Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Bottled in January of this year, the 2016 Lirac La Lorentine (similar blend and élevage to the 2017) offers a beautiful Mourvèdre nose of blackberries, black raspberries, graphite, white flowers, and spice. Like all of Sophie’s wines, it's elegant, seamless and pure, with no hard edges, impressive tannin quality, and a beautiful finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This biodynamically run producer in Châteauneuf du Pape has been farming vineyards in Lirac for well over a decade, and the 2016 Lirac La Lorentine is easily the best yet, coming close in quality to the Châteauneuf. Aged in concrete, it's full-bodied and creamy in texture, with bold flavors of cola and singed red plum. Rich, supple and long on the finish, it delivers plenty of pleasure.
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 larger region between Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Tavel, Lirac red wines resemble some of the best Cotes du Rhone Villages wines, while it’s rosés are akin to those of Tavel. The region’s quality whites, based on Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, are round and fruit-driven.