Community Tasting Note

• mjwstickings Likes this wine: 90 points

  February 21, 2022 - What an expression of Syrah this is, a single-varietal from Minervois that is all, or mostly at least, about the minerality derived from the lacustrine limestone (as indicated on the label) terroir. And that minerality is complex and truly excellent, crushed rock and so much else in the mix, a characteristic reflection of the broader terroir of this rough and rugged region, just like the sun-baked dark berries that linger in the background and provide a sense of fullness, and zestiness, around the mineral core. And it's also very much about the varietal, with typical Syrah notes of violet, black pepper, and local garrigue (including licorice) along with the dark berries, as well as a touch of barnyardy funk that emerges after some time in the open (and becomes too much of a distraction, swamping the freshness). Overall, this is very much what I think of when it comes to wine from Minervois, just with excess minerals, and for just $16 it's a superb value, also characteristic of great wine from the Languedoc -- in more famous French regions a wine of this quality would be two or three times the price. It's not a fruity wine, to be sure, but it's a great expression of savoury Syrah.

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