Lafage ‘Nicolas’ Grenache Noir 2016 and Clos du Caillou CDR ‘Garriques’ 2016

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Domaine Lafage ‘Cuvee Nicolas’ Cotes Catalanes Grenache Noir Vieille Vignes 2016
  Grenache from France - Other

  Review Date : 27-Aug-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Very dark, deep, black-hued ruby-red colour with slight purple hues, a little lighter on the edge. The nose is softly packed and gently expressed with aromas of dark raspberries with subtle notes of blackberries and liquorice, unfolding a little dark-red floral lift. This builds in presence with aeration. Full-bodied, the palate has rich, juicy and lusciously sweet flavours of dark raspberry fruit along with black fruits and hints of liquorice, with florals. The flavours are up-front and the palate has plenty of weight and presence. The tannins are fine-grained and allied with soft acidity, allowing some alcohol power to show. The wine carries to a light, elegant finish. This is a powerful, up=front, juicy and lusciously sweet, dark raspberry-fruited old-vine Grenache with fine grained tannins and structure. Match with barbecued and roasted red meat dishes over the next 4-5 years. Named after Jean-Marc and Eliane Lafage’s son. Hand-picked Grenache Noir, vines around 65 y.o., fermented to 15.0% alc., the wine aged 10 months in seasoned oak. 17.5/20 Aug 2018 RRP $24.99
• Le Clos du Caillou ‘Le Bouquet des Garrigues’ Cotes du Rhone 2016
  Blended Red from France - Rhone

  Review Date : 27-Aug-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Dark ruby-red colour with some depth, lighter on the rim. The nose is elegant in proportion with depth and density, showing an amalgam of dark-red and black-berried fruits harmoniously interwoven with notes of dark herbs, some whole bunch stalk nuances, and a layering of funky game. The aromatics build in depth with aeration. Full-bodied, the palate has rich and sweet flavours forming a core of dark-red and black fruits along with dark herbs and a layering of funky game and earth. The fruit is underlined by fine, firm tannins. The fruit richness and sweetness leads to a drier finish. This is a firm Cotes du Rhone with ripe dark-red and black fruits with herb and funky game and earth notes. Match with slow-cooked game meat over the next 4-5 years. Hand-picked fruit, a blend of 85% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 5% Carignan and Mourvedre, vines 50 y.o., indigenous yeast fermented with 10% whole bunches to 15.0% alc., the wine spending 28-35 days on skins and aged 14 months in foudres. Certified Agriculture France organic. 17.0/20 Aug 2018 RRP $34.99