France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc Saint-Drézéry
Likely, 65-80 yr old Grenache (55%?) & 45 yr old Syrah (45%?) from "...the limestone-rich terroir of Saint-Drézèry in the eastern Languedoc," probably fermented & aged in concrete tanks for 12 mos.
N: Smoke atop berry jam; Some pyrazines?
P: Med, poss MF, body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by an astringent pucker which fairly seamlessly, pretty much irons itself out by the LONG finish with fairly unoffensive, dusty tannins. Deserves another 6-12 mos, then drinking into '20. Nicely done! 92+ pts RJonWine (4/28/17). [As of late Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $19 & $20].
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages
[Judging from notes of previous vintages, LIKELY something like 80:20 Grenache: Mourvedre, & 14.5% or so ABV.]
N: Jammy, but with a minerality? More to give?
P: Med, poss MF, body; ALMOST swtish frt & POSS some heat (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by a puckerish astringency which only somewhat works itself out by the LONG, very slightly astringent finish. NEEDS 2 yrs, I'd guess, but *if* it resolves its astringency, a potential steal @ the tasted $12.95? [As of late Mar '20, wine-searcher shows no sources for this vintage]
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes Catalanes
N: Closed; Ripe frt with a minerals (iron?); Intensity lurking?
P: Med, poss LM, body; Almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker that quite resolves by the LONG (albeit very slightly faint), very slightly bitterish finish. NEEDS a yr, then drinking for 2-3 more. A reasonable purchase @ the $16.95 tasted price. [As of late Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 5 sources @ $20-$30].
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon
N: ATTRACTIVELY jammy with floral undertones?
P: LM, poss Med, body; Almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which somewhat mitigates by the LONG (albeit slightly faint) finish with a bitterswtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS 12-18 mos, & IF the frt holds, a potential steal? 92 pts WA & 89 winealign.com . [As of late Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 1 source @ $16].
Addendum: Also tasted on 2/18 & 11/18/17, today's being an outlier in that I sensed markedly > structure than the other 2.
N: Attractively jammy (cherries?), but with other tough to parse aspects (poss flowers, poss earthiness?)
P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE frt met by an astringent pucker which somewhat unravels itself by the LONG (albeit VERY slightly faint), lip-smacking, though very, VERY slightly bitterish finish. NEEDS a yr or 2, then IF the frt holds, an INCREDIBLE steal @ the tasted $11.95. 13.5/20 Bettane et Desseauve & Bronze @ '15 Decanter World Wine Awards. [As of late Mar '20, wine-searcher shows no sources for this vintage]
Addendum: Also tasted on 1/14/17 + 3/31 & 6/9/18, the now 4 notes being split right down the middle as to whether or not this NEEDED cellaring. :(
Syrah, Grenache, & C.S. from 10-30 yr old vines grown in clay-limestone soil with rolled pebbles; 20% aged in barrels;
N: Slightly closed; Jammy but with minerals & poss flowers
P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE frt met by an astringent pucker which does quite a bit of clearing up by the amazingly intense, very LONG, decidedly lip-smacking bent to the VERY fine tannins. DESERVES 12-18 mos, then drinking into '21 or so? QUITE a notable wine, particularly given the QPR of the tasted $13.95. [As of late Mar '20, wine-searcher shows no sources for this vintage]
Note: Ea of my 3 TNs seems to differ with respect to the longevity of this. :(
2013 Château Puech-Haut Coteaux du Languedoc Saint-Drézéry Prestige
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc Saint-Drézéry
Likely, 65-80 yr old Grenache (55%?) & 45 yr old Syrah (45%?) from "...the limestone-rich terroir of Saint-Drézèry in the eastern Languedoc," probably fermented & aged in concrete tanks for 12 mos.
N: Smoke atop berry jam; Some pyrazines?
P: Med, poss MF, body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by an astringent pucker which fairly seamlessly, pretty much irons itself out by the LONG finish with fairly unoffensive, dusty tannins. Deserves another 6-12 mos, then drinking into '20. Nicely done! 92+ pts RJonWine (4/28/17). [As of late Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $19 & $20].
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2014 Les Vignerons de Maury Côtes du Roussillon Villages President Bories
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages
[Judging from notes of previous vintages, LIKELY something like 80:20 Grenache: Mourvedre, & 14.5% or so ABV.]
N: Jammy, but with a minerality? More to give?
P: Med, poss MF, body; ALMOST swtish frt & POSS some heat (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by a puckerish astringency which only somewhat works itself out by the LONG, very slightly astringent finish. NEEDS 2 yrs, I'd guess, but *if* it resolves its astringency, a potential steal @ the tasted $12.95? [As of late Mar '20, wine-searcher shows no sources for this vintage]
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2014 Shatter Grenache
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes Catalanes
N: Closed; Ripe frt with a minerals (iron?); Intensity lurking?
P: Med, poss LM, body; Almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker that quite resolves by the LONG (albeit very slightly faint), very slightly bitterish finish. NEEDS a yr, then drinking for 2-3 more. A reasonable purchase @ the $16.95 tasted price. [As of late Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 5 sources @ $20-$30].
Note: 1st tasted on 1/14/17
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2014 Domaine Lafage Côtes du Roussillon Bastide Miraflors
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon
N: ATTRACTIVELY jammy with floral undertones?
P: LM, poss Med, body; Almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which somewhat mitigates by the LONG (albeit slightly faint) finish with a bitterswtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS 12-18 mos, & IF the frt holds, a potential steal? 92 pts WA & 89 winealign.com . [As of late Mar '20, wine-searcher still shows 1 source @ $16].
Addendum: Also tasted on 2/18 & 11/18/17, today's being an outlier in that I sensed markedly > structure than the other 2.
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2013 Château du Grand Caumont Corbières Cuvée Tradition
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Corbières
Traditionally ≈45% Carignane, 40% Syrah, & 15% Grenache.
N: Attractively jammy (cherries?), but with other tough to parse aspects (poss flowers, poss earthiness?)
P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE frt met by an astringent pucker which somewhat unravels itself by the LONG (albeit VERY slightly faint), lip-smacking, though very, VERY slightly bitterish finish. NEEDS a yr or 2, then IF the frt holds, an INCREDIBLE steal @ the tasted $11.95. 13.5/20 Bettane et Desseauve & Bronze @ '15 Decanter World Wine Awards. [As of late Mar '20, wine-searcher shows no sources for this vintage]
Addendum: Also tasted on 1/14/17 + 3/31 & 6/9/18, the now 4 notes being split right down the middle as to whether or not this NEEDED cellaring. :(
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2014 Domaine Vallon des Glauges Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Rouge
France, Provence, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence
Syrah, Grenache, & C.S. from 10-30 yr old vines grown in clay-limestone soil with rolled pebbles; 20% aged in barrels;
N: Slightly closed; Jammy but with minerals & poss flowers
P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE frt met by an astringent pucker which does quite a bit of clearing up by the amazingly intense, very LONG, decidedly lip-smacking bent to the VERY fine tannins. DESERVES 12-18 mos, then drinking into '21 or so? QUITE a notable wine, particularly given the QPR of the tasted $13.95. [As of late Mar '20, wine-searcher shows no sources for this vintage]
Note: Ea of my 3 TNs seems to differ with respect to the longevity of this. :(
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