Winemaker Notes
This wine has intense red and black fruits, lots of spices and garrigues (herbes de Provence). Soft, elegant tannins, with developing complex notes of licorice, truffle and dark chocolate with aging.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
A glossy stream of bitter cherry and plum puree notes is augmented by smoked apple wood and rooibos tea–laced tannins that hold firm. White pepper and smoked meat notes hang in the backdrop. This is broad and mineral-rich, with some gutsy staying power. Grenache and Syrah. Drink now through 2028. 2,000 cases made, 400 cases imported.
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.