Sunday, May 04, 2003
1995 Domaine l'Aigueliere Tradition Coteaux du Languedoc
An opening whiff of barnyard, herbs and earth are the first signs of just how much of an influence terroir has on this bottle. The blend of Cinsault, Syrah and Grenache and the aroma of wood from the small oak barrels that the wine sits in, or as the call it, fut du chene. While these aromas may turn some wine drinkers off, they are not negative signs, but typical for wines made from where the soil and air are rich in character, bottle like this just need some air time.
The wine is a deep Garnet ruby red, and shows no signs of any aging. Hints of rosemary and thyme, two tell-tale aromas of the Garrigue that one experiences driving the hills outside of Montpeyroux where the wine comes from. As the wine opens it unveils a nose and mouth filling flavor festival of saturated blueberry, plus hints of black plums, raspberry and cocoa.
The wine is a hedonistic thrill ride that taunts you with its youth, yet its poise and balance makes one think it is more mature than it appears to be. A long lingering finish reveals the chalky soil the grapes hail from serving as a backdrop to the black raspberry, tar and the black pepper from the Syrah as those high Garrigue herbs, spice and blueberry fruit all just melds in your mouth, not in your glass.
Cheers,
Andy Abramson
An opening whiff of barnyard, herbs and earth are the first signs of just how much of an influence terroir has on this bottle. The blend of Cinsault, Syrah and Grenache and the aroma of wood from the small oak barrels that the wine sits in, or as the call it, fut du chene. While these aromas may turn some wine drinkers off, they are not negative signs, but typical for wines made from where the soil and air are rich in character, bottle like this just need some air time.
The wine is a deep Garnet ruby red, and shows no signs of any aging. Hints of rosemary and thyme, two tell-tale aromas of the Garrigue that one experiences driving the hills outside of Montpeyroux where the wine comes from. As the wine opens it unveils a nose and mouth filling flavor festival of saturated blueberry, plus hints of black plums, raspberry and cocoa.
The wine is a hedonistic thrill ride that taunts you with its youth, yet its poise and balance makes one think it is more mature than it appears to be. A long lingering finish reveals the chalky soil the grapes hail from serving as a backdrop to the black raspberry, tar and the black pepper from the Syrah as those high Garrigue herbs, spice and blueberry fruit all just melds in your mouth, not in your glass.
Cheers,
Andy Abramson
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