About this WINE
Chateau Viranel
Château Viranel is without doubt the finest producer in the tiny St Chinian appellation in the Languedoc. It is located in the commune of Cessenon and covers 40 hectares on south facing chalky/limestone terraces at St Chinian, close to Beziers on the Mediterranean coast. Syrah, Grenache and Carignan are planted and a red, white and rosé wines are produced.
The red is made with 50% Syrah vines of an average age of more than 30 years, the white is 100% Grenache Blanc. All the grapes are hand picked and yields are severely restricted. The quality is very high (Robert Parker is a fan), with the warm micro climate of St Chinian giving generous, full, rich fruity wines of great charm, and marvellous depth of fruit.
Other Varieties
There are over 200 different grape varieties used in modern wine making (from a total of over 1000). Most lesser known blends and varieties are traditional to specific parts of the world.
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Description
St Chinian’s limestone terraces face south to south-west and address the Mediterranean with a number of highly decorous photo-opportunities. The soil always lends herbal notes to the wines, which are celebrated for their whistle-clean acidity and for their restraint which provides a cerebral foil for the natural ripeness of such a southerly region.
The exceptional 2014 is made up of 40% each of Syrah and Grenache, with 20% Cinsault making up the balance. The first two have the colour bled from their skins ( aka the saignée method) whereas the Cinsault is pressed directly. The wine impresses because, despite its typically generous strawberry colour, the palate is elegant and nicely judged, the red fruit notes complemented by a stone fruit finish with soft spices in support.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer
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