2011 Domaine Anne Gros & Jean-Paul Tollot Minervois Les Carrétals

Community Tasting Notes (9) Median Score: 86 points

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  9/25/2021 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

  14% alcohol. Crgn and G planted in 1909. The cork is so perfect that I wonder if it is made of reconstituted material; after breaking it up, I have to concede that it is simply a high quality natural cork. The colour is dark with minimal thinning at the edge of the rim.
  Very aromatic nose of dark berries, including blackberry; nothing stewed or overripe, this is just glorious, and the equal of many a red Burgundy, albeit in a different style. The mouth is sharper than the nose would lead you to expect, but very harmonious nevertheless; full of life and well able to stand up to beef.
  A distinctive wine, superlatively well made. Serve to people who can appreciate what is in the glass rather than the print on the label.

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  4/11/2021 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

  14% alcohol. From a single plot planted in 1909, Carignan mostly with some co-planted Grenache, I believe. Superb cork with no wine penetration at all; lovely smell off the cork. Dark colour with limited thinning at the edge of the rim.
  Remarkably refined nose with blackberries and blueberries, I could sniff this all day long. The mouth is a step behind for me, although there is plenty to admire; good velvety mouthfeel and refined dark berries. Very good balance with excellent acidity in the finish, and the alcohol never protrudes; good grip too, and plenty of life ahead.
  This is at the top of the property's range and expensive at about 35€; acquired at an auction for 15€, and a steal at that price. I would say that the fair price (by which I mean the repurchase price) is just above 20€ for me. I am using as a yardstick the many superb Terrasses du Larzac wines (I know, different area but with some stylistic commonalities).
  A resounding success especially given the poor reputation of Carignan; hats off !

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  12/22/2020 - Eudemis Likes this wine:

  14% alcohol. Car, G in unspecified proportions, but I have seen a 80%/20% split mentioned by a retailer. The official website talks about a vineyard planted in 1909, which is impressive and suggests perhaps co-planted grapes. Opened an hour ahead (in retrospect, a decant might have been called for). Very good long cork with absolutely no wine penetration. The colour is dark and still youthful.
  The nose has a powdery aspect initially, but with time in the glass the wine develops aromas of blood and red berries. The most striking thing about the mouth is its excellent acidity, pretty unusual for the area; there is also a good mouthfeel, and the alcohol does not protrude. Red-fruited flavours consistent with the nose; I get a bitter (stemmy ?) tinge in the aftertaste that I could have done without.
  I understand that this wine sells for around 30€, and I have a hard time getting my head around that; OK, the extremely old vines presumably have a very low yield, but the result in the glass does not seem to me to justify the price tag. In fact, of the three that I have tried, the best buy for me in the line-up is the 50/50 bottling.
  Not a repeat purchase, but I am glad to have tried it and I will give a decant to the remaining bottles.

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  8/6/2017 - chatters wrote:

  dark hued fruit, smooth, fine tannins and ridiculously easy to drink.

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  12/2/2016 - mitiman2003 Likes this wine: 93 Points

  100% Carignan. Dense, violet color with lovely clarity at the edges. Spicy aroma, with cinnamon, blackberries, & plums. Fruity flavors of blackberries, plums, and a hint of black cherry., with earthy sub-text. Well balanced, excellent structure, controlled tannins and alcohol. Medium-length finish with pleasing dark fruit notes. Overall, quite excellent.

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