2003 Les Vignerons de Tavel Richesse des Lauzeraies Lirac AOC

Mission Codename: A hop, skip and a jump

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Visit the Lirac AOC to find a wine of true Terroir character

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Les Vignerons de Tavel

Wine Subject: 2003 Richesse des Lauzeraies Lirac AOC

Backgrounder:

The Lirac AOC in France’s southern Rhone, just west of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and north of Avignon was originally known for its distinctive dry rose but it is its reds that show real Terroir driven character. These wines are blends of Syrah, Mourvedre and Grenache, and sometimes Carignan and/or Cinsault. The wines are known to have a distinct spicy character and silky but textured minerality.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Clear garnet and crimson with both ruby and orange brickish hues. Along the edges the color becomes ruby. When swirled, slow fat legs descend to the wine below.

Smell – Well developed old world aromas of smokey and earthy red cherry with an herbal and licorice kick. Candied fruit, caramel and minerality immediately follow as well as a subtle hint of vegital asparagus.

Feel – Smooth and dry, this full-bodied wine has ripe well developed tannins and good acidity that shows itself through tart tangy and spicy fruit. At mid-palate, this wine spreads across the tongue and shows a touch of spiced minerality.

Taste – Tart and ripe red cherry, dense spiced plum and a tiny bit of strawberry over an earthy base. New oak and spice blend with a touch of licorice, vanilla, smoke and herbal eucalyptus.

Finish – This wine lingers with spiced red fruit and earthy minerality with its textured ripe tannins hold the flavor cleanly until your next sip.

Conclusion – The 2003 Richesse des Lauzeraies Lirac AOC shows its Grenache and Syrah components well with classic old-world Terroir driven flavors. Classically southern Rhone in style, this wine’s Mediterranean aromas and flavors will pair well with your next venture into rustic French cuisine.

Mission Report:

Sitting and enjoying lunch at one of my favorite local French cafe’s with a prospective new asset, I decided to put this gal to the test. I pulled a bottle out of my wine bag and set it on the table, slowly rotating the bottle towards our new asset.

She paused for a moment, almost seeming absent minded, then said ”Just a hop, skip and a jump”, as she signaled to the waiter to bring a wine-key and some glasses. With the bottle open, glasses poured and the wine starting to breathe, I asked her to explain her comment.

She looked at me, almost with contempt, and with a heavy sign, she said ”you don’t know?” I smiled, and she explained, ”Lirac, its just a hop, skip and a jump from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and I particularly like the spicy minerality of these wines.” As we tasted the wine and enjoyed our lunch, I though to myself, it will ne nice to bring on a new asset, particularly one as spicy as this one.

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Lirac AOC in the southern Rhone can be seen in this satellite photo.