2016 Famille Dutraive Cinsault Cap ô Sud

Community Tasting Notes (4) Avg Score: 90.5 points

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  10/8/2019 - sid_loves_wine Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Very pretty wine, extremely transparent both literally and figuratively. Dominated by stemmy, sharp character on nose with shy red fruit poking out, barely-ripe strawberries/mulberries, red licorice, maybe some flowers, rubber, overall very subtle. Palate is pink lemonade; zero tannin, intense acidity (some volatile acidity? not sure how to identify this yet), with a suggestion of strawberry. Clearly very naturally made and super in-style these days, and better with a more-than-usual chill to tame the acid, although it makes the aromatics even more non-existent.
  
  This kind of stuff is difficult for me to assess. On one hand, it's very tasty on the surface, with endless "drinkability", and stakes a clear claim on the "pure" and effervescent natural wine front, not remotely close to anything produced differently. Would be very popular with people who seek this style already, and I don't knock people's preferences.
  
  On the other hand- is this really worth something close to $30? I understand that in the context of "good" wine by good producers, this isn't considered extremely high, but- in my taste, this has zero complexity, depth, or even real "flavor" compared to most other reds at that price, including other low ABV, low-intervention examples - my wife said she'd be just as satisfied with fruit juice, and I can see why. The veneration of "drinkability" in wine, especially natural wine, might be going too far for me.
  
  NOTE: when I tried this over two years ago I was a lot less into this style of wine. I remember thinking it was overpriced and still might, but I'd like to try this again.

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  7/13/2019 - Bakerbd Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Bright, red-fruited, floral, juicy. Bit of VA but not enough to really detract. Lovely wine at a great price

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  10/18/2018 - Finare Vinare wrote: 89 Points

  Cinsault from Domaines Les 2 Anes in Corbières. The nose has a faint reduction that dimishes with aeration. Goes on with bright red-berry aromas in a whole-cluster/semi-carbonic style. The taste is light-bodied with refreshing acidity, unremarkable alcohol, and succulent fruit. To our palates, this is a beautifully drinkable wine, ready to go and thoroughly enjoyable. The airy balance is actually remarkable for a "sudiste". Even though Cinsault equals freshness and and modest alcohol, this sympathetic interpretation probably speaks more of the winemaker's style and intentions than of the actual origin. Really moreish, anyway!

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  2/17/2018 - rhit Does not like this wine:

  Unfortunately not nearly as clean as the Minervois bottling. Would have been delicious without the brett and VA.

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