Winemaker Notes
The complex, aromatic bouquet boasts rich aromas of red and dark fruits (blackberry, blackcurrant, cherry and redcurrant) blended with toasted notes supplied by the oak barrels.
Supple and well-balanced on the palate, complementing the intense aromas of the bouquet.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
A concentrated red, with black cherry preserves, blackberry tart and olive flavors, covered with a dusting of cocoa powder. Shows an underlying minerality and good complexity, all backed by solid acidity. Ends with a lingering, spicy finish. Drink now through 2018.
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Wine & Spirits
A blend of 50 percent syrah with 35 percent carignan and 15 percent mourvèdre, this is licorice-dark and chewy, with lots of spicy red berry fruit. It’s dense but not overly extracted, a juicy red that feels real. USA Wine West, Sausalito, CA
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.
Essentially a mountain on France’s Mediterranean coast, La Clape's vineyards vary in elevation by as much as nearly 1,000 feet. This tiny region also boasts some of France’s highest total hours of sunshine and produces aromatic whites from the Bourboulenc variety as well as full-bodied red blends from the usual Rhône suspects.