Winemaker Notes
This wine will perfectly match with a leg of wild boar with porcini mushrooms and chestnuts, rabbit with mustard or lamb with aubergine cake.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
What will most likely turn out to be an outstanding wine, the 2013 Lirac Plateau des Chênes checks in as a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre, completely destemmed, that’s aged 33% in barrel. Creamy, polished and gorgeously textured, it knocks it out of the park with its white pepper, blackberry, black raspberry and licorice aromas and flavors. There’s a modern slant here, but this is beautiful. Drink it on release and over the following 5-6 years. Rating: 89-91 Points.
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Wine Spectator
Lovely kirsch and raspberry pâte de fruit flavors glide along, carried by silky tannins and backed by an enticing pebbly hint on the finish.
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.