Domaine de Marcoux Lirac La Lorentine 2016
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Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
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Jeb Dunnuck
Bottled in January of this year, the 2016 Lirac La Lorentine (similar blend and élevage to the 2017) offers a beautiful Mourvèdre nose of blackberries, black raspberries, graphite, white flowers, and spice. Like all of Sophie’s wines, it's elegant, seamless and pure, with no hard edges, impressive tannin quality, and a beautiful finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This biodynamically run producer in Châteauneuf du Pape has been farming vineyards in Lirac for well over a decade, and the 2016 Lirac La Lorentine is easily the best yet, coming close in quality to the Châteauneuf. Aged in concrete, it's full-bodied and creamy in texture, with bold flavors of cola and singed red plum. Rich, supple and long on the finish, it delivers plenty of pleasure.
Other Vintages
2019-
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator
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Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck
In 1990, the Domaine became the first in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape to implement biodynamic farming practices. Their youngest vines are 40 to 60-years-old, and in short, the sisters do as little as possible to the harvested grapes. This domaine, as critic Stephen Tanzer put it, is "the essence of Chateauneuf-du-Pape."
In 2003, Robert Parker named Sophie and Catherine on his list of "Wine Personalities of Year," writing, "Over the last 12 years, the biodynamically farmed vineyard has risen to the top of Chateauneuf-du-Pape's quality hierarchy. The two red wines produced have been stunning, with the regular cuvée of Chateauneuf-du-Pape one of the finest in the appellation, and the limited production Cuvée Vieilles Vignes one of the world’s truly magnificent wines."
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
A larger region between Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Tavel, Lirac red wines resemble some of the best Cotes du Rhone Villages wines, while it’s rosés are akin to those of Tavel. The region’s quality whites, based on Bourboulenc, Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, are round and fruit-driven.