and spicy impressions, like tomato leaf, plum pit, licorice root, whole peppercorn and allspice. It boasts a crushed-satin texture on the palate, with pronounced but well-integrated tannins and soft acidity. The flavors are ripe and fruity, with final tones of cocoa and more sweet spice. It’s layered and complex, and will drink well now–2024.
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.