Winemaker Notes
Puig Ambeille is a wine rich in blackberry aromas and spices. In the mouth, it has a powerful structure which hides silky tannins.
One can award to this wine the accolade of being perfect with red or rare-cooked meats such as Pyrenean veal or Catalan lamb.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Mainly Mourvèdre, the 2017 Collioure Puig Ambeille also includes 25% Grenache and 5% Syrah. Notes of cola-like spice and Mediterranean herbs lead the way, backed by ample amounts of dark berry fruit. Medium to full-bodied, it's a nicely complex and balanced red from a region that can sometimes yield wines that are too big and clumsy.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
Collioure, the appellation name for the dry table wines produced in the area overlapping Banyuls, is on the coast at the French-Spanish border. The climate is warm Mediterranean and supports many grape varieties. Red Collioure wines are composed of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre (60% minimum in combination) with Carignan and Cinsault forming the remainder. Rosés come from the same grapes with up to 30% Grenache Gris permitted and dry whites (allowed since 2003 to hold the appellation name) are full-bodied and aromatic wines based on Grenache Blanc and Gris.