Like a mini-version of the fabled Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape, this is a blend of 4 major southern Rhone varietals, namely Mourvedre (44%), Grenache (29%) Syrah (21%) and Counoise (6%). The wines were fermented in stainless steel before being aged in 1200-gallon large oak casks, known as foudres, for 18 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.
The nose displays an array of red and black fruits, especially bramble fruits and plums, with notes of black cherry and fig. On the palate the Grenache provides a round, warm generosity, the Syrah supplies fine tannins and spicy blackberry character, while most of the depth and the core comes from the blackstrap Mourvedre. The finish is huge and while you can drink this now it will improve for a few more years yet and will last comfortably until 2020.
The nose displays an array of red and black fruits, especially bramble fruits and plums, with notes of black cherry and fig. On the palate the Grenache provides a round, warm generosity, the Syrah supplies fine tannins and spicy blackberry character, while most of the depth and the core comes from the blackstrap Mourvedre. The finish is huge and while you can drink this now it will improve for a few more years yet and will last comfortably until 2020.