Winemaker Notes
A powerful and well built wine, a deep ruby colour with violet tints. Complex nose of vanilla, fruits and griotte-cherries. The attack is rich and firm; the mouth expresses long lasting nuances of vanilla and pepper. This is a smooth and rich wine with a very good length.
Drink with cold cuts, red meat, game and cheese.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Lirac is only 40% to 50% Grenache, instead of the usual 65% (the remainder is Syrah). It offers up spicy, dark-fruited flavors of cola and plum, framed by soft tannins. It's medium to full-bodied, with a long, velvety finish that hints at licorice.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A step up, the 2017 Lirac Roc-Epine gives up loads of black raspberries and strawberry fruits as well as notes of crushed violets, sandalwood, and ground pepper. It's elegant, medium to full-bodied, and has rocking levels of fruit as well as a great finish. Drink this plush, layered, silky Lirac over the coming 4-5 years.
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.